Building codes and standards help protect life and safety by regulating construction materials, products, and practices. These standards are created through a process that allows for public participation and focuses on the expertise of industry professionals.
They are often based on consensus standards developed by product manufacturers and tested by laboratories. Builders must comply with these regulations or face fines and other consequences.
Structural
Building codes set minimum requirements for structural safety, fire safety and accessibility. They also dictate construction methods and standards for building materials, such as concrete, masonry, wood and steel. They often incorporate seismic code provisions resulting from significant research programs. Natural disasters also sometimes lead to code improvements, such as the 1992 hurricane that prompted Florida to adopt stringent building standards.
Building code standards are set by national and international groups that develop them through a collaborative, open, transparent process. These processes are designed to ensure that public health and safety issues are given priority and that economic value is achieved. They also take into account evidence-based building science and engineering principles and the experience of leading technical experts, construction and design professionals, enforcement personnel and product manufacturers.
The code development process typically takes three to five years to complete and is regularly revised. Local communities then have the option of adopting these new versions of model codes or developing their own. Keeping building code standards up to date is important because it gives builders confidence that the structures they build will be safe in a variety of conditions, such as earthquakes or hurricanes, and that their materials will meet the latest requirements. In addition, up-to-date codes increase demand for building products and services and facilitate domestic manufacturers’ and suppliers’ competitiveness in the global market.
Fire Resistance
For many types of buildings, including schools and shopping malls, fire resistance is a key component. These buildings are known as Type 2 buildings, which must be built using non-combustible materials. In addition, they must have a fire rating of at least one hour.
Depending on the construction type, your building may require fire resistance rated walls, floors and ceilings to ensure structural integrity and prevent the spread of fire and smoke throughout your structure. However, there must be openings in these fire rated assemblies for egress, communication, security, everyday travel and building services and equipment. These openings must be protected to keep them from compromising the fire resistance rating of the walls, floor and ceiling.
These openings are protected by either fire-rated opening protective assemblies or by firewalls. Fire-rated opening protective assemblies are composed of a frame, hardware and accessories installed in a horizontal plane. These are rated for the period of time they will retain their ability to confine a fire as specified by the tests set forth in 780 CMR 715.0.
Concrete is an excellent fire-resistant material. It has a low thermal conductivity, so it doesn’t allow heat to transfer quickly. In addition, concrete is incombustible and has a very high mass. In combination, these properties make concrete an effective barrier against the spread of fire and noxious gases in a structure.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the amount of energy used to perform a task, and the lower the energy use the more efficient the process. It can be applied to buildings, vehicles and industrial processes. Energy efficiency improves productivity, which in turn reduces emissions. It is one of the fastest and most cost-effective technologies to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. The IEA’s Net Zero Emissions 2050 (NZE) Scenario models show that energy efficiency will account for the largest share of avoidable demand reductions, along with electrification, behaviour change, digitalisation and material efficiency.
EERE has three technology offices that focus on improving energy efficiency in buildings, industries and governments through standards, programs, partnerships and initiatives. For example, low-income households can apply for weatherization assistance to make their homes more energy efficient and cut their utility bills.
Building codes set minimum requirements for a structure that must be in place before it can be occupied or used. Codes are enforced by local municipalities, though they can also be established by federal or national governments. Codes are generally written by standards organizations, which are impartial bodies that bring together experts from every discipline to create them.
These standards are then compiled into model codes that state, provincial or national governments can adopt to become law. Model and adopted codes are typically based on research findings and consensus.
Environmental Impact
The requirements set forth in building standards and codes must also take into account environmental impact concerns. Environmental impact may refer to the consequences of an activity or it can be the systematic reduction of Earth’s ability to sustain life – what Woodwell (1990) termed “biological impoverishment.” The latter type of impact often includes impacts such as urban land occupation, metal depletion and fossil fuel depletion.
Industrial pollution has severe consequences for the environment, from contaminating water and air to disrupting ecosystems and leaving animals without habitats in which they can survive. This impact also puts the survival of humans at risk, with pollutants causing illnesses and contributing to global climate change.
Codes and standards are a set of rules or guidelines established by professional organizations and government agencies to ensure quality, safety and effectiveness in various industries. They are typically based on research and other investigative work conducted by experts in the field. As new information regarding engineering, natural hazards or human behavior becomes available, these standards are upgraded through a process that normally takes years. This process involves review and approval of standards by expert committees that include builders/contractors, architects, insurance providers, engineers and elected officials. These committees usually follow the guidelines set by American National Standards Institute, which requires balanced committee representation so that one group does not dominate the process.