Comparative insight on building code paradigm shift practice and updates: International perspectives

Abstract

This paper shows an overview understanding of building codes practice in different countries across the globe. Approach to building code practice and updates differs from country to country, but its primary aim is to provide the minimum requirements to protect life and properties in the built environment. The building code philosophy is to avoid collapse during and after an earthquake and other related extreme loading conditions. The data approach for this study was from the secondary source. This review aims to examine the paradigm shift in building code practice across different nations to determine which countries are embracing performance-based regulation through efficient building code improvement. The paper lays out performance base approach status, mode of compliance, amendment interval, issues that necessitates updates, implementation, code enforcement and highlight some challenges that need to be overcome to harness the full potentials of the innovative building code practice. The study provided a better understanding of comparative insights into the various building code in the selected countries and the factors that encouraged the paradigm shift in building code to accommodate technological innovation in the construction industry. The paper showed that many developed and developing countries are gradually shifting from prescriptive-based code to performance-based building code due to innovation, economic boom on infrastructure and persistent disaster occurrence in the built environment.