Useful Websites for Reimagining the ICC Performance Code

Following is a brief list of websites that provide access to a range of information and experiences with performance-based building codes (regulation) and design approaches.

This is just a start – we know there is a lot of good information out there – including guidance within jurisdictions. If you have links that you think we should add, please let us know! While our aim is to point to freely available resources, we also provide a brief list of professional associations and others that have ‘for purchase’ documents.

Performance-Based Building Codes (Regulations)

The purpose of the Inter-jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee (IRCC) is to promote effective international collaboration concerning "best practice" building regulatory systems, in particular those that are functional, objective, or performance-based. This purpose necessitates interaction with bodies having compatible interests worldwide.

There are currently some 20 organizations from 17 countries represented in the IRCC. From the "About Us" page on the IRCC website, you can find links to the websites of the participating entities.

In addition, under the "Documents" tab, you can find a number of summary reports, articles and other publications, largely pertaining to performance-based building regulatory systems. These documents are free to download. These include the seminal 1998 document, Guidelines for the introduction of Performance Based Building Regulations, which served as a resource for many countries who embarked upon performance-based codes from the late 1990s onward, and the 2010 document, Performance-Based Building Regulatory Systems - Principles and Experiences, which provided context on the development and scope of performance-based building codes at the time.

Building Performance

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) offers a range of publications on building performance and sustainability and more. Their Commitment to the Architecture 2030 Challenge aims to achieve better performing buildings that are carbon neutral by 2030. They aim for more use of performance-based design of buildings as well.

The mission of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) is to serve the public interest by advancing building science and technology to improve the built environment. NIBS is active in construction issues, disaster resilience, and high-performing buildings, among other areas. With respect to high-performing buildings, NIBS and AIA collaborate on the development of the Building Research Information Knowledgebase (BRIK), an interactive portal to support incorporation of multidisciplinary research in the design, construction and operation of high-performance buildings. With respect to high-performing buildings, NIBS has compiled the Whole Building Design Guide, which provides discussion on many aspects of performance and outcome based design, sustainability and resilience, along with a number of helpful reference documents.

The Performance Concept: A Study of Its Application to Housing – Volume One. This HUD archive on the Operation Breakthrough reports lays out one of the earliest frameworks for PBD codes.

Energy Performance

The U.S. Department of Energy provides information on a number of energy performance and energy technology issues. Publications can be found based around specific focal areas, such as energy efficiency and renewables.

Fire Performance

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides free-to-view access to their wide selection of codes and standards, many of which include performance-based options. The NFPA also provides access to free data and research reports on fire topics including fire and sustainability interactions in a number of areas (e.g., PVS, ESS, EVs, etc.)

Performance-Based Analysis and Design Research

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts and supports research in a variety of building performance areas, including energy / high-performance buildings, fire performance of buildings, structural performance of buildings, and resilient buildings and communities. Publications on NIST research can be found through their publications site.

Internationally, there are numerous research institutions which conduct and support building performance research. We note just a few here where publications are freely available.

Also, universities across the U.S. and around the world publish research reports, PhD and MS theses, and other such research documents.

International Code Council Resources

The International Code Council has published several resources that are helpful in informing a discussion about performance-based design, sustainability and resilience, which can be found at the following linked web pages

Performance Analysis, Design Standards and Guidelines
(purchase may be required)

Several professional societies and associations publish performance-based design standards or guidance. Many of these are only available for purchase. We list a few US-based entities below.