SOURCE: International Code Council
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its landmark study “Building Codes Save: A National Study” featuring an in-depth look at the quantified benefits — avoided losses to buildings and building contents — from adopting modern building codes and standards. As the frequency and severity of natural hazards continue to increase year-over-year, this study reaffirms that building codes continue to be the best first line of defense: adopting modern codes provides $11 in mitigation savings for every $1 invested. Alarmingly, the FEMA study found that currently 65 percent of counties, cities and towns across the U.S. have not adopted modern building codes, only 50 percent of cumulative post-2000 construction adhered to the International Codes (I-Codes), and 30 percent of new construction is occurring in communities with no codes at all or codes that are more than 20 years outdated. [Access Report]
“With incredible analytic detail, this study reaffirms what so many studies before have concluded — adopting and implementing the I-Codes is one of the most effective ways to safeguard our communities against disasters,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “But further strides must be made in states and localities where the report identifies there are no codes adopted or where codes have not been updated this century. We thank FEMA for highlighting the value of and need for coordinated action at all levels of government that is critical to ensuring our homes and businesses are best positioned to weather the increasing hazard risks posed by our changing climate.”
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