Archiving old codes/standards

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Author Message David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 1017 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:43 pm:    We recently had an architect in our office go through and toss out all the old building code, zoning code, UL, ASTM, etc. standards. I really wish that he would have archived them instead. My concern is if we have to go back investigate an issue. BTW, this is why I list applicable standards in my specs. It is for the convenience of the architect (and contractor). How long do you keep old codes/standards? Wayne Yancey Senior Member Username: wayne_yancey Post Number: 61 Registered: 01-2008 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:52 pm:    Forever and ever ahmen. You never know when they will be required. Richard Howard, AIA CSI CCS LEED-AP Senior Member Username: rick_howard Post Number: 184 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:56 pm:    We keep old codes on the shelf going back about 3 issues and archive everything older than that. For the offbeat codes we only used once before expiration, we archive the code with its project. Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 864 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 01:59 pm:    I don't know if there is a good, set answer or not. In Ohio, the statue of limitations [dealing with construction] is 10 years, so most code agencies retain their records, drawings, etc. for that time [via prosecutor's opinion]. To rationalize, you could say that if an issue does arise later there is surely a code of the code "some place"[let the attorneys search it out at some $100/hour!]-- and I am not so sure that has to be in your office. BUT codes [even the IBC] is subject to change at least annually so............. Perhaps an idea is to retain the current code edition and 3 of the previous editions [if dated 3 years apart]. But even then you still have the issue of local amendments! Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP Senior Member Username: redseca2 Post Number: 111 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 02:23 pm:    Off beat codes often live and die within a project team. The current and last edition of the main codes that we work with frequently we have available on-line. In about 1992 I was involved in the restoration of a landmark art museum in San Francisco. After review by all the interested parties, the Drawings were noted as follows: "The Work shall be performed in strict conformance with the 1928 San Francisco Building Code and the following NFPA requirements...." Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 279 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 02:42 pm:    Timely question. I just received the new 2008 4 volume set of ASTM Standards in Building Codes. My last set was 2003 - my inclination is to dump the 2003 set. Any suggestions? J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 272 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - 05:54 pm:    I tend to purchase a new set of ASTM Standards in Building Codes about every 3 years, but I would recommend keeping at least 10 years worth. I have also recommended to offices that they keep at least the last 2 years of Sweets to look up stuff that might be on a project currrently under construction. This recommendation, however, really does not apply now that Sweets is a shell of it's old self. Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS Senior Member Username: rlmat Post Number: 280 Registered: 10-2003 Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 11:00 am:    I thought about keeping my old 2003 set, however, since the standards are revised at different times, the standard the Project was constructed under may not be the same as the one in the book anyway (i.e. 2003 Book, standard revised in 2005, project constructed in 2006), so it doesn't make much sense to keep them, as a copy of the standard in effect during construction isn't available from the book. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 782 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, June 12, 2008 - 01:50 pm:    I keep the old issues only until the project that referenced them is handed over to the Owner. In case of some conflict (or lawsuit later) the older versions of the codes are always available from the issuing agency and I don't see any reason for us to use our storage space. for project building codes, my preference is to have a set of the applicable codes for each project, mark them up for that project and then archive them with the project files when that project is archived. I've never had someone ask me for an old version of something unless its actually in use in some jurisdiction. Greg Talarico, CSI, CCS New member Username: gregt Post Number: 1 Registered: 05-2006 Posted on Friday, June 13, 2008 - 02:43 pm:    We keep all our old building codes. Main reason is sometimes we review an older code for a project involving an existing building. We also keep older standards from some organizations such as ASTM, NFRC, NFPA. California as of 1/1/08 began using a building code based on the 2006 IBC. I noticed Chapter 35 lists the referenced standard numbers including their version (year). So in some cases older copies of standards should be kept. I also noticed that ASTM withdrew 9 gypsum board standards in 2007 and replaced them with ASTM C 1396/C 1396M. The code, of course, refers to all the withdrawn standards so I find keeping previous versions of "ASTM Standards in Building Codes" a necessity. Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 319 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 03:36 pm:    One firm we've worked with does significant size health care projects. They archive a set of the applicable codes along with each project's hard copy archive files; for a few hundred bucks, that puts the information in the hands of the people investigating a claim in the future, saving many hundreds or more in lost time while the appropriate codes are located. Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 320 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Saturday, June 14, 2008 - 03:38 pm:    Also: David: Fire the guy who threw out the old codes, on the grounds that if he makes that kind of decision without consulting the firm, what other kind of dumb decisions will he make on his own in the future? John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 914 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2008 - 12:36 pm:    The Boston Public Library keeps all the old codes for the state. No point in duplicating that, given that we may need to go back many years upon occasion. We do keep a couple of generations back, though. One practice I'm familiar with on large projects is for copies of each relevant code to be purchased for every large project. It can be kept with the team and marked up and abused at will. Then it gets filed with the project records, and kept as long as they are.