The ICC and NFPA Fallout: The OTHER Building Code

January 29, 2009 at 6:40 pm | Posted in Industry Topics | 18 Comments
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The International Building Code is a relatively new model building code, having first been published just over a decade ago in 1997.  Prior to its development, there were three model building codes in use throughout the United States.  Each had been developed by a different industry entity, and used in particular parts (West Coast, Southern U.S. and Midwest/East Coast) of the United States.

One of the main reasons that the International Building Code was written was to unify these three codes and make one cohesive building code, which could be used and understood in all parts of the United States.  It was the combined work of the three original code developers that resulted in the drafting and subsequent publication of the International Building Code.

What may be lesser known about the drafting of this code by the International Code Council is that the original participating groups also included the National Fire Protection Association.  The NFPA was established in 1896, and already had a rich history by the time the writing of the IBC was undertaken in 1997.  The NFPA and all of its standards had gained wide acceptance in the industry, so that 100 years after its inception, it made sense to include the NFPA in the drafting of the IBC.

The mission of the National Fire Protection Agency is [1]: “To reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazzards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training and education.”  The non-profit NFPA claims a membership of approximately 81,000 individuals and about eighty companies.  The NFPA was in its early years when the Iroquois Theater Fire took the lives of 600 people in less than an hour, the same fire that lead to the invention of the Von Duprin exit device.  This tragedy came to publicly emphasize the need for cohesive national public standards on fire safety and prevention.  In the subsequent years, the NFPA helped developed codes and standards for many different industries, as well as recommendations for homeowners and renters.

When the ICC began consulting with the NFPA on the drafting of the International Building Code, it appeared to be a logical and mutually agreeable partnership.  However, after only the first draft of the IBC, the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council the two organizations reached an impasse.  The disagreements stemmed, in part, from differences over costs to individual companies in training and implementing the recommendations in the first draft of the IBC.  Several attempts to reach a consensus failed, and eventually the NFPA left the table altogether.

The ICC and its other partnering organizations went on to complete the International Building Code, despite the absence of that key player.  Meanwhile, the NFPA partnered with other industry groups to develop an alternative set of codes, the Comprehensive Consensus Codes (C3).  The C3 includes three sets of codes [2] on fire safety and prevention: the NFPA 5,000, the NFPA 101, and the NFPA 1.

Currently, it’s up to individual states and regions which and how many sets of codes to adopt.  The IBC is widely accepted across the United States, and some areas also adhere to the more stringent recommendations of the C3.

 

[1] National Fire Protection Association.  “About Us.” 2009.  http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=143&URL=About%20Us

[2] National Fire Protection Association.  “List of NFPA Codes and Standards.”  2009.  http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp

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The Development of the International Building Code

January 22, 2009 at 6:21 pm | Posted in Industry Topics | 1 Comment
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PART ONE: What is the International Building Code?

Even the average layman understands that buildings , whether commercial or residential, which are constructed in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world, are subject to certain building standards.  Typically though, only those who are associated with the industry understand what those standards are and where they come from.  The International Building Code is one such set of standards.

The International Building Code (IBC) is a “model building code.”  It is a set of safety and design standards by which architects, contractors and builders can adhere to to ensure that structures which are built are safe for habitation.The IBC is updated regularly in response to the changing marketplace and new technologies.  The newest edition of the International Building Code is scheduled to be released in February, 2009.

The International Building Code was developed by the International Code Council (ICC).  The ICC is [1] “a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention [and which] develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.”  The IBC was developed and written in collaboration with industry experts and other organizations with interest in the construction and public safety industry.

The purpose for developing the International Building Code was to provide a uniform and coherent set of building and safety standards that could be used and understood by all in the industry.  The first edition of the IBC was published in 1997, and within a few years it gained wide acceptance within the industry.

The International Building Code governs thousands of details regarding commercial and residential construction, from the breaking of ground to the hammering of the final nail.  It outlines guidelines for sprinkler systems, doors and locks, types of exit devices which can be used, wall thickness, and many more details.

Within just a few years of its publication, the IBC was widely adopted by regions and states across North America.  However, it is by no means the only model building code.  It has been left largely to individual states to choose whether to adopt the International Building Code or another set of standards.

In fact, it was a disagreement in principle between the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association which led to the development of another model building code.

 

[1] The International Code Council.  “About ICC: An Introduction to the ICC.”  2009.  http://www.iccsafe.org/news/about/

Next Week: PART TWO- The ICC and NFPA Fallout: The Other Model Building Code

Door Hardware Contractors: Need help interpreting the IBC?  Download the Von Duprin Fire, Life Safety & Accessibility Codes reference guide in PDF format for free at Von Duprin.


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