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3
THE PRINCIPAL MODEL CODES
The three principal model building codes used in the United States
are the Uniform Building Code (published by ICBO), the Standard Building
Code (formerly the Southern Building Code and published by SBCCI), and
the National Building Code (formerly the Basic Building Code. Published
by BOCA). The three model code organizations each publish a number ot
different model code documents that cover particular types of buildings
or building subsystems, but integrate these separate documents under the
umbrella of their overall model codes.
In addition to these three principal codes, there are model codes
published by other organizations that are limited in scope. For example,
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) promulgates guidelines
and standards for building egress and smoke control in its Life Safety
Code the National Association of Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling
Contractors of America publishes its National Plumbing Code, and the
American Concrete Institute its Building Code Requirements for Reinforced
Concrete.13
How the Model Codes Are Developed
The principal model codes are developed through a quasi-consensus-
building process with participation of many state and local building code
administration officials and representatives of industry and professional
associations. Each of the three model code organizations has subcom-
mittees to address standards and procedures applicable to particular
areas of technical expertise such as fire hazard, materials character-
istics, or mechanical systems.
12In addition, CABO has published a model code for one- and two-
family dwellings.
13Still other organizations, such as the American Institute of Steel
Construction (AISC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
publish recommended specific standards that may be incorporated in code
documents. ANSI coordinates the work of many other groups, in an effort
to reduce overlap and duplication of effort.
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Proposed code changes and the justification for a proposed change
may be initiated by any interested party. Proposals frequently come from
industry seeking to introduce new materials or products, or from
professionals or state or municipal officials whose recent experience
suggests that changes are warranted to enhance safety or reduce costs.
Proposals are screened by the appropriate subcommittee and are
circulated for review and comment within the organization. Any
interested party is invited to present arguments for or against the
proposed change, but only members of the organization--restricted to
building code officials--may vote on the change. Controversial proposals
may be referred back to committee for additional review. Changes that
are adopted are then included in the next publication of the organiza-
tion's model code or code amendments.
Such a process allows many points of view to be brought out in the
standards-setting process, but is sometimes exceedingly slow and
contentious. Participants cite some cases in which the process spanned
as much as a decade, and others in which introduction of particular
products that might yield benefits for building users has been slowed,
sometimes by apparently narrow industry or trade union interests. On the
whole however, state and local governments have found the model codes
organizations a helpful way to share the substantial costs and effort
associated with standards writing. Governments must still go through
their own administrative and legislative procedures to review, modify,
and adopt all or some portion of a model code as the official building
code for a jurisdiction.
Comparing the Model Codes
Many of the differences among the three model codes are a matter of
format and style, and derive from the history of the codes' development.
Each of the three codes organizations began with strong connections to
geographic regions of the nation, and their model codes reflect the
tradition of building codes used in those regions. The Standard Building
Code is thus most similar to earlier codes adopted by communities in the
southeastern states, and has in turn been adopted as the building code
most frequently in this same region. Similarly, the Uniform Building
Code has its widest application in the western states, and the Basic
Building Code is prevalent in the northeast and Midwest.
Direct point-by-point comparison of the three model codes is
difficult, and differences among the codes do indeed exist. The
committee's experience is that these differences are frequently matters
of form and phrasing rather than of technical requirements. However,
there are significant technical differences: the Uniform Building Code
includes greater emphasis on criteria for design for seismic conditions
than do the other two models, and the Standard Building Code deals more
extensively with strong winds.
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Moves Toward Uniformity
The Council of American Building Officials (CABO) serves as an
umbrella, representing the model code organizations interests in
Washington, and as a forum for identifying and sometimes resolving
differences among the model codes. BOCA, ICBO , and SBCC j ointly publish
a model code for one- and two-family dwellings, under the CABO banner.
BOCA, ICBO, SBCC and NFPA have formed the Board for Coordination of
Model Codes (BCMC) to work toward coordinating the model codes. Two
members of each organization comprise the BCMC, which meets approximately
three times each year to discuss issues brought before the board by CABO.
If the members of BCMC agree to a change to be made in one or more of the
model codes, the change is proposed to the membership of the appropriate
model code organization for adoption and inclusion in future editions of
the model codes.
The committee notes that there has been a convergence of state and
local jurisdictions toward the uniform adoption of model codes. The
committee thus sees reason to believe that differences among building
codes may decrease in the future. This convergence is proceeding slowly,
and the real differences among conditions in various regions may well
preclude complete uniformity among local building codes. However, the
committee endorses all efforts toward reducing the number and variety of
local building regulations in the United States.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
building code
