Guide to the ADA Standards
by U.S. Access Board · U.S. Access Board
Chapter-by-chapter explanation of the 2010 ADA Standards from the federal agency that wrote the underlying accessibility guidelines, covering accessible routes, entrances, parking, restrooms, signage and recreation facilities, with illustrations, animations and clearly flagged best practices beyond the minimum.
More resources on Building Codes & Standards
DOE Building Energy Codes Program
Department of Energy hub tracking which energy code each US state has adopted, with the free REScheck and COMcheck compliance tools, residential and commercial field studies, and the determination analyses that evaluate successive IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 editions.
Read-Only Versions of ASHRAE Standards
Free read-only viewers for current ASHRAE standards, including 90.1 energy efficiency, 62.1 ventilation and 55 thermal comfort — documents that US energy and mechanical codes adopt by reference. Viewing costs nothing; a purchase is needed for a downloadable copy.
Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2024 International Building Code, 8th Edition
Walks through the 2024 IBC section by section with Ching's line drawings, explaining occupancy classification, construction types, height and area limits, fire resistance, means of egress and accessibility, and the reasoning behind each provision.
NFPA Free Access to Codes and Standards
Read-only online viewer for nearly every active NFPA standard, including NFPA 1 Fire Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, NFPA 13 for sprinklers and NFPA 70 National Electrical Code. Requires a free account; documents cannot be downloaded or printed.
ICC Digital Codes (free read-only I-Codes)
Official full text of the International Building, Residential, Fire, Energy Conservation and Plumbing Codes, from 2000 editions through the current 2024 set. The Basic tier gives free read-only viewing; copying, printing and advanced search need a paid subscription. The regulation itself rather than commentary about it.