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Building Codes

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New construction

Building codes:

  • Are a set of legal requirements intended to ensure that a building will not pose a significant threat to the life and safety of its occupants.
  • Provide the minimum criteria necessary for a building's safe design.
  • Are not written to eliminate property loss; their main function is to ensure life safety.

Building codes are adopted and enforced by State and/or local governments.

Past earthquakes have shown that buildings that adhere to modern code requirements generally suffer less damage than buildings built before the adoption of seismic codes.

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