Research Guides: CM 120: Building the Human Environment: Find Building Codes

What are Building Codes?

Rules for the construction of buildings and structures to protect safety and health
Address fire, safety, structure, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical aspects of buildings
Codes are established by local municipalities but are often based on national recommendations

Find Building Codes

Search local municipality for building codes

Building codes are generally based on the International Code Council's (ICC) model codes, but every state and municipality has its own code adoption process and may choose to modify codes to meet local needs.

Conduct an internet search of local and state building codes and related information for your building site.

2. Search for International Code Council (ICC) codes

3. Search for municipal codes for thousands of U.S. Cities in Municode Library

Building Codes and Regulations

Building Codes by State
Provides basic information about minimum code standards for each state. Do a web search on the code model to find additional details about that code.
City of Flagstaff Building Codes
City of Flagstaff website for building and safety which lists codes applicable to Flagstaff. A web search on these codes will usually result in full information about the code.
ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines
Links to preview-versions of standards established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers -- "a global society advancing human well-being through sustainable technology for the built environment."
International Code Council
International building codes as well as some state codes.
U.S. Green Building Council and LEED Certification
Website for USGBC which is made up of tens of thousands of member organizations, chapters, and student and community volunteers that have collectively developed criteria for Leed Certification.
EnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software
Developed by the Department of Energy, EnergyPlus is a whole-building energy simulation program that engineers, architects, and researchers use to model both energy consumption—for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and plug and process loads—and water use in buildings.
CampusGreenBuilder
The Campus Green Builder (CGB) online portal to green building information for academic institutions provides a one-stop online resource on campus green building that is free and accessible to all higher education institutions.
CampusERC
The Campus Environmental Resource Center--CampusERC--is intended to be a portal of resources to support campus environmental performance improvement. Developed collaboratively by NACUBO, C2E2, CSHEMA, APPA and the EPA.

Journals and other publications of interest:

ASRHAE Journal
Browse or search topics within the ASRHAE Journal.
ASRHAE Transactions
ASHRAE Transactions comprises the Technical Papers presented at ASHRAE’s Winter and Annual Conferences. Search or browse the content.
Environmental Design Construction
Journal covering aspects of environmentally sound building design & construction including recycled building products, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, indoor air quality, & systems of waste disposal & re-use.
Building and Environment
Building and Environment is an international journal that publishes original research papers and review articles related to building science and human interaction with the built environment.

CM 120: Building the Human Environment

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What are Building Codes?

Find Building Codes

Building Codes and Regulations

Other Important Guidelines for Building Design and Construction