BLM_Building_Codes_and_Standards_2026_03_15_0001.pdf

BLM Building Codes and Standards updated 03/15/2026

Federal Law. The Public Buildings Amendments of 1988, 40 U.S.C. 3312 (formerly section 21 of the Public Buildings Act of 1959, 40 U.S.C. 619), require that each building constructed or altered by GSA or any other federal agency shall, to the maximum extent feasible, be in compliance with one of the nationally recognized model building codes and with other applicable nationally recognized codes.

Nationally Recognized Codes. For all design and construction work performed on federal buildings by BLM or those functions under BLM’s construction authority, BLM has adopted the technical requirements of the following nationally recognized codes and standards referred to in this subsection (including any and all accumulative supplements). The technical requirements of these nationally recognized codes and standards will supplement other BLM requirements mandated by Federal Laws and Executive Orders, as well as other BLM criteria noted within this document that has been established to meet our customers ’ needs and their unique requirements.

State and Local Codes. BLM recognizes that the national model building codes are typically the foundation of state and local building codes. State and local codes also represent important regional interests and conditions.

Legally, however, buildings built on federal property are exempt f rom state and local building codes. Local building permits and approvals are not required as BLM is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Notwithstanding, it is BLM’s policy to comply with state and local building codes to the maximum extent practicable. Should a conflict exist between state and local codes and the BLM adopted nationally recognized codes, the BLM requirement shall prevail. All code conf licts shall be brought to the attention of the BLM National Operations Center Branch of Architecture and Engineering (NOC A/E Branch) for resolution.

The BLM National Operations Center Branch of Architecture and Engineering is charged with providing A/E technical assistance and direction for the BLM. The BLM NOC A/E Branch requires the following nationally recognized codes and standards be incorporated into all BLM projects (where applicable):

Laws

• 40 USC §3312 - Compliance with Nationally Recognized Codes

• 40 USC §3318- Lactation room in public buildings

• 42 USC §6834 (a)(3) (A)(iii) – Federal Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Solar Hot Water Heaters if Lifecyle cost-ef fective)

• 42 USC §8253 – Energy and Water Management Requirements (Including Federal Building Metering Guidance

November 2014 Update

• 42 USC §8259b(b)(d)(e) – Federal Procurement of Energy Ef f icient Products

• 42 USC §17094 – Storm Water Runoff Requirements for Federal Development Projects (Predevelopment Hydrology for federal facilities over 5,000 square feet)

• Energy Policy Act of 2005

• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

• Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) of 1968

• Energy Act of 2020

• BABIES act: Public Law 114 - 235 – ‘Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act'

• Bulb Replacement Improving Government with High-Efficiency Technology Act, Pub. L. No. 117-202 (October

17, 2022) (BRIGHT Act)

Regulations

• 10 CFR Part 433 - Energy Efficiency Standards for the Design and Construction of New Federal Commercial and Multi-Family High-Rise Residential Buildings o For commercial buildings and multi-family high-rise residential buildings, comply with the above

Regulation including Comcheck compliance of the proposed building(s), and the energy use reduction performance target of 30% below ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 (Energy Standards for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) Baseline Building.

• 10 CFR Part 435 – Energy Efficiency Standard for the Design and Construction of New Federal Low-Rise Residential Buildings o For low-rise residential buildings, comply with the above Regulation including Rescheck compliance of the proposed building(s), and the energy use reduction performance target of 30% below 2024 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) Baseline Building

• 41 CFR Part 102-76 - Subpart C - Architectural Barriers Act

• 48 CFR § 52.225-9 - Buy American—Construction Materials

National Model Building Codes and Standards

• 2024 IBC (International Building Code) o Including IBC Appendix F: Rodent Proof ing o NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code – Use when/where IBC is silent o Chapter 11 Accessibility- substitute ABAAS where ICC/ANSI A117.1 is referenced.

• 2024 IEBC (International Existing Building Code)

• 2024 IFC (International Fire Code)

• 2024 IFGC (International Fuel Gas Code)

• 2024 IMC (International Mechanical Code) o Except use ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2025 (Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality) instead of

Chapter 4 “Ventilation” for commercial projects. Use Chapter 4 of the IMC for residential occupancies.

• 2024 IPC (International Plumbing Code)

• 2024 IRC (International Residential Code)

• 2024 IWUIC (International Wildland-Urban Interface Code) o WUI is def ined by USDA’s map of 2010 Wildland-Urban Interface of the Conterminous United States

• 2024 IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) o See ‘Regulations’ section below for Energy Efficiency Standards for the Design and Construction of New

Federal Low-Rise Residential Buildings o Including Appendix CB – Solar Ready Zone – Commercial o Including Appendix RB – Solar Ready Provisions – Residential

• ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019 (Energy Standards for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential

Buildings) o See ‘Regulations’ section below for Energy Efficiency Standards for the Design and Construction of New

Federal Commercial and Multi-Family High-Rise Residential Buildings

• 2025 ASHRAE Handbook – Fundamentals (for heating and cooling design temperatures)

• NFPA 13 – Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems (2025 Edition) (for non-residential buildings or non-residential portion of buildings)

• NFPA 13R – Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies (2025 Edition) (for crew quarters or sleeping quarters portion of buildings served by suf f icient water supply)

• NFPA 13D - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes (2025 Edition) (for sleeping quarters or sleeping quarters portion of buildings served by insuf f icient water supply for NFPA 13R system)

• NFPA 70 - National Electrical Code (2026 Edition)

• NFPA 72 - National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (2025 Edition)

• NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code (2024 Edition) see IBC, above

• NFPA 780 – Standard for the Installation of Lightning Protection Systems (2026 Edition) (Perform Simplified Risk

Assessment per Annex L and follow the recommendation output. Utilize lightning f lash density f rom the web based, high resolution, Viasala Interactive Map.)

• NFPA 1221 - Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications

Systems Chapters 3 – 6 (for dispatch centers)

• ABAAS (Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards) o ANSI A11.7 is not an acceptable Accessibility Standard for Federal projects, use ABAAS above.

• ASCE/SEI 7 - Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (2022 Edition)

• ASHRAE Standard 55–2023 (Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy)

• ASHRAE Standard 15-2024 (Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems)

• IEEE Standards

• IESNA Applications Standards Collection

• 2024 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) Section 501.3.6 “Reduction in Light Pollution”

• Interagency Security Committee - Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities

DOI Standards/Federal Policies

• Department of the Interior Housing Management Handbook 2020

• DOI Space Management Handbook

• Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

• Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings and Associated Instructions (December 2020)

BLM Standards, Policies, and Internal Memoranda (IM)

• BLM Sustainable Buildings Implementation Plan

• BLM Manual 1535 - Space Management

• BLM Guidelines for a Quality Built Environment

• BLM IM 2024-030 Off ice Space Authorizations

• BLM IM 2023-046 Space Authorizations and Design Standards

• National CAD Standard (NCS/UDS) v6

A detailed code data and analysis must be completed by the A/E contractor during the design phase and documented within the project Construction Document drawings to demonstrate compliance with these codes and standards. At a minimum, the A/E shall document in the drawings:

• IBC Chapter 3 Occupancy classif ication

• IBC Chapter 4 special detailed requirements based on Occupancy and use

• IBC Chapter 5 building height and area limitations

• IBC Chapter 6 Construction Type and f ire resistance rating requirements

• IBC Chapter 7 rated/protected assemblies

• IBC Chapter 8 interior f inish classif ications

• IBC Chapter 9 sprinkler system types/standards

• IBC Chapter 10 Occupant load calculations and means of egress requirements

• IBC Chapter 11 accessibility requirements integrating ABAAS

• IBC Chapter 16 Building Risk Category, live load determinations and drif t/def lection limitations

• IBC Chapter 29 plumbing f ixture counts

• Energy Code data shall be documented to include required insulation and opening/glazing performance requirements and also means of compliance with same.

• For existing building projects, include IEBC Level of Alteration and Accessibility analysis.

• Additional focused data and analyses shall be provided to demonstrate code/standard compliance with project-specif ic design intent.

https://www.sustainability.gov/pdfs/guiding_principles_for_sustainable_federal_buildings.pdf https://www.nationalcadstandard.org/ncs6/content.php

It is important to note that these codes and standards are updated periodically, and the most current version of this document should be referenced when the project is designed, in accordance with agency directives and guidance from the BLM NOC A/E Branch.