Building code

Building codes, usually based on health and safety standards, are local, state, or national regulations that control the design, materials, and practices used in construction. Most building codes include regulations on structural soundness; fire prevention and escape; and plumbing, mechanical, heating, and electrical systems.

Overview

Building codes have been part of human culture for thousands of years. From their inception, they were designed to make housing and other buildings safe. Tragic citywide fires did much to foster safety codes, and other disasters such as earthquakes and storms made city planners aware of the need for buildings that could stand up to such destruction. While the first codes addressed safety, later developments stressed the use of proper materials and techniques in building. As technology changed the building industry, updated codes were needed that acknowledged the value of new materials and their ability to perform as well as or better than the old ones. In the late twentieth century, the International Code Council (ICC) formed to provide a standard national building code.

History

The earliest building codes known were written into the Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Babylonian code of law. One section of that law included rules such as if a house fell down due to poor construction and killed the occupants, then the builder and his family would be killed as an-eye-for-an-eye justice. The law also stated that if part or all of the house fell but did not hurt anyone, the builder must rebuild it at his own expense. Later codes came in response to disasters such as fires, earthquakes, and storms. England's Parliament wrote the London Building Act after the horrific Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed two-thirds of the city. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, and Hurricane Andrew, which hit Florida in 1992, all resulted in new codes to regulate construction.

Industries began creating their own standards for building materials, so they would not have to manufacture various sizes of products to meet different standards throughout the country. For example, steel beams and glass windows could be produced in an infinite variety of thicknesses, lengths, and widths, but it was very expensive to do so. By working with government regulators to create industrial codes, industries helped develop standard materials and ensure that their products met building codes throughout the country. Congress created the National Bureau of Standards in 1901 to catalog universal standards of production.

Types of Codes

Early building codes were specification codes, which spelled out what types of materials could be used and how they should be combined to ensure strength and safety. For example, one code stated that wall framing must be made of boards measuring a minimum of 2 inches by 4 inches that were spaced no more than 16 inches apart. Others listed the acceptable types and sizes of pipes for plumbing and wiring for electricity, and each job could be inspected before wallboards hid the materials from view. These rules were easily enforced because they were specific and measurable, and inspectors needed no expert knowledge to ensure that construction met the codes.

With technological improvements, however, the rules slowly changed to performance codes as older materials and standards became obsolete. Adoption of performance codes shifted decisions about materials from contractors, electricians, and plumbers to manufacturers and architects, who based their decisions on required capacities rather than available products. For example, materials for a roof would be chosen specifically on the basis of how much weight the roof was expected to bear, rather than the builder's experience, preference, or business connections. However, many municipalities failed to change their codes, leaving new products without approval. Specification codes calling for copper pipes for plumbing remained in place long after cheaper plastic versions that met specifications were available. In many cases, the building industry resisted the changes and succeeded in preventing them.

In some countries, such as England and Canada, standard national codes were put into effect through legislation. In the United States, however, insurance companies published the first model code in 1905, establishing the National Board of Fire Underwriters. As a model, the code could be fully adopted or adapted to the needs of each municipality. Other, similar codes were introduced later, and most municipalities adopted one. No national code exists in the United States—each municipality either adopts one from the existing major codes or develops one of its own.

The International Code Council

The Building Officials Code Administrators International (BOCA), the Southern Building Code Conference International (SBCCI), and the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) published model codes for three regions of the country. But by the late twentieth century, the regional organizations agreed that the United States needed a unified national model code. BOCA, SBCCI, and ICBO combined in 1994 to form the International Code Council (ICC), which published its first complete model code in 2000. Although the code had no legal powers, it provided guidelines for fire safety, structural soundness, and energy efficiency. However, other organizations did not support the ICC code. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) combined to develop a second model code.

None of the codes is law until a municipality establishes it as such. To keep codes current, lawmakers and the building industry generally refer to the ICC's International Building Code or another model code for new recommendations. Covering construction of both residential and commercial buildings, the standards offer updated safety guidelines on fire-resistant materials (paints, roofing, wallboard), as well as engineering for buildings in damage-prone areas. They also outline specific design elements, such as ensuring that each bedroom has at least one means of egress, usually a window that is large enough for a person to escape through. In multistory apartment buildings, alarm systems, automatic sprinklers, and evacuation plans are often required. The code book is updated frequently to reflect innovated materials and reviewed standards.

Bibliography

Hanging indent "Building Codes - A Primer." United States Envirnmental Protection Agency. EPA, 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.epa.gov/radon/rrnc/buildingcodes‗primer.html>

"About ICC." International Code Council Web site. International Code Council, Inc., 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.iccsafe.org/AboutICC/Pages/default.aspx>

"History of Building Codes." Global EcoVillage & Sustainable Community Network. SeThink Media, 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014.

<http://www.globalecovillages.org/page/history-of-building-codes>