ASCE 24-24 to be Included in the 2027 Edition of the International Building Codes
Last week, a coalition of organizations, including ASFPM, secured a major win at the ICC Public Comment Hearings in Hartford, Connecticut, successfully defending the inclusion of ASCE 24-24 in the 2027 International Codes, including the Building, Residential, and Existing Building code volumes. The coalition was also successful in overturning a committee’s earlier decision to not include ASCE 24-24 in the International Residential Code.
The primary effect is to extend the regulated flood hazard area to include the 500-year floodplain when shown on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and to require buildings to be elevated or protected to at least the 500-year flood elevation. Higher levels of protection are required for essential and critical facilities.
Although ASFPM was a co-sponsor of these actions last week, we could not have made it through the gauntlet of Code Hearings over the past year without our great partners at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), who led the effort, and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Flood Mitigation Industry Association (FMIA) as well as individuals who served on the ASCE 24-24 Committee, including Carol Friedland from Louisiana State University and Jessica Mandrick. I’d also like to recognize Rebecca Quinn, Manny Perotin, and Jeff Herd, who represented ASFPM and were instrumental throughout this process, and Del Schwalls who represented ASFPM’s Florida Chapter, FFMA.
The final step in the ICC code update process is the online local government vote, held from May 8-22. It is only fitting that the local building code officials who are members of ICC are the ones to make the final confirmation. We’re optimistic the inclusion of code changes incorporating ASCE 24-24 will be affirmed since, historically, the online local government vote is supportive of the Public Comment Hearing vote.
The reasons for updating flood standards are numerous and, as a nation, we simply cannot afford to stick with outdated standards that are no longer sufficient, as evidenced by the nation’s average annual flood losses topping $40 billion per year. The figure represents direct losses, when you consider total economic losses, estimates are at least $180 billion per year.
Although adopting ASCE 24-24 standards in flood-prone areas will involve modest upfront costs, the long-term payoff is undeniable: smaller insurance premiums, lower annual cost of homeownership, reduced risk, and a more resilient building inventory that will serve families, businesses, and communities for decades to come.
For those looking to get a jumpstart on adopting the ASCE-24-24 standards, ASFPM is providing its members with free digital access to the publication. Learn more
