Knowledge of the lack of uniformity existing in city and state building codes was one of the reasons for the formation of the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) in 1922. The idea grew rather slowly until the fall of 1925. At that time the Conference took very definite steps toward dividing the California coast area into three districts: northern. central and southern.
These districts were organized with chairmen and during the year of 1926 district meetings were held for the purpose of publicly discussing the various problems attendant upon the formulation of the proposed Uniform Building Code. Data was gathered from every source possible, preliminary outlines prepared and the Code then developed part by part.
The final preliminary draft of this Code published in September, 1926, represented the first definite accomplishment in the way of a completed code although not then complete in all details. On the basis of this draft the Conference proceeded to get comments, criticisms and suggestions and continued through the medium of further district meetings to perfect the Code.
Even in this preliminary stage of development the Code was adopted by Sacramento, Alhambra, Fontana, Redlands, Oceanside and San Bernardino in California and by Klamath Falls in Oregon. A number of other cities and organizations used this preliminary draft as a model for revisions of existing building codes or in preliminary code work.
Throughout the entire preparation of the Code the policy of hearing all opinions and then weighing them carefully was closely adhered to, with the result that the completed Code represents not only one individual's experiences or ideas but is in fact a broad, equitable and unbiased document for the safe regulation of building construction. Safe practices based upon minimum safe standards have been created to permit of the greatest economy.
Continual research brings to light many vital points in the engineering design of buildings and structures and the Conference has endeavored to recognize all authentic information in the effort to be just in its recommended practices. No definite limit of valuation can be placed on human life and the Code therefore provides protection not only for ordinary use of the building but for cases of emergency when such protection is imperative.
Two printed drafts of this Code have been published previously and a number of mimeographed drafts were distributed, all in the process of development of this 1927 Edition known as the UNIFORM BUILDING CODE (UBC) which was first published in 1927 by the International Council of Building Officials (ICBO).
The Uniform Building Code was intended to promote public safety and provided standardized requirements for safe construction which would not vary from city to city as had previously been the case.
Updated editions of the code were published approximately every three years until 1997, which was the final version of the code. The UBC was replaced in 2000 by the new International Building Code (IBC) published by the International Code Council (ICC). The ICC was a merger of three predecessor organizations which published three different building codes, which were the:
The new ICC was intended to provide consistent standards for safe construction and eliminate differences between the three different predecessor codes. It is primarily used in the United States.
The Building Codes and Standards are published every three years and (in the State of California) are known as the California Code of Regulations (CCR), also referred to as the California Building Code (CBC).
The California Building Standards Code is published in its entirety every three years by order of the California legislature, with supplements published in intervening years. The California legislature delegated authority to various state agencies, boards, commissions, and departments to create building regulations to implement the state's statutes. These building standards have the same force of law, and take effect 180 days after publication, unless otherwise stipulated. The California Building Standards Code applies to all occupancies throughout the State of California as annotated.
A city, county, or city and county may establish more restrictive building standards reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. Findings of the local condition(s) and the adopted local building standard(s) must be filed with the California Building Standards Commission to become effective and may not be effective sooner than the effective date of the edition of the California Building Standards Code. Local building standards adopted to be applicable to previous editions of the California Building Standards Code do not apply to the edition without appropriate adoption and the required filing.
The California Building Code is comprised of the following 12 parts:
Part 1: California Building Standards Administrative Code
Part 2: California Building Code, Volume 1
Part 2: California Building Code, Volume 2
Part 6: California Energy Code
Part 7: California Elevator Safety Construction Code
Part 8: California Historical Building Code
Part 10: California Code For Building Conservation
Part 12: California Referenced Standards Code
1 Source: 1927 Edition Uniform Building Code,International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)
2 Source: 2010 Edition California Building Code, California Building Standards Commission
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