New York City Adopts New Construction Codes

August 22, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

The first major modernization of the city's building codes in nearly 40 years, the 2008 New York City Codes are based on the 2003 International Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Fire Codes.

RELATED CONTENT
 Construction Standards & Codes Collections
 Building Energy Efficiency Standards
 Building & Construction Standards & Codes

"Any code that's designed to protect the public safety in a way that developers, homeowners and others in the building process can understand is a breath of fresh air," said Rick Bell, executive director of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York chapter.

Bell said that adopting the new codes in New York City is important, especially because more firms in New York are practicing nationally, even globally. The new codes, he said, coordinate better with those used in other jurisdictions.

"Codes at home were so different from codes in every other city in the land," Bell said. "Bringing the International Building Code to New York provides greater flexibility and comparability. It means that now, when architects move to work in New York from other areas, they'll be trained and familiar with how to look up the code. That's very important."

The new codes reference a more recent edition of the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) Steel Construction Manual, enabling architects and engineers to use updated formulas and properties when they design in steel, according to Gary Higbee, director of industry development for the Steel Institute of New York.

The 2008 New York City Codes also include updated materials acceptance criteria. As long as a particular material or equipment meets the necessary laboratory approvals - often already nationally attained - specifiers won't have to resubmit it through New York's materials acceptance program.

"This important feature and its associated changes will facilitate using new products and materials - something widely considered to result in construction savings and enhanced occupant safety," Higbee said.

To purchase a copy of the 2008 New York City Codes, visit http://www.iccsafe.org.

Source: International Code Council (ICC).