According to the ASCE manual, the primary purpose of
codes and standards is to protect the public's health and
safety. Compliance with codes and standards should be an
issue addressed early in the design phase. Without early
identification of the appropriate codes and standards, reworking
plans and specifications can result in considerable
cost and delay. The design professional must be knowledgeable
about the provisions of codes and standards before
starting the design process because the building codes
directly control the minimum standards of many components
of a building project, and are responsible for much of the
finished product quality. Kubal claims that regulations
controlling the construction process are much more restrictive
than in most manufacturing and service industries.