With lockdown orders put in place across the U.S., 2020 put a greater emphasis on building codes and thrust them into the spotlight. Model building codes are the foundation of a community and form an ecosystem of building policies that support the health, safety and welfare of the neighborhoods that adopt them. When wholly adopted and enforced by state and local governments, they can be extremely effective at reducing disaster damage, and keeping our existing structures standing and our economy healthy.
In fact, FEMA projects that if all future construction adhered to up-to-date International Codes (I-Codes), the U.S. would avoid more than $600 billion in cumulative losses from floods, hurricanes and earthquakes by 2060. Additionally, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) estimates that adopting modern editions of the I-Codes codes saves $11 for every $1 invested through mitigation benefits against those hazards. By adopting the most up-to-date comprehensive, standardized set of codes, governments can help save communities money and time in rebuilding and, most importantly, help save lives.