2024 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook

Whether you’re an architect, engineer, contractor, building manager, or municipal official involved in construction, the 2024 International Building Code^® Illustrated Handbook provides everything you need to understand the latest building code provisions. This edition features new updates to the information on structural loads based on reference to ASCE/SEI 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.

Covering all the key IBC changes, the 2024 International Building Code^® Illustrated Handbook will help you understand complex code provisions to achieve compliance. 

Additional updates to this edition cover: 

• Steel, wood, concrete and masonry standards
• Guards on retaining walls
• NFPA 13R sprinkler protection for apartment buildings
• Egress requirements for occupiable roofs
• Loadbearing exterior wall provisions for Type III construction
• Fire resistance of exterior walls
• Facilities involved in lithium-ion and lithium metal batteries
• Public occupancy temporary structures

The International Code Council (ICC) is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions that include product evaluation, accreditation, technology, training, and certification. The International Code Council's codes, standards, and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide. The ICC family of solutions includes the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC‑ES), S. K. Ghosh Associates, the International Accreditation Service (IAS), General Code, ICC NTA, ICC Community Development Solutions, Alliance for National & Community Resilience (ANCR), and American Legal Publishing, which are dedicated to the construction of safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

Douglas W. Thornburg, AIA, CBO, is the vice president and technical director of Products and Services at the International Code Council (ICC), where he provides leadership in the technical content development of ICC support publications, educational programs, and the instruction for ICC building code seminars. Prior to joining the ICC in 2004, Mr. Thornburg served as a code consultant and educator for building codes. He has been involved extensively in building code activities since 1980, beginning with five years with the City of Wichita, Kansas, Office of Central Inspection, and followed by 10 years with the International Conference of Building Officials.

John “Buddy” Showalter, PE, M.ASCE, M.NCSEA, is a senior staff engineer of the International Code Council. His expertise includes engineering aspects of building codes and standards with a focus on wood and mass timber buildings. As vice president of Technology Transfer at the American Wood Council, Showalter oversaw the implementation and organization of a technology transfer program, which included publications, a website, a helpdesk, and educational and other technical media. He has authored or co-authored more than 70 technical articles for industry-related trade journals.