Construction industry standards are accepted practices or technologies used in the construction field to govern safety, quality, materials, and operating principles. They are developed by trade groups, industry associations, and building officials and are often adopted by legislators or code developers. Organizations such as the International Organization for Standards, the International Code Council, and safety organizations contribute to the development of building standards. These standards are voluntary, but many different construction bodies refer to them in their day-to-day operations. An example of building industry standards development is the case of home sprinklers, which were added to residential building codes after lobbying by sprinkler industry trade groups.
Construction industry standards are practices or technologies used in the construction field. These practices are considered acceptable or fair by members of this industry as well as regulators and governing bodies. Construction industry standards help govern issues such as safety, quality, materials, and operating principles used in the construction field. They are developed over time by trade groups, industry associations and building officials. While construction industry standards by themselves are not necessarily enforceable by law, they are often adopted by legislators or code developers and used to regulate practices within the industry.
Many types of organizations are involved in the development of construction industry standards. Some of these groups, such as the International Organization for Standards (ISO), develop standards that are used around the world. Other global standards groups include the International Code Council, which focuses on testing standards for construction materials and techniques. In the United States, engineering groups such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers are heavily involved in developing standards in their specific fields. Safety organizations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), also contribute to the development of building standards.
The standards themselves should be considered voluntary in most cases and contractors are not required by law to follow them. In general, a construction organization will develop a standard regarding the best material for specific roofing applications or the best way to test fire doors. Organizations such as the International Code Council may take note of these standards and submit them for committee review or testing. After approval, the board can adapt these standards to its annual International Building Code standards. At that point, it is up to individual states or countries to adopt the new code and enact these standards into law.
Many different construction bodies refer to these standards in their day-to-day operations. This includes builders and contractors, who rely on construction industry standards to determine the best method to complete a specific project. It can also include architects and engineers looking for solutions to complex construction scenarios. Manufacturers use these standards to develop and test new products. Consumers and building owners can use these standards when drafting a contract or evaluating a newly completed construction project.
For an example of building industry standards development, consider the case of home sprinklers. For many years, residential building codes did not require sprinkler systems in new or existing homes. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, sprinkler industry trade groups began lobbying the International Code Council and other organizations on the importance of residential sprinkler systems. Early in the 20th century, these groups investigated the life-saving potential of these sprinklers, and eventually, the International Code Council added these sprinkler systems to its residential building codes. Since that time, many cities and states around the world have adopted this international code, making home sprinklers standard in some areas.
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