Debut Policy #1- Building Codes & Standards

TOPIC - Building Codes and Standards

Initial Draft 10 July 2006
Draft Update 17 October 2006
Adopted January 2007
Sunset December 2007


Policy Statement

Building codes set a minimum acceptable level of safety and performance to protect public health, safety, and welfare. Regulated components of building construction and occupancy include requirements for structure, egress and fire safety, accessibility, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and energy conservation. To create this integrity, architects, engineers and builders depend on established building codes- accepted industry standards, practices and methods- to guide them in their work. Beyond the minimum requirements, there are examples of government bodies and design practitioners adopting aspirational guidelines to effect a higher quality of life through the expectations they place on all building projects.


Issue 1 – Building Safety

Issue
At a minimum, buildings must have structural integrity and stand up to the elements in day-to-day uses. Furthermore, every part of the United States is exposed to natural disasters. Illinois is affected by many types of events – seismic, hail, fire, tornado, severe winter weather and flooding. Building codes provide for minimum requirements for property protection and increased safety for residents on both a daily basis and in a time of disaster.

Position
AIA Illinois supports the adoption of model codes to ensure building safety and timely review and revision to account for changing needs, advances in building methods and available technology.


Issue 2 – Higher Standards

Issue
By design, building safety related codes account for human occupancy. To go beyond merely occupying buildings and promoting quality of life, higher standards are needed. Laws for accessibility and energy conservation are just two examples of building requirements that call for more than just a basic level of public protection and implement common, shared values.

Position
AIA Illinois believes that our codes and standards should support, encourage and provide leadership in high performance buildings, the efficient use of our energy resources, and sustainable community design. AIA Illinois believes that we need to encourage the expanded accessibility of buildings to provide for people with disabilities and an aging population.






Issue 3 – Clarity and Consistency

Issue
The State of Illinois has no uniform, comprehensive building code that is enforced statewide. The Illinois General Assembly and various state agencies have adopted more that 250 separate laws and administrative rules that control certain aspects of design and construction, but there is no single code that contains or references all of the guidelines and standards used in other parts of the country to help ensure the construction of safe and healthy buildings. The random nature of a disjointed code environment is harder to monitor and enforce and places an additional burden on design professionals.

Position
AIA Illinois advocates for comprehensive, coordinated, contemporary and consistent building codes and standards through out the State of Illinois and therefore endorses the conclusions of the May 2006 Illinois Task Force on Uniform Building Codes that overwhelmingly recommended that the General Assembly adopt a uniform, comprehensive, statewide code.