ICC 77 key terms

The appointed officer who administers and enforces the building code, interprets its provisions, issues permits, and has authority to approve alternative methods and materials.

The organization, office, or individual responsible for approving equipment, materials, installations, or procedures under a code; often the building official or fire marshal.

The person charged with enforcing the code, including issuing permits, conducting inspections, and ordering correction of violations; may delegate duties to deputies.

Written authorization from the building official to construct, alter, demolish, or change occupancy of a structure, valid only for the scope and time stated.

The pre-construction examination of submitted drawings and calculations by the code official to confirm compliance before a permit is issued.

A document issued by the building official certifying that a completed building complies with the code and may lawfully be used for its stated occupancy.

A written statement issued for work that is complete but not yet ready for occupancy, such as certain site or utility installations, documenting code compliance.

On-site verification by the code official that construction matches approved plans and code requirements at defined stages before work is concealed or continued.

The last inspection of completed work to confirm all required items are installed and corrected, enabling issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Inspection of specific materials or workmanship requiring unusual expertise, performed by an approved agency or qualified individual and reported to the building official.

A private or public entity accepted by the building official as competent to conduct inspections, testing, or product evaluation, based on documented qualifications.

Inclusion of equipment or materials in a published list by an approved organization, showing the item meets designated standards and is suitable for a stated use.

Affixing a label, symbol, or mark by an approved agency to products indicating compliance with specified standards and identifying the conditions of acceptability.

A design, product, or construction technique not explicitly prescribed by code but accepted by the building official as meeting the code's intent.

A material, method, or system the building official finds provides performance at least equal to that required by the code in quality, strength, and safety.

A written change to code requirements granted by the building official for existing conditions where strict compliance would cause practical difficulty, without reducing safety.

Official permission to depart from a specific code provision, typically granted through a formal appeals or board process rather than by field staff alone.

A panel established to hear challenges to decisions of the building official and requests for variances, with authority to affirm, modify, or reverse rulings.

A written directive halting work that is proceeding contrary to code or approved plans, remaining in effect until the cited conditions are corrected.

A formal written citation issued to a responsible party describing a code violation and requiring correction within a stated time.

A building or portion found by the building official to be dangerous to life or property, subject to repair, vacation, or demolition orders.

An official determination that a structure is unfit for occupancy or use because of unsafe or unsanitary conditions, requiring vacating or abatement.

A directive requiring occupants to leave a building immediately because conditions present an imminent danger to health or safety.

The category assigned to a building or space based on the type of use and occupant characteristics, which determines many code requirements.

A change in the use of a building or space that may trigger new code compliance requirements, permits, and a new certificate of occupancy.

The total number of persons a space is designed to hold, calculated from floor area and use factors, governing egress capacity and exit requirements.

A continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point in a building to a public way, comprising exit access, the exit, and exit discharge.

The portion of the means of egress that leads from an occupied space to an exit, such as corridors, aisles, and intervening rooms.

The portion of the means of egress separated from other interior spaces by fire-resistive construction, providing a protected path to the exit discharge.

A classification based on the fire-resistance of structural elements, ranging from noncombustible protected types to combustible types, limiting height and area.

The period of time a building element, component, or assembly maintains its separating or structural function under a standardized fire exposure test.

The distance measured from the building exterior wall to the lot line or to another building on the same lot, used to regulate exterior wall protection.

The maximum floor area permitted per story, determined from construction type, occupancy, frontage, and sprinkler protection, with increases allowed by code.

A network of piping with heat-activated sprinklers that discharges water automatically to control or extinguish fire, often permitting code allowances and increases.

Detailed project-specific drawings prepared by a contractor or supplier showing how components will be fabricated and installed, submitted for review and record.

Marked-up construction documents reflecting actual installed conditions, including field changes, used for records, future alterations, and closeout.

A street, alley, or other parcel of land open to the outside air that is permanently deeded or dedicated to public use and provides egress access.

Requirements applied to existing buildings rather than only new construction, such as those triggered by alteration, change of use, or identified hazards.

A structure already erected and lawfully occupied before the current code edition, subject to specific provisions for repairs, alterations, and additions.