Page 103 - Urban Construction Project Management

62 Chapter Four
International Building Code (IBC)

In the 1970s, four different types of codes were being used in the United States. These
included:

1. National Building Code (NBC)
2. United Building Code (UBC)
3. Southern Building Code (SBC)
4. Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA)

In the 1980s, the NBC and the BOCA merged to form the BOCA National Building Code
(BNBC). In the 1990s, the three remaining codes formed a new organization to develop
a single national code. The final code was the International Building Code (IBC).

The IBC included the requirements from critical organizational codes. These include:
1. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
2. National Electric Code (NEC)
3. International Plumbing Code
4. International Mechanical Code
5. American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)
6. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
7. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
8. American for Disabilities Act (ADA)—Federal Law

The standards developed by these organizational groups make up the bulk of the IBC.
As changes occur in the construction industry and as new technological advances occur,
the IBC will be updated every three years to accommodate these changes. Due to the
lengthy legislative approval process for updating and modifying the local codes, certain
municipalities issue executive orders to take care of these immediate changes.

The IBC consists of the following sections:
1. Building occupancy classification
2. Building heights and areas
3. Interior finishes
4. Foundation, wall, and roof construction
5. Fire protection systems
6. Material used in construction
7. Elevators and escalators
8. Already existing structures
9. Means of egress

Information on the IBC can be found on the International Code Council website
(www.codecomply.com).