Building Codes Save Fact Sheet

This fact sheet summarizes interim findings from FEMA's Building Codes Save (BCS) initiative, an engineering-based study quantifying the long-term savings from adopting and enforcing hazard-resistant building codes, specifically the International Building Codes (IBC) 2000 and later. It presents modeled data for California and Florida, showing an estimated $1 billion in annual avoided losses from flooding, hurricane wind, and earthquakes in buildings constructed after 2000. The document details the modeling approach, including use of Hazus software, and highlights the broader economic and community benefits of modern code adoption. It also notes gaps in statewide code adoption and the importance of continued mitigation through updated codes.