Building Codes and Regulations in the US
How building regulation shapes construction in the US: model codes, state and local adoption and amendments, permits, plan review, special inspections and certificates of occupancy, occupancy classification and occupant load, allowable height and area and construction types including mass timber, fire-resistance-rated construction and exterior walls, egress, fire protection systems, accessibility under the ADA, ICC A117.1 and the Fair Housing Act, structural, energy and plumbing requirements, zoning, historic preservation and environmental approvals, and a capstone code review.
CON-140 Year 1 3 credits 12 lessons · 5 h 48 min
Offered by HSM University · Construction Management
This is the American version of this course. See the Canadian version.
What you'll learn
- Explain why building codes exist, how prescriptive and performance requirements differ, and how model codes, adopted codes and referenced standards relate
- Describe the US code system, including the ICC model codes, state and local adoption and amendments, enforcement and federal requirements
- Plan permits, plan review, inspections, special inspections and certificates of occupancy into a construction schedule
- Classify occupancies, deal with mixed and accessory uses, calculate occupant loads and recognize changes of occupancy
- Determine whether a building's size is permitted for its occupancy, construction type and sprinklering, and explain mass timber and firewall provisions
- Explain fire-resistance ratings, fire separations, closures, firestopping and spatial separation, and check exterior wall openings
- Calculate and check exits, exit separation, travel distance and exit width, and identify the construction details of exits
- Explain when fire alarm, sprinkler, standpipe, smoke control and emergency power systems are required and plan their acceptance testing
- Apply accessibility requirements from IBC Chapter 11, ICC A117.1, the ADA 2010 Standards and the Fair Housing Act
- Summarize structural, envelope, energy, plumbing, mechanical and electrical code requirements and check an energy compliance calculation
- Explain zoning, variances, rezonings, site plan review, heritage and environmental approvals and build them into a development schedule
- Manage code compliance on site, resolve deficiencies and disputes, explain how codes change and carry out a code review of a small building
Course content
12 lessons · 5 h 48 min total · final exam
- 1 Why building codes exist and how they work 29 min · quiz
- 2 The US code system: model codes, state adoption and local amendments 27 min · quiz
- 3 Permits, plan review and inspections in the US 31 min · quiz
- 4 Occupancy classification and building use 30 min · quiz
- 5 Building size and construction type 27 min · quiz
- 6 Fire separations, fire resistance and spatial separation 28 min · quiz
- 7 Means of egress: occupant load, exits and travel distance 29 min · quiz
- 8 Fire protection systems and life safety 27 min · quiz
- 9 Accessibility: the ADA, ICC A117.1 and the Fair Housing Act 30 min · quiz
- 10 Structural, energy and other technical requirements 28 min · quiz
- 11 Zoning, land use and environmental approvals in the US 27 min · quiz
- 12 Code compliance on site, code change and capstone code review 35 min · quiz
- E Final exam 20 questions
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
How building regulation shapes construction in the US: model codes, state and local adoption and amendments, permits, plan review, special inspections and certificates of occupancy, occupancy classification and occupant load, allowable height and area and construction types including mass timber, fire-resistance-rated construction and exterior walls, egress, fire protection systems, accessibility under the ADA, ICC A117.1 and the Fair Housing Act, structural, energy and plumbing requirements, zoning, historic preservation and environmental approvals, and a capstone code review.
Part of the Construction Management stream, typically taken in year 1.