Here's a breakdown of natural building codes, the role of the International Code Council (ICC) in U.S. building standards, and the future direction of the building industry, especially in light of sustainability and natural building practices.

NATURAL BUILDING and CODES

Natural building refers to construction techniques using minimally processed  locally available materials like:

• Bio- Fibers (e.g.  Hemp, Straw, Wood fibers)

• Cob (clay, sand, straw)

• Rammed earth

• Timber framing

 

The Challenge:

Natural materials often don’t fit neatly into conventional building codes, which are typically based on modern industrial materials like concrete, steel, and fiberglass insulation. This creates barriers for builders who want to use traditional, low-impact methods.

Recent Progress:

• Appendix S (Strawbale Construction) and Appendix R (Light Straw-Clay) were added to the International Residential Code (IRC) in recent years.

• New Mexico, Oregon, California, and Colorado have some of the most progressive codes or guidelines for natural building.

• Some municipalities allow alternative materials and methods under a “performance-based” code provision—meaning if you can prove it works safely, it may be allowed.

WHY THE ICC SETS BUILDING STANDARDS IN THE U.S.

What is the ICC?

The International Code Council (ICC) is a nonprofit organization that develops a set of model codes, including:

• IRC (International Residential Code)

• IBC (International Building Code)

• IECC (International Energy Conservation Code)

• And more.

Why Does the ICC Matter?

• U.S. state and local governments adopt ICC codes (often with amendments) as the legal building code.

• The ICC creates a uniform framework for health, safety, energy efficiency, fire resistance, and structural integrity.

• The codes are revised every 3 years through a public, consensus-driven process.

 FUTURE DIRECTION OF THE BUILDING INDUSTRY

The industry is shifting due to climate change, resource depletion, and public health awareness. Key directions include:

1. Sustainability + Low Embodied Carbon

• Push for carbon-neutral and carbon-negative materials (like hempcrete, wood, clay).

• Growing interest in Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and embodied carbon accounting.

2. Performance-Based Codes

• More jurisdictions are allowing innovative materials if they meet performance benchmarks (thermal, structural, fire, etc.).

• Opens the door for natural building systems with sufficient testing and documentation.

3. Resilience and Passive Design

• Passive solar design, thermal mass, and earth sheltering are gaining traction, especially for wildfire-, flood-, and heat-resilient homes.

• Natural buildings tend to excel in thermal comfort with low energy input.

4. Healthy Homes

• Movement toward nontoxic, breathable materials that improve indoor air quality—core values in natural building.

• ICC and other bodies are integrating well-being and IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) into code development.

In Summary:

TopicKey Points

Natural Building CodesIncreasing recognition; slowly entering mainstream codes (e.g., strawbale, hempcrete); still regionally variable.

ICC’s RoleCreates model codes adopted across the U.S.; focuses on safety, health, and standardization.

Industry DirectionMoving toward sustainability, low-carbon materials, performance-based codes, and healthier buildings.