Building Codes

The Issue

The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994 by the Building Officials and Cod Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) and the International Conference of Building Officials in an effort to develop a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. In 2000 the ICC published the International Codes (I-Codes) to replace the National Codes, Standard Codes and Uniform Codes of the respective organizations. While many organizations representing the built environment supported the efforts of the ICC, conflict between the ICC and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has stymied their efforts. Subsequently, the NFPA developed its own set of building codes, NFPA 5000.
Currently, the International Building Code, published by the ICC, is used in 46 states. Nebraska and Massachusetts have adopted the IBC with future enforcement dates. NFPA 5000 has been adopted in California and is expected to be enforced this year.

Position

It is in the best interests of the building community and the public to have one set of building codes used across the country. One code would result in less confusion and more consistent building practices. This consistency would ensure a higher quality of code enforcement and public safety. From a developer's perspective, the existence of one set of codes amounts to not having to spend the time and money required to alter building specifications based upon regional differences in regulations. The ICC has used its 190 years of collective experience to develop the only comprehensive, coordinated and integrated set of model construction codes available to the built community. The existence of NFPA 5000 threatens the benefits of a single set of codes. A patchwork quilt of competing and conflicting codes will emerge, causing confusion and inconsistency in code enforcement and interpretation, which will unnecessarily increase costs to consumers with no benefit.

Talking Points

• A single set of building codes adopted nationwide would allow more thorough code enforcement and higher levels of building safety.
• Builders would be able to invest more resources in research and innovation by spending less time and money on resources for specifications for multiple codes.
• The I-Codes would streamline the building regulatory system through a single family of codes that brings consistency and compatibility to multiple layers of requirements existing at the international, federal, state and local levels
• The ICC is the only organization to develop a single set of codes to unify the entire U.S. building regulatory system.
• ICC develops its codes and standards through an open, inclusive and balanced consensus process with built-in safeguards to prevent domination by any single interest.
• Regulatory authorities and contractors would experience a productivity loss while gaining the education and competency to work with the new code format presented by NFPA 5000.

• Current Legislation

Resources

• To view current legislative activity in your state click here to be directed to NAIOP's state legislative monitoring service. (Contact Mandy Hagan, Director of State and Local Affairs, to obtain the password.)
• International Code Council (ICC)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• "Get it TOGETHER" Coalition Shifts Focus (PDF)

Contact:
Melissa Huffman
Director for State and Local Affairs
(703) 904-7100 ext. 110