Codes and Standards

Position Statements

• A/E Procurement
• Architects in Government
• Architectural Education
• Capitol Budgeting
• Codes and Standards
• Community
• Design of State Funded Transportation Systems
• Energy--Codes & Energy
• Equal Opportunity
• Historic Preservation
• Housing
• Insurance Regulation/Tort Reform
• Owner’s Project Representative
• Public Works Project Delivery
• Registration and Licensing
• Regulatory Reform
• School Construction
• Statute of Repose
• Sustainable Design
• Taxes
• Transportation

The Council supports the adoption and enforcement of consensus codes and standards that are the product of informed education, research, and review. The Council also supports the active participation of architects and public in a consensus process that includes provision for a prompt appeal procedure for all that might be aggrieved.

The Council also supports building regulations that:

• Set forth only the minimum standards for safety, health, and welfare in building construction;
• Are developed by rationally conceived criteria;
• Are designed to serve performance rather than prescriptive criteria wherever possible;
• Consist of a single set of comprehensive, coordinated, and contemporary codes for the nation;
• Are without favoritism or bias to any special interest; and
• Are cost-effective in relation to public benefit.
• Include a due process mechanism for resolving building regulation conflicts.

The Council supports the adoption of the International Codes Council family of codes as the national consensus codes for building construction which most closely meet the national and Washington Council AIA policies.

The Council also supports:

• The enforcement of codes at the lowest level of government that can support competent personnel and their training;
• The local building officials’ authority to make interpretations appropriate to the specific cases before them with consistency in application and enforcement;
• Educational programs for design professionals and others concerned with building construction codes and standards, including students of architecture, architects, and government officials who administer codes and standards.
• An established appeals process for each jurisdiction;
• A State Building Code Council comprised of representatives of design and construction industry and regulatory officials, for evaluation of the model codes and drafting of any state amendments deemed necessary to adapt such codes to local circumstances, to be adopted by legislative action
• Code interpretations available to local building officials from the State Building Code Council.
• Legislative prohibition of local amendments which would modify or amend the adopted state construction codes and standards except in special circumstances.
• Minimum qualifications for plan reviewers and code inspectors through state certification. Furthermore, the Council encourages jurisdictions to hire plan reviewers/building officials who are registered architects with private practice experience. The Council proposes that certified individuals be permitted to practice as private code consultants thus allowing smaller jurisdictions to have more qualified code plans examiners and inspectors to review the occasional specialized facility. When independent plans examiners and inspectors are used for plans review and building inspection, there should be no duplicate review by governing agencies;
• The Council supports the concept that physically disabled individuals should be afforded the means to participate in society to the extent that they are able, through the elimination of physical barriers in a manner that balances the interests of the physically disabled, the public good, and their cost effectiveness.
• The Council recognizes the need to increase the energy efficiency and indoor air quality of the built environment through energy-conscious design and planning. The Council supports energy, ventilation and indoor air quality codes based upon sound energy and health standards that recognize total building performance with a sound economic, scientific, and practical basis.