Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2000 International Building Code

by Francis D.K. Ching and Steven R. Winkel

Book Overview

Get this practical, illustrated guide to the International Building Code. With the publication of the new International Building Code, the building industry is moving toward a single universal set of construction codes, rather than the three regional codes previously in use. Now more than ever, architects need an interpretive guide to understand how the building code affects the early design of specific projects. This unique reference blends the graphic...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471099805
• ISBN13: 9780471099802
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.6" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

A great book!

Ching did a great job again! The line drawings clarified the codes and made it easy to understand. Gang Chen, Author of "LEED AP Exam Guide" & "Planting Design Illustrated." LEED AP, AIA

A great book!!!

Breaks down the code with graphics and illustrations, for beginners and for those who want to have a better understanding of the code. It also helps to read this book if you plan on taking the ARE exam.

ARE studying material

This is an excellent book to skim through for preparation for the ARE. I definitely recommend Ching's two books: Building Codes Illustrated and Building Construction Illustrated. After spending several dollars on studying materials for the exam, I found that I got the most bang for my buck from: the two Ching books, David Ballast's Study Guides, Larry Paul's ARE Practice Exam, and Archiflash cards. These were the the most useful tools to get through the multiple choice sections as they most closely reflected the material covered on the exams.

Up-to-date and clear

This books represents the latest and possibly the best attempt to explain the logic and art that goes into writing the new national model codes. It also explains through the insights of the authors how best to use the code and what to expect from it by way of future revisions and local interpertations. As a design professionsal I constantly struggle to explain to clients why, when life safety is involved, we cannot do certain things in buildings. This book will help inform both the professional and non professional interested user of the building code. Serveral attempts in the past have been made to cover this subject, but at the time there were several codes around the country. Now that we are catching up with the British in our understanding and use of fire science the IBC allows a new clearer understanding of what codes do. This book is simply the best effort in years to cover this material.

Not only the what, but the why

As someone who lectures regularly on codes and standards, I find the Francis Ching book a refreshing reference. The diagrams make sometimes confusing code language easy to understand, and the text deals with the background of code development and explains why the code evolved the way it did.