Building Codes and Barrier-Free Design 259
On the other hand, a town that lies in the path of hurricanes may require special storm-protection stan-
dards. It is no surprise therefore that some codes have evolved through modifications necessitated by
particular geographic and population needs.
The terrorist attacks of September 11 and Oklahoma City continue to impact code development, and
a change to the International Building Code (IBC) related to the World Trade Center collapse was re-
cently approved. The IBC now requires that buildings 420 feet and higher have a minimum 3-hour struc-
tural fire-resistance rating. The previous requirement was limited to 2 hours. This change provides in-
creased fire resistance for the structural system, leading to enhanced tenability of the structure, and
gives firefighters additional protection while fighting a fire.
The IBC establishes minimum standards for the design and construction of building systems. It ad-
dresses issues such as use and occupancy, entry and exit during emergencies, engineering practices,
and construction technology. Figure 11.2 is a general checklist to indicate whether a project is code-
compliant or not.
Figure 11.2 A general checklist used to determine general code compliance (source: The Codes Guidebook
for Interiors by S.K. Harmon and K.G. Kennon).