Most local building codes in the Western US relied on the Uniform Building Code (UBC), first produced by the Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference in 1927. (The PCBOC later would become part of the International Conference of Building Officials [ICBO].) City construction ordinances supplemented the more significant and essential UBC and reflected local needs regarding fires, floods, earthquake risks, and other frequent local events. The UBC was produced in 1927, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1943, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, and 1997. It was superseded by the International Building Code (IBC) in 2000, a reference resource produced after the merger of three separate organizations: the International Council of Building Officials (ICBO), Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), and Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI). Into the International Code Council (ICC). The IBC represented a synthesis of ideas included in the ICBO's UBC, BOCA's BOCA National Building Code, and SBCCI's Standard Building Code. In 2021, the IBC will be used in 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands.
The Seattle Municipal Archives published this list of codebooks it possessed between 1909 and 1995.
This brief history of building codes was put together by a private company, Whirlwind Steel Buildings and Components.
This UCB Environmental Design Library site features information on building codes in California, building code history, and a list of recent guidebooks on building codes it possesses.
Engineers Jim Rossberg and Roberto T. Leon wrote this historical overview of building code development between the 1990s and 2000s
This ICC site includes 15 different international code documents and indicates which US States adhere to each.
The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
The 2010 Standards set minimum requirements – both scoping and technical -- for newly designed and constructed or altered State and local government facilities, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
It addresses changes to the 2010 Standards, the reasoning behind them, and responses to public comments on these topics.
This document compares the updated ADA Accessibility Guidelines, the original ADA Standards, and the International Building Code (2003 edition).
Providing information, training, and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act to Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, & Washington.
Freedom by Design™, the AIAS community service program in partnership with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), uses the talents of architecture students to radically impact the lives of people in their community through modest design and construction solutions. The program embraces efforts to provide design-build and engagement solutions to address five barriers: physical, educational, environmental, socio-economic, and cultural.
The 2009 edition of the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions is the seventh update since its first publication in 1985. This edition introduces new knowledge, innovative concepts, and design methods to improve the national seismic standards and codes.
A companion guide to the 2009 edition of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures. This document is intended to provide these interested individuals with a readily understandable explanation of the intent and requirements of seismic design in general and the Provisions in particular.
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED):
Green Building Initiative (GBI) - Green Globes:
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) - Energy Star
Local
National
National
International
Advocacy Groups
National:
International:
requires an AIA account
job-hunting in the U.K.
National:
National:
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
France
Germany
International
The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation, and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 management systems.
It is provided by ANSI - the premiere online resource providing free, easy-to-use, self-paced educational tools for standards and conformity assessment education. This includes an acronym directory, standards database, and case studies, among other learning resources.
Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a globally recognized leader in developing and delivering international voluntary consensus standards.
The IEEE-SA is a leading consensus-building organization that nurtures, develops, and advances global technologies.
The world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards.
NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.
Generally applicable requirements for designing and constructing structural steel buildings and other structures.
