FACT SHEET

NELSON & ASSOCIATES

TH 3131 EAST 29 STREET, SUITE E, BRYAN, TEXAS 77802

979/774-7755 E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: 979/774-0559

Say “Goodbye” to the Standard (SBC), Uniform Building Code (UBC), and the BOCA National Building Code

Say “Hello” to the International Building Code (IBC)

● Means of Egress ● Accessibility ● Ramps ● Stairways ● Handrails ● Guardrails ● Landings ● Change in Elevation ● Tripping Hazards ● Headroom ● Doorway Thresholds ● Illumination

Building Codes and Fall Prevention promulgated by the combined efforts of the code organizations that published the old codes. For decades, the major regional building codes have been used to evaluate the safety of The International Code Council (ICC) was various building components making up the established in 1994 as a nonprofit organization primary elements of means of egress to include dedicated to developing a single set of stairways, ramps, small changes of elevation, comprehensive and coordinated national model and level surfaces. codes. The founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators However, the last Standard Building Code International, Inc. (BOCA), International (SBC) was published in 1999, the last Uniform Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Building Code (UBC) was published in 1997, Southern Building Code Congress International, and the last BOCA National Building Code was Inc. (SBCCI). Since the early part of the last published in 1999. century, these nonprofit organizations developed the three separate sets of model codes used The International Code Council (ICC) throughout the United States. Although regional code development has been effective and In the years to come, as cities and states responsive to our country’s needs, the time came throughout the United States routinely up-grade for a single set of codes. The nation’s three their building codes, they will have no choice model code groups responded by creating the but to adopt the new International Building Code International Code Council and by developing (IBC) that was first published in 2000, the code new codes without regional limitations.

INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PRODUCT SAFETY PREMISES SAFETY

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY HUMAN FACTORS / ERGONOMICS 2

According to the ICC, there are substantial Birmingham, Alabama, the SBCCI has regional advantages in combining the efforts of the offices in Greenville, South Carolina (the existing code organizations to produce a single Eastern Regional Office), Longwood, Florida set of codes. Code enforcement officials, (the Southeast Regional Office), and Austin, , engineers, designers and contractors Texas (the Southwest Regional Office). can now work with a consistent set of requirements throughout the United States. Most cities in Louisiana as well as many cities in Texas (including Beaumont, Orange, To date, the ICC has developed and made Port Arthur, Texas City, Corpus Christi, available an impressive inventory of Galveston, Texas City, Palestine, Longview, International Codes, including: Bryan, and College Station) have adopted the Standard Building Code.  International Building Code  International Energy Conservation Code The Uniform Building Code (UBC) is  International Fire Code published by the International Conference of  International Fuel Gas Code Building Officials (ICBO), headquartered in  International Mechanical Code Whittier, California. The founding purpose of  International Plumbing Code the ICBO in 1922 was the development of a  International Private Sewage Disposal Code building code that all communities could accept  International Property Maintenance Code (adopt by reference) and enforce. The first  International Residential Code edition of the Uniform Building Code was  International Code published in 1927.

A Brief History of National Building Code The ICBO is a not-for-profit service Organizations organization dedicated to public safety in the built environment through development and The Standard Building Code (SBC) is promotion of and standards, published by the Southern Building Code enhancement of professionalism in code Congress International (SBCCI). Headquartered administration, and facilitation of acceptance of in Birmingham, Alabama, the SBCCI is a not- innovative building products and systems. In it, for-profit organization whose primary mission the purpose of the ICBO to provide services since 1940 has been to develop and maintain a regarding product evaluation, education, plan set of model building codes. These codes are review, and code consultation and interpretation. intended to be adopted by reference as local and state laws governing construction. The Uniform Building Code is predominantly

a Western and North Central United States The original governmental membership of 40 code. In addition to its headquarters in Whittier southern cities has grown to more than 2,500 California, the ICBO has regional offices in city, county, state and provincial governments Pleasanton, California (Western Region), and agencies in the United States and other Carmel, Indiana (Northeast Region), Gladstone, countries. In addition, individual membership in Missouri (Central Region), Austin, Texas the organization includes more than 14,000 (Southern Region), and Bellevue, Washington engineers, architects, homebuilders, contractors, (Northwest Region). trade associations, and manufacturers.

The Standard Building Code (originally titled New Mexico as well as many cities in Texas the Southern Standard Building Code) is (including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San predominantly a Southeastern United States Antonio) have adopted the Uniform Building code. In addition to its headquarters in Code.

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The BOCA National Building Code timely consensus codes and standards intended (BOCA/National or simply BOCA) is published to minimize the possibility and effects of fire by the Building Officials and Code and other hazards. NFPA codes and standards, Administrators (BOCA) International, and which are developed under the approved process headquartered in Country Club Hills, Illinois. of the American National Standards Institute Founded in 1915, Building Officials and Code (ANSI), are widely used as a basis of legislation Administrators International, is a nonprofit and regulation at all levels of government. membership association, comprised of more than 16,000 members who span the building In some way, virtually every building, community, from code enforcement officials to process, service, design, and installation in materials manufacturers. BOCA is dedicated to society today is affected by codes and standards preserving the public health, safety and welfare developed through NFPA's system. Several in the built environment through the effective NFPA codes have reached worldwide use and enforcement of various model codes recognition, such as the Fire Prevention Code responsive to the latest advancements in (NFPA 1), the Life Safety Code® (NFPA 101), construction technology. the National Electrical Code® (NFPA 70), and the National Fuel Gas Code (NFPA 54). NFPA The BOCA/National Building Code is is in the process of developing the NFPA predominantly a North Central and North Building Code™, a central component of the full Eastern United States code. In addition to its set of codes and standards for the built headquarters in Country Club Hills, Illinois, environment to be known as the NFPA BOCA has regional offices in Westerville, Ohio Consensus Codes™ Set. (Midwest Office), Tulsa, Oklahoma, (Southwest Office), Trevose, Pennsylvania (Eastern Office), and Latham, New York (Northeast Office). While the primary purpose of NFPA’s Life Safety Code pertains to life safety from fire and Other Major Codes, Standards, and other perils encountered in buildings and Regulations Addressing Means of Egress: structures, compliance with code requirements prevents countless injuries to persons who Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) utilize such code compliant buildings and structures on an everyday basis. The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) is published by the National Fire Protection The first edition of NFPA’s Life Safety Code Association (NFPA), headquartered in Quincy, was published in 1927. A History of the Code, Massachusetts. The NFPA is an international, published with the 1927 edition, states that “the nonprofit, membership organization founded in Building Exits Code as printed herewith had its 1896. Today, NFPA's membership totals more origin in the work of the Committee on Safety to than 69,000 individuals from around the world Life of the National Fire Protection Association and more than 80 national trade and professional which was appointed in 1913. For the first few organizations. years of its existence the committee devoted its

attention to a study of the notable fires involving The mission of NFPA is to reduce the loss of life, such as the Iroquois Theater fire, the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on Collinwood School fire, and the Triangle Waist the quality of life by developing and advocating Company fire, and similar disasters, analyzing scientifically based consensus codes and the causes of this loss of life. This work led to standards, research, training, and education. the preparation of standards for the construction

of stairways, fire escapes, and for the NFPA activities generally fall into two broad, construction and arrangement of exit facilities interrelated areas: technical and educational. for factories and schools, which form the basis NFPA's technical activity involves development, of the present code”. publication, and dissemination of more than 300

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ANSI A117.1, Accessible and Usable University of Illinois under a grant from the Buildings and Structures Easter Seal Research Foundation. The National Easter Seal Society and the President’s ANSI A117.1 is published by the American Committee on Employment of People with National Standards Institute (ANSI), Disabilities became members of the Secretariat headquartered in Washington, D.C. (with offices and the Standard was reaffirmed in 1971. in New York City). The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has served in its Special note: It is said that there are only two capacity as administrator and coordinator of the kinds of people: the disabled, and the United States private sector voluntary temporarily able. standardization system for more than 80 years. Founded in 1918 by five engineering societies In 1974, the U.S. Department of Housing and and three government agencies, the Institute Urban Development joined the Secretariat and remains a private, nonprofit membership sponsored needed research, which resulted in the organization supported by a diverse constituency 1980 edition. After publication of the 1986 of private and public sector organizations. edition, when requested in 1987, the Council of American Building Officials (CABO) assumed Throughout its history, the ANSI Federation the Secretariat. Central to the intent of the has maintained as its primary goal the change in the Secretariat was the development of enhancement of global competitiveness of U.S. a standard that, when adopted as part of a business and the American quality of life by building code, would be compatible with the promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus building code and its enforcement. The 1998 standards and conformity assessment systems, edition largely achieved that goal. In 1998, as and promoting their integrity. The Institute stated above, CABO became the International represents the interests of its nearly 1,000 Code Council (ICC). company, organization, government agency, and institutional and international members. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

ANSI does not itself develop American Signed into law on July 26 1990, and National Standards. Rather, it facilitates administered by the Department of Justice (Civil development by establishing consensus among Rights Division, Disability Rights Section), the qualified groups. The Institute ensures that its Americans with Disabilities Act is a wide- guiding principles -- consensus, due process and ranging legislation intended to make American openness -- are followed by the more than 175 Society more accessible to people with distinct entities currently accredited under one of disabilities. the Federation’s three methods of accreditation (organization, committee or canvass). ANSI- To ensure that the future built environment is accredited developers are committed to accessible to people with disabilities, the ADA supporting the development of national and, in requires (Title III, Public Accommodations) many cases international standards, addressing that all new construction, facility alterations, and the critical trends of technological innovation, existing buildings meet specific architectural marketplace globalization and regulatory reform. design standards. The Department has taken a wide range of enforcement actions to ensure that The first edition ANSI A117.1 was published owners, architects, and others involved in the in 1961 (titled Specifications for Making design and construction process meet their ADA Buildings and Facilities Accessible to and obligations. Usable by the Physically Handicapped). The Foreword to the 1998 edition states that the 1961 Title III applies to a private entity that owns, edition presented the first criteria for operates, leases, or leases to, a place of public accessibility to be approved as an ANSI standard accommodation. Places of public and was the result of research conducted by the accommodation include a wide range of entities, 5 such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors' The State of Texas Fire Marshall’s Office has offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, also adopted the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) libraries, parks, private schools, and day care and uses this code to conduct its inspections centers. Private clubs and religious organizations throughout the state. are exempt from the ADA's title III requirements for public accommodations. Public Louisiana. There is no statewide building accommodation standards (a revision of ANSI code for the State of Louisiana. Each city or A117.1) contained in Appendix A to 28 CFR 36 parish is free to adopt its own building code, and became effective on January 26, 1992. in this regard, the Standard Building Code dominates. Texas. There is no statewide building code for the State of Texas. Each city or county is In addition, all building construction plans free to adopt its own code. are to be submitted to the State Fire Marshal’s Office for their review to assure compliance Regarding accessibility, in 1970, Texas with the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), and the promulgated “Standards and Specifications for Americans with Disabilities Act – Accessibility the Construction of Public Buildings and Guidelines (ADAAG). Facilities in the State of Texas Usable By the Physically Handicapped and Disabled Citizens,” New Mexico. The Construction Industries Article 678g, Vernon’s Annotated Civil Statutes Division of the Regulation and Licensing of Texas, Senate Bill No. 111, dated January 1, Department has jurisdiction over construction in 1970. any part of the state where a county does not have a code officer or it is not inside a city limit. The The current 1993 standards, renamed “Texas state uses the most current Uniform Building Accessibility Standards” (TAS), became Code (as modified by the New Mexico Building effective April 1, 1994, and apply to public Code) for these areas (with the IBC likely to be buildings and facilities; privately owned adopted in May of 2003). If the drawings of buildings and facilities leased or occupied by proposed buildings are not reviewed at the local state agencies; places of public accommodation; level, they are reviewed at the state level. The and commercial facilities. These standards are to provisions of ANSI A117.1 are enforced through be applied during the design, construction, and its adoption within the Uniform Building Code alteration of such buildings and facilities to the and the State of New Mexico Building Code. extent required by regulations issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, As administered by the State Fire Marshall’s under the Architectural Barriers Act, codified as Office, the State of New Mexico has also adopted Article 9102, Texas Civil Statutes. NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) as manditory throughout the state unless a City has created a The revised standards closely follow ANSI Fire Prevention Bureau and adopted their own A117.1 and the American’s with Disabilities Act Fire Code. If an issue is not covered in the local Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), and were code, or is less stringent, the state code applies. intended to facilitate equivalency certification of the state program for the elimination of © NELSON & ASSOCIATES, 2002 architectural barriers by the United States Department of Justice.