International Developments in Building Code Concepts

Abstract

As a result of work performed at research centers throughout the world, new firesafety design methodologies are emerging at an accelerating rate. For the most part, these new methods are not receiving widespread use in day-to-day practice in the United States. In Australia and the United Kingdom, major changes are underway which are opening doors to the more routine use of advanced firesafety design techniques. The basic impetus for these changes has more to do with public policy than fire technology. Innovations are occurring within a context of regulatory reform, privatization and the desire to improve international competitiveness.

The United States is lagging sorely behind in efforts to create a public policy environment which will accommodate new techniques and nurture their routine use in practice. The U.S. firesafety design and regulatory system is much more complex than that found in other countries. Similar changes in the United States will require key players in various constituent groups to work together, focus on issues and implement changes through the voluntary consensus system of codes and standards. Public policy makers must seek change.

Specific areas of effort needed in the United States include focused cooperation, advocacy and leadership among the key players including elected and appointed officials, fire service and building officials, codes and standards organizations, architects, engineers, building owners and managers, insurance and building industries. Public policy research will probably be required in areas such as model legislation and the development of public policy decision making tools. Nationally recognized firesafety design practices must be validated and made to be user friendly; effective educational programs must be available for all key players in the system, and the question of professional practice and liability insurance will need to be addressed.