Qualified Hardware Library: History of Building Safety

Over the course of history, buildings have changed a great deal. From simple structures such as huts to simple wooden framed buildings and homes to modern steel office buildings, the design, structure and building methods have seen massive changes. Along with the changes in the buildings have come concerns about ensuring that the buildings are safe from fire, electrical dangers and other structural problems. To make sure that builders and owners comply and have safe buildings, building codes and regulations have been implemented creating safer buildings.

Building codes and building safety has been an important topic for centuries and continues to be very important today. The health and well being of people who inhabit the buildings are dependent on the fact that the building was constructed properly and the builders followed all of the regulations that were in place from the building codes and regulation.

Some of the first instances where a specific building code was implemented was in the Code of Hammurabi dating back to 1600 BC, which listed instances where severe punishments would be given if homes were not built properly. These punishments ranged from paying or replacing property damaged during the building collapse to death if the property owner or another person died in the collapse.

Over the course of the next several centuries improvements to the building codes were made as an answer to problems that occurred in the communities. In the United States, the first building codes started to be implemented in the late 19 th Century, mostly in response to great tragedies which occurred such as fires which officials believed could have been avoided.

Wi th more disasters happening in the communities such as fires, building collapses, electrical malfunctions and general improper construction, governments started to act to ensure that all buildings met certain standards. In addition to the implementation of building codes, governments began to enact other legislation the set minimum quality standards for electrical work, the existence of smoke alarms, proper construction work, filing building plans prior to the work starting and making sure that contractors and other people working on buildings have proper qualifications.

Today most local municipalities, as well as country, state and federal government, have departments that monitor the work of contractors and others in the construction industry to ensure that they are following proper rules and regulations. Inspectors in many cases will review the work that is being done by contractors and if they have met the proper standards will have the work approved so that the remainder of the work will continue. By monitoring work on fire systems, electrical systems and structural soundness, inspectors will be certain that the work is up to minimum standards of the building codes.

Building codes today are aimed at providing safe buildings for homes and businesses. The codes represent a wide range of areas such as fire prevention, green space, parking, being resistant to natural disasters, hazardous material and many other areas. To learn more about the history of building safety and building codes, we have assembled a collection of resources:

Building and Safety Information
History of Building Codes
Building Code History (PDF)
Building and Safety Code History (PDF)
Building Code Reference Library
Standards and Regulations of Building Codes
NFPA Fire Codes and Standards
Building Codes and Regulatory Resources
Resource of North American Codes
Guide to Building Codes
Building Safety Resources
Building Code Safety Resources
Engineering and Building Safety
Building Safety Regulations (PDF)
Fire and Building Safety
Construction Building Regulations
Construction Safety Regulations
Construction Safety Regulations and Legislation

The professionals in the building and construction industry have a large responsibility for the safety of the people that will either be living, working or visiting the structures that they are building. The occupants of the buildings must be able to enter the building wi th the knowledge that they are safe from structural failure, electrical malfunctions and fire. To ensure that the occupants of buildings are safe, governments have established written codes that must be followed to remain safe.

While building safety and the building codes that municipalities have established have come a long way in protecting building occupants, these organizations which govern builders continue to monitor the codes and make changes when they become necessary. The building codes provide governments with laws to help ensure people are safe and to penalize those that do not follow proper procedures. However, building safety is always at the forefront of government departments that are there to protect people now and in the future.