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Building Code Documents
Browse our collection building code documents, which provide guidance on the hazard-resistant provisions in the building codes for property owners, engineers, design professionals, building codes officials, and the general public.
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These documents are compilations of flood resistant provisions, prepared by FEMA of the I-Codes. These include:
- International Building Code
- International Residential Code
- International Exiting Building Code
- International Mechanical Code
- International Plumbing Code
- International Fuel Gas Code
- International Fire Code
- International Swimming Pool and Spa Code
- International Private Sewage Disposal Code and
- International Code Council Performance Code.
Also included, as separate documents, are summaries of changes from the previous editions. The 2018, 2015, 2012, and 2009 editions of the I-Codes contain provisions that meet or exceed the minimum flood-resistant design and construction requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program for buildings and structures. FEMA and states use a standard checklist when reviewing local floodplain management regulations/ordinances to determine whether such regulations and ordinances are complete for the purpose of participating in the National Flood Insurance Program. The checklists for the I-Codes may also be used to guide floodplain managers, building officials and designers as they compare the flood provisions of the 2015 I-Codes and ASCE 24-14 to the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program. See link below for Highlights of ASCE 24 (ASCE 24 is a referenced standard in the 2015 IBC and IRC).
This document contains excerpts of the flood-resistant provisions from the 2024 editions of the International Codes® (I-Codes®) and was prepared by FEMA with permission from the International Code Council (ICC).
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This sub-study evaluates the NFIP building standards, including a review of flood loss and damage data for structures and communities and calculation of costs and benefits of modifying NFIP building standards across defined ranges of flood conditions and building configurations, differentiated by flood hazard zone.
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This document provides a supplement analysis to the 2006 Evaluation of the National Flood Insurance Program’s Building Standards. The purpose of this document is to determine the cost-effectiveness of including freeboard within the foundation height of new residential buildings constructed in floodplains and to establish which factors should be considered when determining how many feet above the minimum NFIP-required elevation a house should be constructed in order to maximize cost-effectiveness.
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Developed by the International Code Council and FEMA, this guide helps state and local officials integrate the International Codes® (I-Codes) into their current floodplain management regulatory processes related to coordinate with structures, buildings, and other development in special flood hazard areas in order to meet the requirements to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Chapter 2 describes three approaches for coordinating the I-Codes and local floodplain management regulations and identifies a number of advantages and considerations when relying on the flood provisions of the codes.
- Chapter 3 explains several differences between the National Flood Insurance Program regulations and the I-Code requirements related to specific terminology and provisions. Many requirements in the codes exceed National Flood Insurance Program’s minimum requirements. In some references, there are provisions which are more specific than the National Flood Insurance Program, especially in the International Building Code®, which references ASCE 24, Flood Resistant Design and Construction.
- Chapter 4 contains questions for States and communities to answer to know whether and how to modify existing floodplain management regulations the I-Codes.
- Chapter 5 describes modifications that can be adopted to incorporate higher standards in the I-Codes to further increase resistance to flood damage.
- Chapter 6 introduces model code-coordinated ordinances prepared by FEMA.
These documents contain Flood Resistant Provisions of the 2018, 2015 and 2012 editions of codes published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers (IAPMO): the Uniform Mechanical Code; Uniform Plumbing Code; Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code; and Uniform Solar, Hydronics and Geothermal Code (Uniform Solar Energy Code prior to 2018).