Consider that engineering successes are only successes until they fail; building codes are generally updated based on real-world failures to prevent similar failures from happening again. In that way, they provide a living, breathing guideline to ensuring you can learn from the mistakes of others not by doing all the research yourself, but by following the codes laid down by those who have already done it. In a few words, they can be instructive documents of tried and true construction methods and principles.

We have known for some time that there are responsibilities to one's fellow man when a person builds.  The first building codes in the United States where established in 1625 by addressing fire safety and specified materials for roof coverings.  George Washington and Thomas Jefferson encouraged the development of building regulations in order to help provide minimum standards that would ensure health and safety for building occupants. Larger US cities began establishing building codes in the early 1800s. 

A building can appear to be a relatively simple assembly of parts. We appreciate the rather exquisite balancing of loads and stresses that are the result of literally centuries of trial and error and analysis of failures. As noted above, this process continues unabated. The codes try to organize a system of community services that integrate roads, sewer, power, communication, environmental effect, emergency services, house values, and basic safety.

Circle A strives to understand the codes it implements at or above standard.