R47665 — Building Codes, Standards, and Regulations: Frequently Asked Questions

A building code provides rules and standards for the design, construction, alteration, materials, maintenance, and performance of buildings. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety, and general welfare in the construction and occupancy of buildings. Building codes are adopted and enforced by state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) entities. The federal government is responsible for the adoption and enforcement of building codes for federal buildings, military buildings, and manufactured housing. In general, building codes do not apply to infrastructure. Infrastructure consists of physical networks (systems and facilities) that provide functions and services to the community such as electricity and water. Where infrastructure connects to or runs through a building, some building codes, standards, and regulations may apply to some components of infrastructure (e.g., electrical wiring, plumbing). For more information about codes, standards, and regulations specifically for infrastructure, see CRS Report R47666, Infrastructure Codes, Standards, and Regulations: Frequently Asked Questions. Historically and most commonly, the federal government and SLTTs have not developed their own building codes but rather have adopted part or all of model building codes. A model building code is a collection of promulgated criteria and standards most often developed and maintained by a standards developing organization (SDO) and designed to be adopted by a jurisdiction. In general, model building codes are updated on a regular basis (e.g., every three years) and some editions may incorporate additional building performance objectives such as energy efficiency or natural hazards resistance. Questions about building codes have arisen in the wake of disasters, such as the condominium collapse in Surfside, FL, in 2021, in which 98 people died; the Amazon warehouse collapse in Edwardsville, IL, in December 2021, in which six people died; and the January 2022 Bronx, NY, apartment fire, in which 17 people died. Some in Congress are interested in developing and promoting adoption of more efficient, resilient building codes to protect people and property and to avoid financial loss. A study led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), entitled Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study, looked at 18.1 million mostly residential buildings constructed between 2000 and 2016 and estimated the amount of damage these structures might incur from the three most common hazards: floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. FEMA found that about half the buildings (roughly 9.1 million of the 18.1 million in the study) were built to more recent and resilient model building codes and would avoid losses of approximately $1.6 billion (annualized average in 2020 dollars). Although SDOs typically lead efforts to enhance codes through regular updates to model building codes and standards, the federal government has contributed to codes in various ways. Congress has directed federal agencies to help enhance model building codes and to assist SLTTs in adopting and enforcing enhanced building codes. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s building science programs research and develop more resilient design standards that the agency can propose to SDOs. Accepted proposals are included in the next edition of a model building code. FEMA generally requires recipients of FEMA funding to comply with applicable building codes when conducting federally funded construction projects. Given that building performance can be enhanced through more efficient and resilient codes, standards, certifications, and/or regulations, Congress may consider during its deliberations the current status of SLTTs’ building codes, model building codes, federal building codes, and other mandatory or voluntary rules and guidelines.

Curated by CRS — every bill listed in this report's relatedMaterials. Edge type cited_in_report, gold confidence.

• HR 1631 — Pro Codes Act · 118th Cong
• S 835 — Pro Codes Act · 118th Cong