Exploring the International Code Council Performance Code

One of the lesser-known codes within the International Code Council's (ICC) suite is the International Code Council Performance Code (ICCPC), which has been in place since 2000.

As architects, we are most familiar with prescriptive codes. In Wisconsin, these include the International Building Code (IBC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), and the International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Prescriptive codes provide clear, specific instructions on how to meet code requirements.

Performance codes, on the other hand, are exactly what their name suggests. Rather than prescribing specific methods, they establish performance-based goals for various building systems and elements. How those goals are achieved is left to the discretion of the design professional. The ICCPC is intended to serve as an alternative framework for designing and constructing buildings and facilities.

Performance codes have been in use around the world for many years and in some countries, such as Australia, are the primary basis for the regulation of the design and construction of buildings and facilities.

Since December 2023, I have had the privilege of serving on the ICCPC Development Committee as a representative of the American Institute of Architects. Our committee has been working on reimagining the ICCPC in anticipation of a new version being issued in 2027. The major work of the committee has been to rewrite the code on a more international basis as well as make it more user-friendly and adoptable by regulatory jurisdictions.

The 2024 edition of the ICCPC comprises 20 chapters and 5 appendices. Unlike the more familiar structure of prescriptive codes, the ICCPC is organized by performance categories such as stability, reliability and durability, user safety, and moisture management (both interior and exterior), as well as scope and administration.

Each technical chapter follows a three-tiered structure:

• Objective – Describes the overarching societal goal or expectation for buildings and facilities related to that chapter.
• Functional Statement – Defines how a building or system must perform in order to meet the stated objective.
• Performance Requirements – Outlines measurable criteria that demonstrate compliance with the functional statement.

The reimagined 2027 ICCPC will be available for public comment this year. In its current draft form, the ICCPC has been shortened a bit to 17 chapters, including a new chapter regarding embodied carbon, plus several appendices.

Though not widely adopted in the United States, the ICCPC offers a path for architects, engineers and designers to provide innovative and cutting-edge solutions – while continuing to protect the health and welfare of the public.

I believe performance codes represent the future of building regulation. However, implementing them in Wisconsin presents several challenges. For starters, the ICCPC is not currently one of the codes adopted by the State of Wisconsin. To utilize it, a pathway must be established. Wisconsin Administrative Code SPS 361.51, which addresses alternate standards and model building codes, may provide an avenue. Alternatively, a petition for variance under SPS 361.22 could be pursued.

Another barrier is the need to train plan reviewers and inspectors who may be unfamiliar with performance-based codes. The question of who funds such training, and whether those costs are sustainable, adds further complexity. Ultimately, it is the designer's responsibility to demonstrate compliance, which, in a performance-based context, could require more time and effort often without additional compensation. As the ICCPC gains broader adoption and professionals become more comfortable using it, this concern will likely diminish.

Despite the hurdles, the ICCPC offers a powerful tool for advancing design innovation and delivering safe, functional buildings and facilities especially when applied to the right project.