Model Building Codes

About Model Building Codes

Most towns do not write their own building code. Towns usually adopt one of the building codes written and maintained by the International Code Council (ICC), or one of three organizations that consolidated into the ICC (BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI.) 

These building codes are often referred to as "model building codes" because towns (villages, cities, counties, states, etc.) "model" their building code after one of these codes. They may adopt one of these codes verbatim, or may make changes.

The model building codes contain fastening schedules. Some schedules are for framing. Tables for shear walls and horizontal diaphragms are used by design professionals like architects and structural engineers when designing a wall or roof to resist or transfer forces such as those produced by wind and seismic activity. Other schedules tell how to fasten sheathing to roofs, walls and floors under limited circumstances (such as "conventional one or two family dwellings.")