**Taxonomy and Distribution:**
– Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) described in 1796 by Palisot de Beauvois.
– Genus name possibly derived from Greek for ‘able to fly’ or ‘house flier’.
– Species name ‘fuscus’ means brown in Latin.
– Type species for the genus Eptesicus, with 11-12 recognized subspecies.
– Widely distributed in North America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America.
– Found in various habitats like douglas-fir forests and urban parks.
– Related species include E. anatolicus and E. serotinus.
**Behavior and Ecology:**
– Big brown bats use echolocation for navigation.
– Modulate pulse intervals to overcome range ambiguity in cluttered surroundings.
– Males and females exhibit differences in habitat use.
– Roost selection based on diet and safety factors.
– Maternity colony bats display specific feeding behaviors.
**Health and Diseases:**
– Resistant to white-nose syndrome.
– Susceptible to rabies virus infections.
– Studies conducted on rabies prevalence in wild-caught bats.
– Research on regional blood distribution during torpor and arousal.
– Experimental infections with rabies virus in big brown bats.
**Conservation and Management:**
– Efforts include building bat houses for conservation.
– Standards and medical management guidelines for captive insectivorous bats.
– Monitoring national surveillance trends for rabies among bats.
– Surveys for West Nile virus in bats.
– Conservation actions aim to protect this abundant species.
**Physiology and Adaptations:**
– Possess brown fat aiding in thermogenesis.
– Studies on morphology and function of pubic nipples in bats.
– Research on thermogenic effect during arousal from hibernation.
– Presence of DDE in brown and white fat of hibernating bats.
– Adaptations like thick ears and specific physiological responses observed.
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (November 2021) |
A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and non-building structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures — for example, the building codes in many countries require engineers to consider the effects of soil liquefaction in the design of new buildings. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority.
Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors and regulators but are also used for various purposes by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and materials, insurance companies, facility managers, tenants, and others. Codes regulate the design and construction of structures where adopted into law.
Examples of building codes began in ancient times. In the USA the main codes are the International Building Code or International Residential Code [IBC/IRC], electrical codes and plumbing, mechanical codes. Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level. In Canada, national model codes are published by the National Research Council of Canada. In the United Kingdom, compliance with Building Regulations is monitored by building control bodies, either Approved Inspectors or Local Authority Building Control departments. Building Control regularisation charges apply in case work is undertaken which should have had been inspected at the time of the work if this was not done.
Definition from ChatGPT:
Building code:
Building code refers to a set of regulations and standards that specify the minimum requirements for the construction, design, and maintenance of buildings. These codes are put in place to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of the occupants of buildings, as well as to promote sustainable and efficient building practices. Compliance with building codes is typically required by law and enforced by local government authorities.