1. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

2. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Introduction to Building Codes
Babylonian Code of Hammurabi
Purpose of Building Codes
Engineering Failures
US History of Building Codes
Building Officials and Code Administration
International Conference of Building Officials
Southern Building Code Conference
International Code Council
ICC Codes
International Residential Code
IRC – Chapter 3 – Building Planning
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Copyright 2010

3. Babylonian Code of Hammurabi
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Babylonian Code of Hammurabi
1780 BC “If a builder build a house for someone and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, then that builder shall be put to death.”
The first known building code was the Code of Hammurabi which dates back nearly 4000 years. The code included hundreds of laws which were written on stone tablets and displayed in Babylon’s temple of Marduk. Some of the laws dealt with building construction, such as this one.
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Copyright 2010

4. Purpose of Building Codes
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Purpose of Building Codes
Health, safety, and well-being of the public
Protection of human life
Professionals are licensed because the public’s safety is in their hands
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

5. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Engineering Failures
Engineering failures can result in loss of life, injuries, structure damage, etc.
2007 Minneapolis Bridge Collapse
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Copyright 2010

6. US History of Building Codes
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
US History of Building Codes
Fires in the 1800s prompted insurance companies to demand building codes for structures
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871
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Copyright 2010

7. Building Officials and Code Administration (BOCA)
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Building Officials and Code Administration (BOCA)
The first major model-code group
Founded in 1915
Located in Country Club Hills, Illinois
Codes were adopted predominantly in the north central and northeastern states
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Copyright 2010

8. International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
Formed in 1922
Located in Whittier, CA
First edition of the Uniform Building Code published in 1927
Adopted by states west of the Mississippi River
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Copyright 2010

9. Southern Building Code Conference
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Southern Building Code Conference
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama
Founded in 1940
Published the Southern Building Code
Widely accepted in the southeast
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Copyright 2010

10. International Code Council (ICC)
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Code Council (ICC)
Uniform system of codes was necessary
Representatives from each of the code organizations formed the ICC in 1994
First edition of the International Building Code published in 2000
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Copyright 2010

11. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
ICC Codes
International Residential Code (IRC)
International Building Code (IBC)
International Mechanical Code
International Plumbing Code
International Energy Conservation Code
ICC Electrical Code
Others
We will use the IRC for the Affordable Home Project. When you work on a commercial project, you will use additional ICC codes, including the IBC, the International Plumbing Code, and the International Energy Conservation Code.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

12. International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC)
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC)
Addresses design and construction of one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes
Local municipalities can adopt the IRC but may publish modifications
Modifications and specifications are generally published on the Internet for all to reference
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Copyright 2010

13. International Residential Code
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Residential Code
IRC applies to homes consisting of three stories, or less, above grade
Covers conventional residential construction
Covers all home components and systems
Structural systems
Thermal insulation
Mechanical systems
Plumbing systems
Electrical systems
Fuel gas systems
Fireplaces and chimneys
The IRC only applies to residential structures. Design and construction of structures other than one- and two-family homes and townhomes are covered by the IBC.
The IRC will not apply to non-conventional residential construction. Other codes will apply to uncommon design and construction.
The IRC differs from the IBC in that it is an all-in-one code. For buildings other than those covered by the IRC, different codes apply for different systems – for example, the design and construction of the structural system is specified in the IBC, but the plumbing system must comply with the International Plumbing Code.
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Copyright 2010

14. International Residential Code Chapter 3 – Building Planning
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Residential Code Chapter 3 – Building Planning
Habitable Space: A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking.
Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered habitable space.
The terms habitable space and habitable room are used often in Chapter 3.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

15. International Residential Code Chapter 3 – Building Planning
Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
International Residential Code Chapter 3 – Building Planning
Section R303 – Light, Ventilation, and Heating
Section R304 – Minimum Room Areas
Section R310 – Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings
Section R311 – Means of Egress
The IRC is over 800 pages long. Architects and engineers who design and build homes are well versed in all of the code requirements. However, we don’t have time to learn all of the requirements contained in the IRC. For the Affordable Housing Project, we will concentrate on Chapter 3 of the IRC – Building Planning. We will touch on only a few of the requirements – there is much more to learn.
Be sure that students have a copy of the International Residential Code Summary. Go over each code requirement as a group and discuss how it will affect the design of their affordable home. Note: Each section number and title will change color when you click the mouse.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

16. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
Introduction to Building Codes
Babylonian Code of Hammurabi
Purpose of Building Codes
Engineering Failures
US History of Building Codes
Building Officials and Code Administration
International Conference of Building Officials
Southern Building Code Conference
International Code Council
ICC Codes
International Residential Code
IRC – Chapter 3 – Building Planning
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010

17. Introduction to Building Codes
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Unit 2 – Lesson 2.3 – Residential Design
References
International Code Council (n.d). Retrieved on March 21, 2012 at Hooker, R. The code of Hammurabi (1996). Retrieved March 21, 2012 at International Code Council international residential code (2009). United States: International Code Council, Inc.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2010