All new construction must meet NSC Standards for building requirements. This might seem a bit intrusive, but every industrialized country has building codes. It will just be that Kaldus will have more severe code requirements. Houses can be built with almost any structure type. However, commercial buildings can not be made with wood. This is for safety reasons.
All new construction will require a set of features whether they are residential, or commercial. Residential includes houses, and apartment buildings. Commercial is anything related to business, or manufacturing. There are also mixed use buildings, but these are likely to be in the minority, and usually one or 2 apartments above a commercial space on the first floor. The requirements for all buildings are as follows:
Communications
All new communities will use fiber optic that is buried into the ground. Any current community, the best option will become the only option. If this is not fiber optic, then a modem will be needed to be installed into the communications closet. This will connect the property’s LAN to the internet via BPL. Once Fiber is rolled out to the community, there will be no need for BPL. The subscriber can simply return their BPL modem.
There will be no telephone lines in the new construction. This is because the POTS phone system will shut down, and therefore treat the phone cable as obsolete. For telephone, the options are SIP, or cellular. When someone wishes to use their old fashioned POTS phone system, they will require an ATA. The phone plugs into the ATA, and the ATA plugs into the LAN. This will mean that the phone line will require the use of the internet to connect their home phone line. Cellular modems can be acquired in communities where there are no better options.
For television, all services will carry over the BPL or fiber optic lines. This will allow the elimination of coaxial cabling, and ease the frustration one might have. For those with basic TVs, or monitors, they will need a smartTV adapter (such as Apple TV, or Roku). For smartTVs (including the adapter) will download Ka-TV app, select their provide, and credentials. Once done, all of the TV services will carry over the Internet.
Electricity
NSC standard electrical outlets will be used. In any new construction, there must be enough outlets to support the role of the new building. In addition, USB-C powered hubs can be installed into the walls. Anything with 100 watts or lower will be able to use these USB-C hubs for charging. This will include cellular phones, tablets, accessories, clock radios, ATAs (as mentioned above), and so on.
The roof will contain solar panels to provide for some of the electricity for the building. All premises must also have a battery bank. Even if they receive their electricity from the grid, the battery bank will still be required. This will allow the bank to operate and provide for electricity. In a power outage, this electricity will provide for the premise. When electric is available again, the bank will refill itself. In the event of a multi-unit building, the solar panels can be used to cover the operation cost of providing electric for the common areas.
Elevator
Any structure with 5+ floors will be required to have at least 1 elevator by law. The emergency call button for the elevator must be in working condition, and a copy of the certificate must show in the elevator. In the event that the elevator should not be used (such as fire), there must be at minimum a spiral stairwell behind a firewall.
Gas
There will no gas line in new construction. Gas is used for cooking, heating, and hot water – all of which can be done with electricity. Gas is dangerous, and while a necessary risk in the past, the technical achievements that allows for electric to provide everything that gas can do makes gas service obsolete.
HVAC
All HVAC trunks must run in an interior wall of the building. This is so there is no mixing of the attempted indoor temperature to mix with the outdoor temperature. All HVAC runs must be sufficient for the size of the building, and must run in lines that reduces 90° angles.
Insulation
There requires to be a minimum of 10cm of closed cell spray foam insulation. This is to give the structure as much of an R-Value as possible. Padded foam insulation can be used in interior walls – but this is typically for sound insulation. With spray foam insulation being the standard – this will be the only popular choice. Another benefit for spray foam insulation is it becomes a thermal break therefore keeping the outdoor and indoor temperatures from mixing, and causing condensation. It is also pest resistant, fire resistant, and no VOCs which is also required by the NSC.
No VOCs
Construction materials are no longer allowed to contain VOCs. VOCs is toxic, and there is no real benefit when compared to the health issues it brings. Even so, there is drywall designed to absorb VOCs, and trap it. This drywall will be the standard in cases something gets passed code (such as exemptions). In the instance that VOCs are permitted – it must be disclosed when leasing, or selling the premise(s). This is intended to allow the renter or potential buyer to make the decision that is best for them.
Security
There will be a national standard protocol for security systems. The ideal is to make the components (such as door sensors) non-proprietary to one system or another. Every address will have a security panel that would integrate all of the compatible components into a complete system. If the resident/owner wishes to have a security system, they will be given credentials in which they will enter into the interface panel. The unit resident does not have to have a security company, but if they they do, then this might lower insurances.
Trash
There is non-recyclable and recyclable trash. Non-recyclable trash will include animal food waste, and not much else. Pneumatic trash receptacles will be located on the public sidewalk. The resident will walk to one of the receptacles and drop their trash in the chute system. The vacuum tubes will take the waste directly to the trash collection center to where it can be properly processed. Everything else is recyclable, and for furniture, there will be furniture collection twice a year, or on demand for an extra fee. Recycled trash will go to the recycling center, and processed. Since all packaging, and shipping containers must be 100% recyclable, this should nearly eliminate the regular trash that someone might have. In a matter of fact, someone could even go to the point where they can bury the non-recyclable bio-degradable trash, and allow the earth to consume food and animal waste.
Water
Water lines are color coded, and will use flex PEX pipes for delivering the water to the receptacle. This will make the plumber’s life easier, and therefore a lower repair bill. Plumbing lines can be encased with spray foam insulation to assure that they never freeze, and not infiltrated by pests such as rodents. More information can be found at the NSC requirements site.