ISO releases major state building code report

In February, ISO released the National Building Code Assessment Report on the status of the nation’s building codes, including individual assessments of each participating state. The report provides a comprehensive examination of building codes and their enforcement in 20,800 communities representing 87 percent of the U.S. population.

“Weather patterns and other factors are changing the impact zones of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes throughout the United States,” said Robert Andrews, vice president and chief field operations officer, ISO Community Hazard Mitigation. “As a result, building codes have taken on even more importance for property owners, insurers, builders, local and federal government agencies, and emergency response teams.”

Communities across the United States are calling for better preparation, response, and recovery—for when, not if, the next major disaster strikes. Well-enforced and up-to-date commercial and residential building codes are the first line of defense against such disasters. Communities that adopt and enforce strict codes sustain fewer and less severe financial losses from natural hazards and can benefit from reduced insurance premiums.

The issuance of the report marks the twentieth anniversary of the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS®), which ISO created to assess and grade communities on building code adoption and enforcement. The report is available at www.isomitigation.com.