It shall be the purpose and intent of this article to permit the use of ingenuity and preferences of the builder, and to allow and facilitate the use of alternatives to the specifications prescribed by the uniform technical codes to the extent that a reasonable degree of health and safety is provided by such alternatives, and that the materials, methods of construction, and structural integrity of the structure shall perform in application for the purpose intended. To provide for the application of this article, it shall be necessary for the enforcement agency to exercise reasonable judgment in determining the compliance of appropriate structures with the general and specific requirements of this article.