The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) supports the development, evaluation, adoption, and enforcement of codes and standards that protect and improve public health, safety, welfare, and economic vitality of the built environment. It also encourages the development of codes and standards for the design, preservation, and construction of sustainable and high-performance buildings.
IIBEC supports state, national [Canada], provincial, and local adoption of these codes and standards in a timely fashion to establish sound threshold values; to ensure comprehensive, coordinated, and contemporary regulation; and on a regular basis as codes and standards are updated and revised.
Building codes have evolved based on the concept that detrimental effects can be reduced by imposing reasonable conditions. The public need for building codes and standards is protection from natural or man-made disaster and general deterioration. Their application must:
To achieve these goals, building codes and standards should be:
The triannual production of the International Building Code, a model code, by the International Code Council follows these practices[1]. However, State, provincial, and local legislative bodies are not obligated to adopt model building codes and may write their own code or portions of a code.
While the first building code was developed over 4000 years ago, current American and Canadian model building codes should be adopted by localities and provinces to maximize the benefit of the public and for those who reside or work in the buildings.
International Building Code, 2012 Edition, International Code Council, Inc.
