The system is so well developed that the true complexity of the process is obscure to many. It is for the purpose of creating awareness of this important public service that this pamphlet is provided. We all do - whether in our homes, offices, schools, stores, factories or places of entertainment. We rely on the safety of structures that surround us in our everyday living. The public need for protection from disaster due to fire, structural collapse and general deterioration underscores the need for modern codes and their administration.
Building codes provide safeguards.
Although no code can eliminate all risks, reducing risks to an acceptable level helps. Practically, it is the government's official statement on building safety. It embraces all aspects of the building construction - fire and structural items as well as the plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. All people are impacted in a building construction project - architects and engineers, contractors and subcontractors, the manufacturers and distributors of building materials and, finally, the user or occupant of the building. It is the only way to verify independently that code compliance has been achieved.