Best Architectural Codes & Standards Books of 2025

The Ultimate Guide: Plumbing, Updated 5th Edition by Creative Homeowner is an excellent resource for anyone looking to save money on plumbing repairs and improvements. With over 800 photos and detailed diagrams, the book guides readers through each step-by-step process, from fixing leaky faucets to installing plumbing fixtures like sinks, bathtubs, and showers. The book also covers green solutions for conserving resources and the basic physics of a home's plumbing system. The emphasis on code-compliant techniques ensures that all projects are done correctly. Overall, this comprehensive plumbing how-to book is perfect for both major and minor DIY plumbing repairs and improvements.

The "Architect's Bible" since 1932, Architectural Graphic Standards is an essential resource for architects, designers, and building contractors. This 12th edition has been updated to reflect the latest codes and standards, featuring over 300 new drawings, tables, and designs, and 25% new content. The book covers everything from design and documentation to building elements and materials, including sustainable design incorporated throughout. The extensive appendices provide useful data such as classic architectural elements and mathematical data. The book's shorter, more accessible texts and graphics-heavy format make it an easy-to-navigate guide for professionals in the field.

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2021 International Building Code is a must-have handbook for anyone in the architecture, interior design, construction, or engineering fields. The book is beautifully illustrated and written in an easy-to-understand manner, making it a valuable visual resource for emerging professionals. The authors provide brand new chapters on plumbing fixture counts, elevators, special construction, and existing buildings while updating the remainder of the material to align with recent changes to the IBC. Overall, this book is an essential tool for staying informed on the latest updates to the International Building Code.

The 2015 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings is a comprehensive resource for homebuilding that combines building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, and electrical provisions. This updated code includes information on common walls, basement remodeling, ramps, and carbon monoxide alarms. The book establishes minimum regulations using prescriptive provisions and foundational principles that facilitate the use of new materials and building designs. It provides detailed insight into the construction of one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories high. This book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in home design and construction.

Code Check Plumbing & Mechanical 5th Edition is an essential guide for everyone involved in plumbing installations, from builders and designers to inspectors. The book provides comprehensive information on all types of plumbing and mechanical installations, including supply, drain, and vent systems, as well as heating and cooling systems. The authors use clear language to explain the complicated rules and numerous changes in the latest edition of the codes, and tables and illustrations help to clarify the key safety principles underlying the codes. Overall, this book is a valuable resource that can help builders and designers avoid the most common plumbing and mechanical code violations, saving time, money, and potential delays.

The two-book set of ASCE Standard - ASCE/SEI 7-16 is an essential guide for general structural design. It provides updated and coordinated loading standards for determining design loads, including dead, live, soil, flood, tsunami, snow, rain, atmospheric ice, earthquake, wind, and fire, as well as assessing load combinations. The new seismic and wind speed maps reflect the updated National Seismic Hazard Maps and Hawaii maps, respectively, resulting in reduced wind speeds for much of the United States. This book set is a must-have for structural engineers and architects who want to design safe and resilient structures.

The Code Check Complete 3rd Edition is an all-in-one guide to the most common code violations encountered by building inspectors. The book is a valuable resource for builders, remodelers, and anyone involved in building a home. The authors have done an excellent job of pairing clear language with helpful tables and illustrations to clarify complex rules and changes in the latest codes. The book covers general building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing codes. The authors are experienced professionals who present seminars and classes nationwide on a wide variety of building topics. Overall, this book is an essential reference for anyone in the building industry who wants to stay on top of codes and complete projects safely and efficiently.

The Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE Standard - ASCE/SEI 7-22) Provisions and Commentary 2-book set is a comprehensive guide for structural design, providing up-to-date loading provisions for all hazards, including seismic, wind, and fire. It also covers how to evaluate load combinations. The 2022 edition includes significant technical changes such as new target reliability tables for tsunami and extraordinary loads, updated tsunami data for Hawaii and populous locations in California, and new provisions for lateral force resisting systems. This book set is a must-have for structural engineers and architects seeking to design safe and reliable buildings and structures.

The 2015 International Mechanical Code is a comprehensive guide that provides regulations for mechanical systems and equipment, covering everything from HVAC to solar systems. It uses prescriptive and performance-related provisions to establish minimum regulations for a variety of systems. The updated code includes information on condensate pumps and the ventilation system for enclosed parking garages. This book is a valuable reference for professionals in the home design and construction industry. It is distributed by Cengage Learning and authored by ICC, a leading organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive, coordinated national model construction codes.

The 2015 International Fuel Gas Code is a comprehensive guide that provides up-to-date information on the design and installation of fuel gas systems and gas-fired appliances. The code is performance-driven, making it a valuable tool for anyone involved in the construction industry. The latest edition includes a completely rewritten section on piping protection and new requirements for line regulators. Distributed by Cengage Learning, this book is a must-have for professionals in the home design and construction field.