The U.S. construction sector, worth more than $2.2 trillion annually, continues to build despite the storm. Extreme heat, floods, forest fires and hurricanes are no longer uncommon, they are part of routine. In 2024 alone, the country faced 27 individual disasters worth billions of dollars, with damages totaling $182.7 billion.
Modern building codes are our strongest defense. They give every structure resilience and safety, from emergency exits to flood protection. And yet here lies the paradox: the very codes that could protect communities are often fragmented, difficult to access and slow to adopt. Only 21% of at-risk jurisdictions have updated to the latest model regulations. Every year of delay increases the risk and costs.
Codes at a crossroads
For design and construction teams, the challenge is not the lack of standards, but the maze of fragmented, closed and inconsistent approaches. Codes vary by jurisdiction, contain thousands of pages of technical language, and are often only distributed in formats designed to slow usage rather than speed adoption. With tight project deadlines, this complexity slows the very upgrades most needed for climate readiness.
The consequences spread:
- Security: Codes are life-saving infrastructure. Research shows that $1 invested in risk-resilient codes saves $4 to $11 in recovery and up to $13 in high-risk areas.
- Affordability: Unclear or inaccessible codes (not only the content of the codes, but also the way they are distributed, in costly or unusable formats) lead to redesigns and delays. The regulations increase the price of a new single-family home by nearly $94,000, about a quarter of the cost.
- Climate readiness: Without consistent adoption, communities face increasing risks. Codes are the blueprint for resilience, but without clarity they are blunt tools.
Where AI fits in
Artificial intelligence won't stop the next flood or fire, but it can make compliance faster and clearer.
AI-driven code intelligence tools help teams:
- Parse hundreds of pages of technical text into usable answers.
- Clarify code requirements that would otherwise remain hidden in protected PDFs or books
- Identify jurisdictional differences so that the correct provisions are applied.
- Identify conflicts in the design phase and avoid costly mid-project corrections.
- Accelerate iteration and turn weeks of back and forth into days.
The benefits are measurable. A California architecture firm reduced plan corrections on a 10,000-square-foot project by two-thirds—from nine pages to three—after using AI tools to clarify code requirements. This means fewer delays, lower risk and more predictable delivery.
Why open codes are important
Technology only works if the rules are open. Today, most building codes are stuck behind locked PDFs or clunky “free” viewers that render them virtually unusable, forcing readers to click through hundreds of sections page after page or accept illegible font sizes unless they pay for them. In some cases, professionals even have to hand over personal information and sign contracts just to read the law. That's not access, that's disability. Large companies may be able to absorb the time and expense; Smaller companies often cannot do this. The result is inequality: the standards intended to protect communities are most difficult to apply to those with the fewest resources. Transparent, accessible regulations are the foundation for scaling resilient, energy-efficient construction nationwide.
Building towards resilience
Climate readiness is not just about advanced materials or futuristic designs. The aim is to ensure that the standards already enshrined in law can be applied quickly and correctly. That means:
- A school designed for the rising heat.
- A hospital built to remain operational even during floods.
- A house that has been made fireproof without burdening the family.
The construction industry has ingenuity. What slows us down is friction, unclear requirements, inconsistent implementation and costly rework. AI-driven code intelligence reduces this friction. The rewards are safer communities, more affordable housing, and structures designed for the realities of a changing climate.
A call to action
- Jurisdictions: Move faster to adopt current codes. Delays increase risk.
- Political leaders: Tear down paywalls, eliminate closed view-only portals and ensure the law can be freely read, searched and used.
- Architects, engineers and builders: Leverage the tools that are already transforming practice. A recent AIA survey found that 81% of AEC professionals now use AI at least once a month, but barriers to adoption remain, most notably security, trust and clear usage standards. Piloting AI in code navigation is one way to build that trust while delivering faster, climate-ready projects.
Climate action is a practical mission, measured in lives saved, dollars preserved and communities intact. Construction professionals already bear this responsibility. It's time we gave them clearer and faster tools to meet these needs. The $2.2 trillion U.S. construction sector will continue to build this country's future, brick by brick, beam by beam. With open codes and intelligent navigation, we can ensure that the future is not just built, but also built to last.