The Disaster Center

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The Rothstein Cataloge on Disaster Recovery

What Code Do You Need?

Administration

Plan Review

Residential Code

Fire Code

Building Code

Plumbing Code

Mechanical Code

Electrical Code

Fuel Gas Code

Private Sewage Code

Energy Conservation Code

Existing Building Code

Performance Code

Wildland-Urban Code

Property Maintenance Code

State and International Codes

Masonry and Steel Codes

Alternative Construction

Storm Shelters

Building for Disasters

Green Home

Legacy Codes:

Southern Building Congress

International Conference of Building Officials

Building Officials and Code Administrators International

The Code (return to top of page) It is important to remember that the Building Codes are minimum standards of construction for estimated wind and seismic forces that a property may or may not be subject to. There is nothing in the code that prohibits a builder from constructing to a higher standard. Analysis of Code Changes (return to top of page) Code Handbooks (return to top of page) Code Check (return to top of page) Reference Standards (return to top of page) Engineering (return to top of page)

The first known building code was part of the Code of Hammurabi, the first known written code of laws in human history. The code specified that if a house falls and kills its owner, the builder should be put to death. Project Management (return to top of page) Specification Writing (return to top of page) Code Commentary (return to top of page) Contractors Guide (return to top of page) Estimation (return to top of page)

The Code Analysis of Code Changes Code Handbooks Code Check Code Commentary Contractors Guide Estimation Inspection Reference Standards Engineering Project Management Specification Writing Legal OSHA Inspection (return to top of page) Legal (return to top of page) OSHA (return to top of page)

What Code Do You Need?
To determine the construction code to follow, contact the local Building Department or Land Use authority with  jurisdiction where the land is located.  In addition, you may need to acquire copies of State or local jurisdiction's amendments to these Codes.  In some States and local jurisdictions there may be a separate additional State code.  Besides construction codes, the jurisdiction may have zoning ordinances, land use codes, and covenants may restrict land use, type, and manner of contruction allowed.

Prior to purchasing any land, we recommend that you use the Disaster Risks Locator,  a free service offered by a company under contract to FEMA, to help identify some disaster threats that a property may be subject to. 

The Disaster Center provides online coverage of disasters in the United States, compiling and providing links to disaster related statistics and studies: US Crimes Data from 1960  Tornado, Nonfatal occupational Injuries and Illnesses, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Motor Vehicle Traffic Injury and Fatality Data,  Child Nursery Equipment and Toys: Accident Rates by Age, Sports & Recreational Equipment: Injuries by Age and Sex, Home, Heating, Plumbing, and Appliance: Injuries by Cause, Age, and Rate, Furniture, furnishings, household, and personal use items: Accident injury rates by Age, Home, Work Tools and Misc. Items: Accident Injury rates by Age. US Cause of Death Data , US Anti-terrorism Threat/Risk Policy prior to September 11, 2001,  US Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorism Policy prior to 9-11  Atlantic Hurricane pages and index.  Total student, Number of school-associated Violent Deaths and Number of Homicides and Suicides of Youth Ages 5–19, by Location: 1992–2002  Crimes and Indexes for USA Metropolitan Statistical Areas