Building Codes
DCAT asked all code officials and those who have submitted plans to code officials to participate in Assessing the Barriers to More Sustainable Construction: A Survey of Building Codes and Regulations.
The deadline for taking the survey was August 31, 2001. Thank you to all who participated! We expect to have preliminary results available at the end of the year.
What they really say - text from the 2000 edition of the International Building Code and International Residential Code on alternative building systems.
Checklist for Alternatives Approval
David's helpful hints for a successful application to build an alternative structure, developed with Peter Yost of Environmental Building News.
DCAT has been honored to participate in two special issues of Building Standards focusing on alternative building systems and codes.
Various Alternative Material Codes
Austin Straw Bale Code download
as Acrobat .pdf (20K) or Word
.doc (104K)
Boulder Straw Bale
Code download as Acrobat
.pdf (16K) or Word .doc (100K)
California Straw
Bale Code download as Acrobat
.pdf (20K) or Word .doc (136K)
Tucson/Pima County
SB Code download as Acrobat
.pdf (24K) or Word .doc (60K)
Tucson/Pima County
Earthen Code download as Acrobat
.pdf (52K) or Word .doc (260K)
If you need Adobe Acrobat, go to
