With constant improvements in the technology used to develop building materials and ever-increasing advancements in building design through the use of computers, it is a challenge for building officials to always know
which new fangled products and creative designs actually meet the intent of the building codes. In addition, building departments, like many organizations, incur a certain amount of turnover in personnel. Since it is the duty of the building official to ensure that proper methods and materials are used in all types of construction, there are naturally times when a suspect design or material faces rejection for lack of sufficient substantiation that it will perform as required. Similarly, there are instances when a building official new to a department is not willing to accept a design simply because "we've always done it this way."