Progress Toward a Performance-Based Codes System for the United States.
Progress Toward a Performance-Based Codes System for the
United States.
(1798 K)
Bukowski, R. W.
Applications of Fire Safety Engineering. Symposium for
'97 FORUM. Proceedings. FORUM for International
Cooperation on Fire Research, Tianjin Fire Research
Inst. and Shanghai Yatai Fire Engineering Co., Ltd.
October 6-7, 1997, Tianjin, China, 97-107 pp, 1997.
Keywords:
fire safety; safety engineering; fire research;
performance based codes; standards; codes
Abstract:
The United States codes and standards are currently
undergoing a complete revision to bring them eventually
to a performance basis. While the process is unique to
the U.S. due to its legal structure and constitution the
end result is envisioned to be consistent with similar
changes to codes around the world. This paper reviews
the historical reasons behind the U.S. codes and
standards system, current efforts to develop a single
model code, and the process and schedule for the
implementation of a performance code. Draft scope and
intent statements from the new performance code are
presented and some enforcement issues related to
performance-based regulation are discussed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899