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What is a building code, exactly? -

Building codes are laws that set minimum requirements for how structural systems, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and other aspects of residential and commercial buildings should be designed and constructed.

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Its main purpose -

The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health and safety as this relates to the construction of buildings and structures.

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How it becomes law -

Building codes become law in a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority.

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For whom is it applicable -

Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors, and regulators.

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But not exclusively -

They're also used by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, and subcontractors, as well as insurance companies.

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It's not a modern concept -

While building codes might sound like a modern concept, they can actually be traced back to about 2000 BCE during the reign of Hammurabi, the founder of the Babylonian Empire.

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Across the pond -

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, which quickly spread throughout the city's densely built timber housing, the Rebuilding of London Act was passed in the same year as the first significant building regulation.

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The first building regulations in France -

During the Second Empire (1852-1870) in Paris, many apartment blocks were built.  The height of these new buildings was limited by law to a max five or six stories.

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Building codes in the US -

In the US, building codes mostly fall under the purview of state and local governments. For instance, the city of Baltimore passed its first building code in 1891.

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A national building code -

In 1915, the first national building code was formed in the US, the Building Office and Code Administration (BOCA).

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A unified building code -

Then in 1972, the building code groups joined hands to form the Council of American Building Officials (CABO). Together they drafted one universal building code model for the US.

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International Code Council (ICC) -

Later in 1994, the Council of American Building Officials was consolidated into the International Code Council.

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I-Codes -

The ICC has a set of 15 model codes specified on the basis of geographic locations, and these are collectively called the I-Codes.

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The International Building Code (IBC) -

The IBC is a model building code developed by the ICC. It has been adopted for use as a base code standard by most jurisdictions in the US.

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An important tool -

The IBC is a tool made to preserve public health and highlight safety, which provides safeguards against hazards in the built environment.

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It addresses various points -

The IBC also addresses design and use of innovative materials, which meet public health and safety goals.

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Benefits of the IBC -

One of the main benefits of the IBC is that its main principles are based on protection of public health and safety.

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Efficiency - The IBC results in efficient designs that provide flexibility for the code official, designer, engineer, and architect.

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Use of technological advances -

Provisions of the code encourage the use of new and smarter technological advances.

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Engineered solutions - The code emphasizes engineered solutions and allows the use of time-tested methods.

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Why it matters -

You might ask yourself why these codes matters? Well, apart from the obvious safety they provide, there are also a number of other advantages.

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Building codes protect -

Whether it's by implementing safe wiring, fire prevention, or stronger structural integrity, building codes actually protect you from a number of hazards.

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Florida -

Take Florida, for example. Due to it being such a hurricane-prone area, it has the strictest codes for residential buildings.

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Building codes work -

A study by Building Codes Save showed that over a 20-year period, cities and counties in the US with modern building codes have avoided at least US$132 billion in losses from natural disasters.

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Saving money -

The study was based on a comparison of jurisdictions without modern building codes. In addition to the money saved, property damage was reduced.

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Building codes are always improving -

Buildings built to the latest codes are required to keep up with the updated findings and advances in technology.

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Frequent updates -

Building codes are updated every three years. They also incorporate new information, such as the results of post-disaster research.

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Staying updated -

Look up what codes your community has adopted to protect you. Once you know this information, you can reach out to your community’s decision makers to implement any needed changes.

Sources: (FEMA) (International Code Council) (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

See also: Cities that were rebuilt after being completely destroyed

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