The Uniform Building Code_is dedicated to the development of better building construction and greater safety to the public by uniformity in building laws. The code is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new construction systems.
The Uniform Building Code was first enacted by the International Conference of Building Officials at the Sixth Annual Business Meeting held in Phoenix, Arizona, October 18-21, 1927. Revised editions of this code have been published since that time at approximate three-year intervals. New editions incorporate changes approved since the last edition.
The Uniform Building Code is designed to be compatible with related publications to provide a complete set of documents for regulatory use. See the publications list following this preface for a listing of the complete family of Uniform Codes and related publications.

Code Changes. The ICBO code development process has been suspended by the Board of Directors and, because of this action, changes to the Uniform Building Code will not be processed. For more information, write to the International Conference of Building Officials, 5360 Workman Mill Road, Whittier, California 90601-2298. An analysis of changes between editions is published in the Analysis of Revisions to the Uniform Codes.
Marginal Markings. Solid vertical lines in the margins within the body of the code indicate a change from the requirements of the 1994 edition except where an entire chapter was revised, a new chapter was added or a change was minor. Where an entire chapter was revised or a new chapter was added, a notation appears at the beginning of that chapter. The letter F repeating in line vertically in the margin indicates that the provision is maintained under the code change procedures of the International Fire Code Institute. Deletion indicators (_) are provided in the margin where a paragraph or item listing has been deleted if the deletion resulted in a change of requirements.
Three-Volume Set. Provisions of the Uniform Building Code have been divided into a three-volume set. Volume 1 accommodates administrative, fire- and life-safety, and field inspection provisions. Chapters 1 through 15 and Chapters 24 through 35 are printed in Volume 1 in their entirety. Any appendix chapters associated with these chapters are printed in their entirety at the end of Volume 1.
Excerpts of certain chapters from Volume 2 are reprinted in Volume 1 to provide greater usability.
Volume 2 accommodates structural engineering design provisions, and specifically contains Chapters 16 through 23 printed in their entirety. Included in this volume are design standards that have been added to their respective chapters as divisions of the chapters. Any appendix chapters associated with these chapters are printed in their entirety at the end of Volume 2. Excerpts of certain chapters from Volume 1 are reprinted in Volume 2 to provide greater usability.
Volume 3 contains material, testing and installation standards.
Metrication. The Uniform Building Code was metricated in the 1994 edition. The metric conversions are provided in parenthesis following the English units. Where industry has made metric conversions available, the conversions conform to current industry standards.
Formulas are also provided with metric equivalents. Metric equivalent formulas immediately follow the English formula and are denoted by “For SI:” preceding the metric equivalent. Some formulas do not use dimensions and, thus, are not provided with a metric equivalent. Multiplying conversion factors have been provided for formulas where metric forms were unavailable. Tables are provided with multiplying conversion factors in subheadings for each tabulated unit of measurement.