Following is a brief list of websites that provide access to a range of information and experiences with performance-based building codes (regulation) and design approaches.
Building Performance Standards by state explained for 2026. Key deadlines, compliance rules, and penalties for buildings.
Building performance standards (BPS) mandate ongoing operational performance for existing buildings rather than one-time compliance at construction. Under these laws, cities set energy or emissions limits by building type and size, require annual reporting, and impose penalties for non-compliance.
Rather than present my perspective, which is more than slightly biased in favor of building regulation, I have developed a survey to gather information on how architects generally perceive building codes and how receptive they would be to performance-based building codes.
The mandate in dual-stair buildings for a central corridor on every floor means that most apartments have windows on just one side, limiting ventilation and light and resulting in small units that are less hospitable to families with children.
