But efforts to employ these strategies are often blocked by building codes, which effectively mandate wood's domination of construction. Although builders have some latitude under the existing code, in general, U.S. building codes exclude or make it prohibitively expensive to use alternative materials or design. The codification of the wood monopoly, say experts, is a consequence of the influence of construction interests, including builders, lumber companies and steel corporations, over the code-drafting process. Anyone can send in a proposed amendment to the building code organization in their region, and it will be sent to the relevant committee. The committee will then have a hearing on the amendment.
Industry influences the process by having a full-time professional to testify at the hearings.
That is one way they have been able to perpetuate the use of traditional building systems while blocking others. Fowler is leading an effort to adopt codes based on performance rather than material specification. Due to declining quality in commercial timber products and innovations with other materials, support is growing among builders, architects, local governments and building officials to level the playing field for building and construction materials. One material that is seeing a renaissance in construction is earthen material. Many architects are revisiting these materials with new technologies and new design.