ART 4958, Senior Thesis Studio Spring Semester 2013 Building Codes: Impact Upon Interiors

A building code is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. The main purpose of the building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate authority.

The practice of developing, approving, and enforcing building codes may vary widely from country to country. In some countries building codes are developed by the government agencies or quasi-governmental standards organizations and then enforced across the country by the central government. Such codes are known as the national building codes (in a sense they enjoy a mandatory nation-wide application). In other countries, where the power of regulating construction and fire safety is vested in local authorities, a system of model building codes is used.

Model building codes have no legal status unless adopted or adapted by an authority having jurisdiction.

There are instances when some local jurisdictions choose to develop their own building codes. For example, at some point in time all major cities in the United States had their own building codes as part of their municipal codes. Since having its own building code can be very expensive for a municipality, many have decided to adopt model codes instead.

Only the cities of New York and Chicago continue to use the building codes they developed on their own; yet these codes also include multiple references to model codes, such as the National Electrical Code. Additionally, New York City is currently working to modify and apply the International Building Code for the city in a massive Model Code Program.

Building codes generally address: Structural safety: buildings should be strong enough to resist internally and externally applied forces without collapsing; Fire safety: includes requirements to prevent the fire spread to/from neighbors, provide warning of occupants, and safe exiting of building, limitation on fire spread, and provisions for fire suppression/fire fighting; Health requirements: adequate washrooms, adequate air circulation, and plumbing materials.

Some building codes sometimes include requirements for: Noise mitigation to protect building occupants from noise pollution (see Noise regulation) Accessibility: requirements to ensure that a building is accessible for persons in wheelchairs or having other disabilities. Building codes generally do not include: Aesthetics: Any regulation of the aesthetics of buildings are usually included in zoning by-laws;

Traffic convenience: Limitations on traffic flow are usually either in zoning or other municipal by-laws; Building Use: the safe use of a building is generally in the Fire Code; or Required upgrades for existing building: unless the building is being renovated the building code usually does not apply.

Legal Requirements Building codes & accessibility codes Pages in "Interior Construction & Detailing" by D.K. Ballast Building Codes 101: Part 1 (a 32 minute video)Building Codes 101: Part 1 Building Codes 101: Part II (a 34 minute video)Building Codes 101: Part II

44 states and the Department of Defense use the International Building Code 32 states use the International Residential Code 32 states use the International Fire Code

What are Building Codes? 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 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

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

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 or alteration, or if the occupancy of the existing building changes to a new occupancy level as defined by the building code.

Ancient 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 negligently that it fell down and killed the owner's son, then the architect's son was put to death.

History of Building Codes in the United States In early America, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson encouraged the development of building regulations to provide for minimum standards related to public health and safety.

At the turn of the century, the insurance industry developed what many consider to be modern building codes in response to major urban fires in the United States. The National Board of Fire Underwriters published its National Building Code in 1905 as a model code; that is, one that could be adopted by a locality.

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

BOCA Code 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, known as Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) International, Inc., was created in 1915 and represented code officials from eastern and Midwestern portions of the United States.

Testing agencies Provide valuable information used in developing code requirements The standards developed by the various organizations become a base for the codes in order to determine the quality of the material and the workmanship.

Research and Testing Organizations ASTM -The American Society for Testing and Materials NFPA - National Fire Protection Association UL - Underwriting Laboratories FM - Factory Mutual Engineering Corp. ANSI - The American National Standards Institute

Professional Associations ASHRAE - The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers ASCE - The American Society of Civil Engineers ASME - The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Trade Associations APA - The American Plywood Association SMACNA - Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association ACI - American Concrete Institute Etc.

Occupancy Types (What goes on in the space?) Occupancy type: described in terms of types: A: assembly B: business E: educational F: factory and industrial H: hazardous I: institutional M: mercantile R: residential storage U: utility

Construction Types based on the fire resistance of building components Structural frame, interior and exterior bearing walls, floor and roof construction. Type I: the most fire resistive Type II: Type III: Type IV: Type V: the least fire resistive

Building codes address nearly all aspects of the physical environment building codes address the performance of the physical environment, and include: structure finish materials mechanical systems plumbing electrical

Fire: urban disasters led to the development and adoption of building codes To read a history of the Chicago Fire Department, go to: To see a history timeline of the Boston Fire Department, go to:

The Great Chicago Fire 1871

After the Chicago Fire

Chicago in ruins: 1871

The Great Chicago Fire 1871 A web site dedicated to the Chicago fire of 1871:

Boston Fire of 1872

building fires can be intense, difficult to extinguish, and very, very frightening

A ‘small’ house fire

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The ADA is a federal code, with jurisdiction over the entire country. ADA code online

an example of an ADA compliant ramp: the incline can be no steeper than 1:12

this restroom is ADA compliant because: the hot water pipes are shielded, the size of the room is sufficient for a wheelchair bound person to turn around, the faucet handles are automatic; no hand operations are needed to turn on and off the water.