Prior to the creation and adoption of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), many old building records and plans reference construction type classifications as shown in legacy building code books such as the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA). This construction type history chart shows the progression of how buildings were classified throughout the evolution of the building codes. The chart helps to correlate those old construction type classification references to those used currently in our newly adopted building codes.
Evolution of Construction Types
| Code Name | Editions | NC* Protected |
NC* Protected |
NC* Protected |
NC* Protected |
NC* Unprotected |
NC/C* Protected |
NC/C* Unprotected |
NC/C* Heavy Timber |
Combustible Protected |
Combustible Unprotected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC International Building Code | 2000 - Present | IA | IA | IB | IIA | IIB | IIIA | IIIB | IV | VA | VB |
| BOCA National Building Code | 1984 - 1996 | 1A | 1B | 2A | 2B | 2C | 3A | 3B | 4 | 5A | 5B |
| BOCA Basic Building Code | 1960 - 1981 | 1A | 1B | 2A | 2B | 2C | 3B | 3C | 3A | 4A | 5B |
* NC = Noncombustible
** C = Combustible
USBC Adoption and Referenced Codes
| Edition | Effective Date |
BOCA Building Code |
BOCA Mechanical Code |
BOCA Plumbing Code |
National Electrical Code |
CABO Model Energy Code |
CABO One- and Two- Family Dwelling Code |
International Building Code |
International Mechanical Code |
International Plumbing Code |
International Fuel-Gas Code |
International Residential Code |
International Energy Conservation Code |
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 4/1/1973 | 1970* | 1970 | 1970* | 1971 | 1971 | ||||||||
| 1975** | 2/7/1976 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | 1975 | ||||||||
| 1978** | 8/1/1978 | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 | 1978 | 1975 | ||||||||
| 1981 | 7/16/1982 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 | 1981 | 1977 | 1979* | |||||||
| 1984 | 4/1/1986 | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | 1984 | 1983 | 1983* | |||||||
| 1987 | 3/1/1988 | 1987 | 1987 | 1987 | 1987 | 1986 | 1986* | |||||||
| 1990 | 3/1/1991 | 1990 | 1990 | 1990 | 1990 | 1989 | 1989* | |||||||
| 1993 | 4/1/1994 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1993 | 1992* | |||||||
| 1996 | 4/15/1997 | 1996 | 1996 | 1995 | 1995 | 1996 | 1995* | |||||||
| 2000 | 10/1/2003 | 1999 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | ||||||
| 2003 | 11/16/2005 | 2002 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | 2003 | ||||||
| 2006 | 5/1/2008 | 2005 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | ||||||
| 2009 | 3/1/2011 | 2008 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | 2009 | ||||||
| 2012 | 7/14/2014 | 2011 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | 2012 | |||||
| 2015 | 9/4/2018 | 2014 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | 2015 | |||||
| 2018 | 7/21/2021 | 2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 | 2018 |
* with following year(s) amendments
** supplement to the 1973 USBC
