A Suggested Methodology for Estimating the Cost Impact of Changes to the Model Building Codes

The purpose of this document is to present a systematic methodology for estimating the cost impact of building code changes. Although none of the major model code organizations currently requires the submission of cost impact information as part of the code change process, access to reliable, well-documented estimates of cost impacts would assist decision makers and participants in understanding the implications of proposed changes. This document provides a simple methodology for deriving such estimates.

The methodology addresses only the impact of code changes on the cost of construction. This is an important issue that should never be overlooked, but it is not the only issue that should be considered in evaluating a proposed code change. Potential benefits, enforceability and impact on the entire system of code administration also are relevant to an ultimate determination of the appropriateness of any given proposal. Those issues may be difficult to assess and generally are beyond the scope of this methodology.

The approach is based on methods described in earlier research' identified in a literature search conducted in Task 1 of this project.

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