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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).
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Homebuilder's Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction
FEMA 232 | June 2006
This illustrated guide presents background information on the principles of seismic resistance and how earthquake forces impact conventional residential construction and more detailed information on architectural considerations (site selection, foundations and foundation details, floors, shear walls, and roofs). Also included are discussions of masonry and stone elements, examples of typical floor plans for earthquake- resistant one- and two-story homes, excerpts of seismic requirements from building codes, and checklists for homebuilders.
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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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2009 NEHRP Provisions Edition
FEMA P-750 | 2009
2015 NEHRP Provisions Edition
FEMA P-1050 | 2015
2020 NEHRP Provisions Edition
FEMA P-2082-1 | Volume I: Part 1 Provisions, Part 2 Commentary
The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Provisions are a knowledge-based resource document intended to translate research results into engineering design practice. The NEHRP Provisions incorporate results and findings from recent research projects, problem-focused studies, and post-earthquake investigation reports conducted by various professional organizations, research institutes, universities, material industries, and the four NEHRP agencies. The 2009 edition (FEMA P-750) is the basis for changes to the seismic-resistant provisions found in ASCE/SEI 7-10 and the 2015 International Building Code and the 2015 NEHRP Provisions edition (FEMA P-1050) is the basis for changes to the seismic-resistant provisions found in ASCE/SEI 7-16 and the 2018 International Building Code.
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Procedures for Developing Multi-Period Response Spectra at Non-Conterminous United States Sites
FEMA P-2078 | August 2020
This study develops methods for constructing multi-period response spectra (MPRS) at all periods and site classes of interest, assuming that only deterministic and probabilistic values of SS and S1, and approximated values of TL from ASCE 7-16, are available for the site of interest. A comparison between derived MPRS and calculated MPRS at sites in the conterminous United States was used to validate the proposed methods and models. With this validation, these method and models can be used to derive multi-period response spectra using only the three currently available ground motion parameters SS, S1, and TL for all non-conterminous United States regions of interest.
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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.