Building Codes: The Public Factor
- Abhishek Desai
- Jul 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Source: Unsplash
Have you ever wondered why the size, look, and space of buildings are vastly different throughout the world? Well, the building codes in different places are varied, as there is a plethora of conditions that factor into the guidelines for building design. Due to the various building codes that exist in different environments, building designers have to follow certain constraints to ensure that the proposed buildings are structurally stable.
What are Building Codes?
Building codes are rules and guidelines that building designers have to comply with in order to ascertain that the designed building would function in a specific environment, all while being safe and sustainable. Specifically, these building codes incorporate criteria and constraints for fire safety, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, construction practices, and other factors. Additionally, there are many different types of building codes, including residential and commercial, because building types have contrasting space usage, sizes, and environmental effects.
The Importance of Building Codes
Building Codes are necessary for numerous reasons. For one, building codes assure that the proposed structure is protected from manmade or natural hazards, like forest fires for example. By providing hazard safety, building codes in turn create more benefits, such as reducing the disruptions of money loss, community disturbance, and relocation stress. Additionally, building codes establish a proper harmony between safety, sustainability, economy, structural stability, and the environment, in order to ensure the success of a building’s life.
Significance of Public Awareness
For future building structures, it is imperative that the public’s health and safety are maintained, and our current community strives for this purpose. Moreover, the public pursues energy conservation as well as environmental protection when it comes to new buildings. Because building code creators take all of these factors into account when outlining the rules and regulations for new building construction, the public should follow up on building codes. By paying attention to building codes, the public can efficiently demand change according to their own environmental, safety, economic, and sustainability values if current building codes misalign with public beliefs. Therefore, the public should attempt to push for their values by researching and inquiring about local building codes.
Factors to Consider When Understanding Building Codes
As previously mentioned, multiple aspects are factored into building codes. To properly create strong opinions and understand building codes, the public must know these factors. Some of these components are local economy, climate zones, ingress and egress requirements, environmental influences, universal design, public safety, and structural integrity. Many of these are dependent on local circumstances, as different geographic areas have different socioeconomic and environmental conditions. However, other components such as structural integrity and safety are more generic, as public safety and stability of structures are universal concepts that all designers have to follow regardless of location. By educating themselves on the complex parts of building codes, the public will be well informed of local building codes and can therefore make educated decisions and impacts.
A Guide for the Future
In order to successfully understand building codes, it is crucial for the public to inform themselves of the intricate elements of local and universal codes. Furthermore, for a safer and more sustainable future, the public should establish more of a presence in building code design. However, to do so, the public should efficiently conduct research and follow up on current trends and natural factors. Overall, for a more well-constructed future, it is key to develop a well-educated public that understands the significance of building codes and pushes for better building conditions.
References:
5 reasons building codes should matter to you. FEMA.gov. (n.d.).
Al, S. (n.d.). Texas state law library. Building Codes.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). (n.d.). Report: The value and impact of building codes. EESI.