What are building codes?
In simple terms, building codes are the government’s official statement on building safety. Technically, they are a compendium of laws and ordinances setting minimum safety standards and arranged in a systematic manner and codified for easy reference. They embrace all aspects of building construction, including fire and structural items as well as the plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems.
• Building codes are safety regulations pertaining to how a building should be built. They are intended to protect both the builder and the home buyer. Many restrictions and regulations are regionally required and depend on soil, weather conditions, etc. There are four major nationally recognized model building codes that are similar in content: UBC (Uniform Building Code), BOCA (Building Officials & Code Administrators), CABO (Council of American Building Officials) and IRC (International Residential Code). Every state, county and local municipality has adopted some form of one, any or all of there standard building codes.
Building codes are safety regulations pertaining to how a building (residential or commercial) should be built. They are intended to protect builder, owner, and general public from an unsafe structure. They deal with everything from nail spacing to accessibility for the disabled. Many restrictions, regulations and inspections are regionally required due to soil conditions, wind loads, seismic zones, etc. There are three major nationally recognized model building codes that are very similar in content in the United States: UBC (Uniform Building Code); BOCA (Building Officials & Code Administrators); and CABO (Council of American Building Officials). Every state, county, and local municipality has adopted some form of one, any or all of these standard building codes.
Building codes are a set of rules that must be followed to satisfy the minimum acceptable levels of safety for buildings and non-building structures. The objective of building codes is to ensure the health, safety and protection of the public when it comes to the construction and occupancy of buildings. Building codes are determined by appropriate authorities in different areas and may vary widely from country to country. Many countries have national building codes, developed by government agencies and applied to all building and construction work across the country. Many local jurisdictions have developed their own building codes. In America, New York and Chicago are the only two cities to use their own building codes. Building codes are usually applied to the engineers and architects designing the building. They also serve as guidelines for safety inspectors. Others who use building codes include manufacturers of building material, insurance companies, real estate developers and tena
A. Building codes are safety regulations pertaining to how a building (commercial or residential) should be built. They are intended to protect both builders and consumers from building an unsafe structure. They deal with everything from nail spacing to handicap accessibility. Many restrictions, regulations and inspections are regionally required due to soil conditions, etc. There are three major nationally-recognized model building codes that are all very similar in content in the United States : UBC (Uniform Building Code); BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators); and CABO (Council of American Building Officials). Every state, county and local municipality has adopted some form of one, any or all of these standard building codes. In Maine , BOCA is generally the standard.
