Building Code Documents

Browse our collection building code documents, which provide guidance on the hazard-resistant provisions in the building codes for property owners, engineers, design professionals, building codes officials, and the general public.

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The International Building Code, International Exiting Building Code, International Residential Code and International Code Council 500 can be purchased at the International Code Council.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) publications can be purchased from the ASCE Store.

You can order FEMA publications from the FEMA Distribution Center.

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The Structural Engineers Association of California has partnered with International Code Council to update its series of Structural/Seismic Design Manuals to the 2015 International Building Code. Each of the three volumes provides a step-by-step approach to applying the structural provisions of the 2015 International Building Code and referenced standards. These manuals can be purchased from the International Code Council.

The American Society of Civil Engineers maintains ASCE 24, a referenced standard in the I-Codes.  ASCE 24-14 is referenced in the 2015 International Building Code® (IBC) and the 2015 International Residential Code® (IRC). ASCE 24-05 is referenced in the 2012, 2009, and 2006 IBC and IRC. Buildings and structures within the scope of the IBC proposed to be constructed in flood hazard areas must be designed in accordance with ASCE 24. The IRC requires dwellings in floodways to be designed in accordance with ASCE 24 and permits use of ASCE 24. The 2015 IRC permits use of ASCE 24 for dwellings in any flood zone, while earlier editions permit its use in Zone V and Coastal A Zones. The requirements of ASCE 24 meet or exceed the NFIP requirements for buildings and structures in special flood hazard areas. Separate documents summarizing ASCE 24-05 and ASCE 24-14 include the following topics: Building Performance; Flood-Damage Resistant Materials; Utilities and Service Equipment; and Siting Considerations.

The American Society of Civil Engineers maintains ASCE 7, a referenced standard in the I-codes. ASCE 7-22 wind load provisions will be referenced in the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC). Buildings and structures within the scope of the IBC must be designed in accordance with ASCE 7 wind load provisions. The IRC provides prescriptive solutions and component and cladding wind load values based on ASCE 7 minimum loading requirements. This fact sheet highlights a few of the key significant changes to the wind loading design provisions contained in ASCE 7-22, as compared to the previous version (ASCE 7-16), that will affect building design.

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The International Code Council (ICC) 500-2014 is a referenced standard in the 2015 editions of the International Building Code, International Residential Code and FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Third Edition. Buildings or spaces designated for use as a shelter from tornadoes and/or hurricanes within the scope of the International Building Code and International Residential Code must conform to the requirements in International Code Council 500. Highlights of International Code Council 500-2014 cover Administration and Oversight; Structural Design Criteria; Occupancy, Means of Egress, and Access; Fire Protection, Essential Features, and Accessories; and Test Methods. The highlights paper also covers significant changes made to the 2014 edition compared to the 2008 edition of the International Code Council 500.

Prefabricated safe rooms are becoming more popular as people seek protection from tornadoes. Due to the extreme forces safe rooms may experience, there are very specific foundation and anchoring requirements that, if overlooked, can leave occupants at risk of injury or death during tornadoes. This fact sheet provides graphics and useful information about the foundation and anchoring criteria in FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms, Third Edition, which uses ICC 500, Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, as a referenced standard.

FEMA 296, 297, and 298 comprise the Code Compatibility Report and its appendices. This report provides a comparison between the NFIP technical guidelines and standards and the model code and standards in place in 1992. The report's recommendations provide a basis for coordinating NFIP documents with model code and standards. This report is a resource document.

The CodeMaster provides designers with an easy-to-use desk reference that identifies the flood provisions in the International Building Code® (IBC®) and International Residential Code® (IRC®), as well as the flood requirements of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards ASCE 7 and ASCE 24.

There are two versions of the Flood CodeMaster – one for the 2015 IBC and IRC, ASCE 7-10 and 24-14, the other for the 2009/2012 IBC and IRC, ASCE 7-05/7-10 and 24-05.

The CodeMaster is a unique and useful tool for designers to make sure that they incorporate the flood-resistant provisions of these codes and standards. The guide provides sections on preliminary considerations and design process, key flood terminology, a 12-step process to incorporate flood resistance in the design of a building, an example showing the 12-step process being executed and information on additional FEMA mitigation resources related to flood-resistant design.

The document also uses illustrations to ensure a clear understanding for users in the professional community. These guides can be purchased from the International Code Council.