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Building Codes: Safeguard for Public Health, Safety, and Welfare

A building code is a collection of laws, regulations, ordinances or other statutory requirements adopted by a government legislative authority involved with the physical structure and healthful conditions for occupants of buildings. Building codes are the government's official statement on Building Safety.

Building codes establish predictable and consistent minimum standards which are applied to the quality and durability of construction materials. "Minimum requirements" means that construction meets the criteria of being both "practical and adequate for protecting the life, safety, and welfare of the public."

So who needs building codes? We all need protection from tragedy due to fire, structural collapse, and general deterioration in our homes, offices, schools, manufacturing facilities, stores, or places of entertainment.

Building codes embrace all aspects of building construction - fire and structural items as well as the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. They provide safeguards and ensure uniformity in the construction industry. While codes provide the means to reduce risks to an acceptable level, no code can totally eliminate all of the potential hazards. Only through proper design, sound construction practices and effective code administration programs, can owners ensure safe and hazard-free buildings for occupants.

Inspection during construction is the only way to independently verify that code compliance has been achieved. An average of 10 inspections are conducted in homes, offices, and factories to verify conformity to minimum standards, prior to the issuance of an occupancy certificate.

History of Building Codes

Building regulations date back to the beginning of recorded history. The Code of Hammurabi (2200 B.C.) included a simple but effective building code provision: if an architect built a house so negligent that it fell down and killed the owner's son, then the architect's son was put to death. In early American, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson encouraged the development of building regulations to provide for minimum standards related to public health and safety.

Present-day building codes have evolved into a comprehensive system of regulations which

define safety requirements for the building environment. Today, most of the United States is covered by a network of modern building regulations ranging in coverage from fire and structural safety to health, security, and conservation of energy.

Building codes are adopted by a state or local government's legislative body, then enacted to regulate building construction within a particular jurisdiction. The primary purpose of a building code is to regulate new or proposed construction. Building codes only apply to an existing building if the building undergoes reconstruction, rehabilitation, alteration, or if the occupancy of the existing building changes to a new occupancy level as defined by the building code.

Model Building Codes

During the early 1900's, model building codes were written by code enforcement officials of various communities with assistance from all segments of the building industry. In 1915, code enforcement officials met to discuss common problems and concerns. Out of these meetings came the formation of three organizations of code enforcement officials. The first of these organizations, now known as Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International, Inc., was created in 1915 and represents code officials from the eastern and midwestern portions of the United States. BOCA International's headquarters are located in County Club Hills, Illinois, with regional offices in Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and New York. The second organization, now known as International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), was formed in 1922 and represents code officials from the western United States. ICBO's headquarters are located in Whittier, California. The third organization, formed in 1941, is the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) and represents the interests of code officials in the southern United States. SBCCI's headquarters are located in Birmingham, Alabama.

Each organization has its own model code. While legislative bodies are not obligated to adopt a model code and may write their own code or portion of a code, studies have indicated that 97 percent of all United States cities have adopted one or more of the three model codes or are covered by a statewide building code based on one of the model building codes. Model codes have now become the central basis for the administration of building regulatory programs in cities, counties, and states throughout the United States.

Visit Your Local Building Department

During International Building Safety Week, April 6 - 12, visit your local building department and get acquainted with the people who protect the public health, safety, and welfare through proper building code enforcement. The Building Safety Division is located at 322 South Main Street. Office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.