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Building Codes: A Regulatory Mechanism for Reducing the Vulnerability of Urban Areas

NCJ Number
217949
Journal
Journal of Security Education Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: 2006 Pages: 95-106
Author(s)
Reshme Theckethil
Date Published
2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper examines how the innovative use of building codes can reduce the vulnerability of buildings to various natural and man-made disasters.
Abstract
Building codes are intended to regulate building construction and use in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants. They should address all aspects of building construction, including structural integrity, fire resistance, safe exits, lighting, electrical energy conservation, plumbing sanitary facilities, ventilation, seismic design, and the correct use of materials. Building codes can be broadly classified into two types: prescriptive and performance-based building codes. Building codes are prescriptive if they provide details on what must be done and how to do it. They generally require that certain types of materials and building procedures be use. Performance-based building codes, on the other hand, specify the characteristics a building must have in order to meet set safety standards. In contrast to prescriptive codes, performance building codes tend to be broad and flexible, allowing for innovative solutions in the meeting of safety requirements. Given rapid advances in material composition and building design, performance-based codes provide a better vehicle for advances in cost-effective building construction that meets safety standards specified in building codes. The governmental regulatory agencies responsible for building codes must ensure that there is a structure for decisionmaking on building codes that includes the participation of nongovernmental representatives of the building design, materials, and construction industries, as well as experts in the threats and impacts on buildings of various types of disasters. 9 notes and 19 references