The design and construction of virtually all residential construction must adhere to building codes that are governed by local and state laws, or, in the case of manufactured homes, the HUD code. State and local governments typically adopt nationally recognized codes, often with state or local amendments. The original purpose of codes was to protect public health and safety, but government agencies have increasingly turned to codes in order to implement other policies, such as energy efficiency. Local building codes and the national codes rely heavily on standards for building products established by national professional and testing groups. The codes established by national code bodies, the modifications made by state and local governments and the standards set by national organizations have a significant impact on the types of construction permitted.
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