Code Council, Fiatech Partner to Complete First Phase of Automated Code Checking Technology

The International Code Council and Austin, Texas-based Fiatech have completed the Proof-of-Concept (POC) phase of the AutoCodes Project initiative. The AutoCodes Project seeks to employ automated code checking technology and Building Information Models (BIM) to help speed up and improve consistency in the building code and approval process. BIMs are complex databases containing detailed design and construction information that can be rendered visually in three dimensions, and checked very quickly using logical, machine language (software) rules that emulate building codes.

The AutoCodes Project Team completed the POC Phase in January 2012. Phase I focused on accessibility and egress provisions in Chapters 10-11 of the 2009 International Building Code (IBC). The project team collaborated with the Code Council, Fiatech members and 13 authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) for code compliance.

“This initiative is an innovative area of study in the modernization of codes and standards compliance,” said Dominic Sims, ICC Executive Vice President and Director of Operations. “The project was created in response to industry needs for streamlining the review and compliance processes, and ultimately will put additional tools into the hands of code officials as they work to create safe and sustainable structures. We look forward to continuing our partnership as the initiative moves into Phase II.”

As part of a trial run, the Code Council and Fiatech used a prototype of a Target store to probe the technology, process and information gaps that exist between current 2D code reviews and those utilizing the Target prototype BIM. ICC Technical Services and Plan Review staff reviewed the store’s 2D design for compliance with the accessibility and egress provisions of the 2009 IBC. Also during Phase I, ICC staff provided technical assistance for questions generated by various jurisdictions associated with the project.

The final report for Phase I summarizes all activities, including assumptions made, methodologies followed and project team findings, including:

• Review inconsistency is the norm, not the exception.
• Model creation best practices development is a critical consideration.
• Education and information, on a global scale, is essential.
• As an AEC methodology, BIM needs to be inclusive—AHJs must be part of the BIM ecosystem.

“The Fiatech Team also created a video, produced by Target that summarizes the issues and challenges that the AutoCodes Project seeks to address.

To learn more about the AutoCodes project and ways you can participate, contact Robert Wible, Fiatech Project Manager, at wible@fiatech.org; Ron Loback, Avolve Software, Regulatory Streamlining Co-Chair at rloback@avolvesoftware.com; or Tom Phillips, Target, Regulatory Streamlining Co-Chair, at Thomas.Phillips@target.com.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe and sustainable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.