Codes, and Standards

Standards and codes provide the legal and technical foundation for building design, ensuring safety, structural integrity, fire protection, energy efficiency, and accessibility. Compliance is mandatory and serves as a critical quality benchmark. Design teams must navigate diverse codes issued by local, national, and international authorities—covering general building regulations, engineering disciplines, and sustainability certifications. Coordinating standards across disciplines (e.g., NEC/IEC for electrical, ASHRAE for mechanical, IPC for plumbing) ensures integrated and conflict-free design. This section outlines key code types, approval processes, and life safety requirements, emphasizing the role of the design team in achieving compliance across all project phases.