[Okc] Code nazis and extreme green makeovers

[Robert Waldrop]

Warning: <RANT MODE ON>

You would think that Oklahoma City would welcome
homeowners that are improving their properties and
making them more safe, sustainable, and efficient,
especially in older OKC neighborhoods.  Well, you
would think that because people like us are
normal, but I don't think they think that way at
city hall.

We are midway through the electrical re-wiring of
our house, and I am utterly astonished at the
STOOPID requirements of the Oklahoma City
electrical code.  We have to have an electrical
plug on either side of our kitchen sink!!!! TWO
ELECTRICAL PLUGS!!!  This is, I guess, so that we
can plug appliances in so that they can get
knocked into a wet sink and electrocute somebody.
Maybe it is some kind of a population control
mechanism?

And we have to have electrical plugs
everywhere!!!!! What do people do with so much
electricity?  It's no wonder global warming is a
threat and we're running out of fossil fuels.  We
have to install a light in a four ft long hallway,
just because it is a hallway.  Never mind the fact
that it is perfectly well lit from the doorways at
either end.

Oklahoma City Hall assumes that everybody is
either wealthy or upper middle and wants that kind
of a hyper-consumption expensive lifestyle.

I don't object to safety requirements.  I don't
object to inspections.  What I do object to is a
government mandated lifestyle that promotes, that
REQUIRES the waste of valuable and increasingly
scarce resources.  I object to contractors that
corrupt the government process and bribe
politicians to enact code mandates that have
NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY AND EVERYTHING TO DO
WITH FATTENING THE BILLS FOR ELECTRICAL
CONTRACTORS!

but wait, it's worse.  As folks who have followed
our plans know, we have built a new interior frame
to accomodate the extra insulation we are putting
into our walls, and our new electricity is being
installed to that new frame.  Well, the
electricians tell us that before the city will
inspect the electrical work, and allow the new
wires to be turned on, we have to have the drywall
in place AND have it painted!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm.  Install new wiring, then cover it up so the
inspectors can't see it, THEN the inspector's come
to do their inspection.  Is it just me, or is
there something wrong with this picture? How will
the inspectors know anything about how the wiring
was installed underneath the drywall AFTER we
cover it up?

And still worse news. Until then, we will be
running on three electrical plugs they have left
connected from our old wiring system, no ceiling
lights or fans, to accomodate our freezer, fridge,
computer, and lights.  Do you think the city would
accomodate this situation by going ahead and
inspecting the system, approving it, and then
letting us proceed with the drywall and
insulation?  Apparently not.  First we gotta cover
everything up, THEN they inspect it.

That makes a lot of sense doesn't it?

Oh well, I guess this too will eventually pass.
But the next time I hear some OKC politician yak
on about preserving older homes and older
neighborhoods I am probably going to be tempted to
barf on their shoes.  If they wanted to do
something practical about preserving older homes
and neighborhoods, they would have a sensible and
rational electrical code that was based on science
and safety issues, not on rewarding electrical
contractors for campaign contributions.

<off rant mode>

Robert Waldrop, simmering in OKC