BEAR offices hosts a vast library of building codes going back to the 1940s and spanning cities from the East to the West Coast. The major model building code used in the United States is developed by the International Code Council (ICC) and the International Building Code (ICB).

When a client needed a reference on building codes in New York City BEAR was able to respond rapidly and reliably.

The main purpose of the building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. Over the years, codes change. This has been true for fire codes regarding asbestos and many others.

Ancient Babylon had the first building codes known as the Code of Hammuraby (Codex Hammurabi). Only one example of the code survives today, inscribed on a seven foot, four inch tall basalt stone slab, currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Below is a section of the stela.