Matt
Using your argument (logic) none of the code applies to me.?
You must not understand 90.4. If you did you would understand that no structure would ever be built if it were not for the judgment of the AHJ.
Mike we must understand we are all under different requirements in each and every state we are from and work in, this also goes for Matt also and everyone else for that matter, it all depends upon how each place has adopted their own laws, and how they apply, I can only express the laws of my state and how they apply to my work in the state of Indiana, here there is only one AHJ and that is the state of Indiana person who is responsible for the interpretation of the requirements adopted by the state, we have a state wide building code and is subject to the adopted laws of the state. local inspectors are only allowed to enforce what is written, if there is a point that need clarification, then it must come from state level in the form of a interpretation and is legal binding to both the inspector and the contractor, variances from the adopted code is also at state level and a variance must be such to warrant a change in the adopted code state wide not just for that location in the state, we fought for this for a long time, mainly because of my area of inspectors thinking they have the right to require what ever they want, and this made bidding and doing a job almost imposable.
attached is our amendments in which you will note that most of article 90 was amended to reference state law codes (enforceable law) as Indiana code. in these laws it will say that the building commission is the only AHJ, who is responsible for the interpretation of the building code.
this can be found here:
IC 22-13-5
so we must all keep in mind when we make post responding to specific questions, that the laws in different areas of the country can vary greatly from state to state and location to location, we must keep our minds open, because it would be hard for us to know all the laws of every state.