Building codes established and enforced in municipalities today regulate the construction of buildings and other structures to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Although some major cities in the United States still have their own building codes, most municipalities adopt a State code as the foundation for local building control, and modify the regulations through amendments based on their unique goals and resources. For example, Denver, Colorado, which historically had its own code structure, recently adopted a new building code based on the 2015 International Code Council (ICC) codes. City leaders say they made the move to enhance energy-efficiency and safety guided by best-practices research and input from the public and international experts. Some states build on the International Building Code (IBC), which serves as a national model in the United States. Building codes evolve over time through amendments and modifications. It is interesting to note that building codes in the US did not start out as government regulations designed to protect the public.
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Around the turn of the 20th century, huge conflagrations in San Francisco and Baltimore, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, compelled insurance companies to explore ways to manage risk more effectively. Working with the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU), the industry developed a survey that considered every aspect of a municipality from topography and local weather to civic affairs and roadways. Using this survey, insurance companies established guidelines for building codes that addressed doors, shutters and building materials, as well as fire department equipment and fire house locations. Their goal was to encourage municipalities who wished to get the most favorable rates would adopt these guides. Early building codes were driven by financial motives, and developed to protect property, not people.
Let's talk about what is covered under a building code.
Remember those exhaustive insurance company survey's mentioned above? If you look at what is regulated by building codes today, you can see fire protection still plays a significant role in shaping the municipal policy. However, in recent years there has been a push to implement sustainability guidelines that protect the environment, curb energy consumption and reduce our nation's carbon footprint.
Here is a brief snapshot of some of the various components covered in standard building control policies. Construction Type: A primary focus in the code is establishing building construction rules and guidelines. The type of building materials use often determines how the building may be used, the size, placement and number of fire exits in a building and the type of fire protection required. Most buildings are erected with a wood, concrete or steel frame. Other Building Materials and Supplies: Municipal ordinances and building codes also cover things like paint, types of pipe and electric wiring. At times a variety of agencies have overlapping regulations that directly and indirectly effect building construction and rehabilitation. Consider lead abatement. Multiple agencies contribute laws and statues regarding the removal, disposable and use of lead-based paint. Since 1960, New York City has banned the use of lead-based paint in almost all residential dwellings. There are a few exceptions. Condominium owners are not required to remediate homes with existing lead-paint, as long as they occupy the home. The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) issues rules about disposal and removal during rehabilitation. And, many states like California, have enacted Health and Safety Codes and Housing Law, that governs contractor licensure, disclosure rules and guidelines that established to prevent childhood exposure. Not all of the rules fall under the umbrella of building code enforcement, but it is important to recognize few code amendments are developed without considering whether new regulations will intersect with existing standards. Occupancy Type: Occupancy is based the structural material and intended use. For example, the code only allows single-family residences to be built using wood frame – sometimes called stick-built – construction. Commercial buildings, multi-family homes, office and retail space and industrial/manufacturing structures must be built using concrete or steel frames. Building code establishes a maximum of permitted occupants per floor and per use. There are specific formulas for calculating occupancy rates based on normal activity in a building, or on a specific floor. As an example,
Around the turn of the 20th century, huge conflagrations in San Francisco and Baltimore, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, compelled insurance companies to explore ways to manage risk more effectively. Working with the National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU), the industry developed a survey that considered every aspect of a municipality from topography and local weather to civic affairs and roadways. Using this survey, insurance companies established guidelines for building codes that addressed doors, shutters and building materials, as well as fire department equipment and fire house locations. Their goal was to encourage municipalities who wished to get the most favorable rates would adopt these guides. Early building codes were driven by financial motives, and developed to protect property, not people.
Let's talk about what is covered under a building code.
Remember those exhaustive insurance company survey's mentioned above? If you look at what is regulated by building codes today, you can see fire protection still plays a significant role in shaping the municipal policy. However, in recent years there has been a push to implement sustainability guidelines that protect the environment, curb energy consumption and reduce our nation's carbon footprint.
Here is a brief snapshot of some of the various components covered in standard building control policies. Construction Type: A primary focus in the code is establishing building construction rules and guidelines. The type of building materials use often determines how the building may be used, the size, placement and number of fire exits in a building and the type of fire protection required. Most buildings are erected with a wood, concrete or steel frame. Other Building Materials and Supplies: Municipal ordinances and building codes also cover things like paint, types of pipe and electric wiring. At times a variety of agencies have overlapping regulations that directly and indirectly effect building construction and rehabilitation. Consider lead abatement. Multiple agencies contribute laws and statues regarding the removal, disposable and use of lead-based paint. Since 1960, New York City has banned the use of lead-based paint in almost all residential dwellings. There are a few exceptions. Condominium owners are not required to remediate homes with existing lead-paint, as long as they occupy the home. The Environmental Protective Agency (EPA) issues rules about disposal and removal during rehabilitation. And, many states like California, have enacted Health and Safety Codes and Housing Law, that governs contractor licensure, disclosure rules and guidelines that established to prevent childhood exposure. Not all of the rules fall under the umbrella of building code enforcement, but it is important to recognize few code amendments are developed without considering whether new regulations will intersect with existing standards. Occupancy Type: Occupancy is based the structural material and intended use. For example, the code only allows single-family residences to be built using wood frame – sometimes called stick-built – construction. Commercial buildings, multi-family homes, office and retail space and industrial/manufacturing structures must be built using concrete or steel frames. Building code establishes a maximum of permitted occupants per floor and per use. There are specific formulas for calculating occupancy rates based on normal activity in a building, or on a specific floor. As an example,