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American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

2027 I-Codes Finalized: What You Need to Know Right Now [Monday MINUTE]

Published about 2 hours ago • 4 min read

September 7, 2026, Edition

#CreatingWherePeopleLive

This weekly newsletter

is created by and for those designing homes in North America.

Its editorial staff is the American Institute of Building Design, Inc., the premier association of residential design professionals.

Here's what you get:

  • Field Notes
  • Nuts & Bolts
  • Highlights
  • Workshops & Gatherings
  • What We're Up To
  • Amazing sponsors who help keep this newsletter free for the industry.

Let's dive in.

Email servers may truncate this newsletter because it is too long. Read the complete Monday Minute at AIBD.org/mondayminute.

If you received this as a forward, become one of our many delighted subscribers. Get insider access by signing up!​

Please support our sponsor:

Why it's great to partner with Provia:

Their philosophy, often referred to as The Professional Way, emphasizes accountability and integrity, ensuring that the products you specify are delivered with the same care you put into your drawings.

Field Notes

A seismic shift for building products

Don't assume your local dealer can source the exact decking or siding brand they did last month.

A massive distribution battle is underway between major manufacturers and distributors—and it could directly impact how you source materials for your upcoming specs.

Source: HBS Dealer

Economic Briefing: Labor Trends & What They Mean for Your Practice

Construction employment held steady despite broader economic shifts, with specialty trade contractors continuing to grow and total nonfarm payrolls adding 162,000 jobs.

For small residential practices and solo operators, this signals that trade labor and subcontracting capacity remain stable — a useful backdrop when planning project timelines, coordinating with trade partners, and pricing work for the quarter ahead.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

2027 I-Codes Finalized: What Small Design Firms Need to Know Right Now

Flood-resistant design requirements in the IBC and IRC are expanding to cover the 500-year floodplain and 500-year flood elevation, meaning elevated baseline heights and stricter site design constraints will apply across significantly more coastal and inland projects.

How does that affect additions?

Source: NAHB

Nuts & Bolts

Free global 3D shadow tool, no registration required

Instead of waiting until schematic design to run solar simulations in BIM, you can evaluate candidate lots or site constraints right alongside the client during initial consultations.

Studying the existing site context before drawing a single wall turns solar analysis from a design-tweak tool into a foundational design driver.

Source: Shademap.app

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Highlights

Welcome New Members

And those returning

Stacy McCarthy, Stacy McCarthy Design (FL), Associate

David Justini, Porch Outfitters (SC), Professional

Thanks for Referring AIBD

This week's movers and shakers:

Thank you, David Nutter, at Electro Arts Enterprises Inc, for recruiting a new Associate! 🎉🥳

Member Anniversaries

Congratulations to those celebrating the anniversary of their membership this month.

Help us celebrate the following milestones.

40 years.

Jannis Vann CPBD, FAIBD | GA | Lifetime Professional

20 years

Marc O'Grady CPBD | VA | Professional

10-years

Benjamin Tabolt BIM-R | MO | Associate

Adam Frazier | NC | Professional

5-years

John Rodriguez CPBD | MD | Professional

🎉🎊

Workshops & Gatherings

AIBD Chapters, Boards, and Councils

Click the links to view the topics and add them to your calendar.

NEW! September 16 - Eastern Shore Chapter - 3:30 pm ET - Water closet design tips

September 24 - AIBD Colorado Connect - 9 am to 4 pm - Douglas County Libraries, 100 S. Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, CO, 80104

October 2 - AIBD Office Hour (Virtual) - 11:00 am ET - 60 minutes (or so) of open discussion and collaboration (Members Only)

October 7 - Board of Directors - everyone welcome!

November 17 - National Council of Building Designer Certification (NCBDC) quarterly meeting

February 2, 2027 - AIBD's Viva Las Pizza Party (In Person) - Las Vegas, NV - 5:30 to 9:00 pm - More info to come.

AIBD Webinars

September 11 - Coffee with Bernie - 10:00 a.m. ET - Rising Stars. Meet AIBD's future. (1.0 Elective CE)

September 15 - ​High-Performance Homes Team​ - 2:00 p.m. ET - Water Collection and Reuse Strategies (1.0 P4 CE)

September 29 - CE Watch Party - 2:00 p.m. ET (45 min) - Discover the Future of Solar Roofing (1.0 P4-CE)

Please support our sponsor:

Training Events

Hosted By AIBD CE Providers

AEC Daily - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

Green Home Institute - ​Look for in-person and virtual events.

International Builders Show - February 2-4, 2027 - Registration is open.

NEW! NADRA Summit - March 3-5 at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. Cape Coral, FL

NAHB Fall Leadership Meeting - October 6-8, 2026, Detroit, MI - Registration is open!​

SelectSIPs Expo and Annual Meeting 2027 - March 8-9, 2027 - Phoenix, AZ - Registration is Open!​

SoftPlan - Virtual & On-Demand Training​

Traditional Building Conference - November 3-4, 2026 - Charleston, SC. Registration is Open​

What We're Up to

The AIBD Board of Directors supports the American Board of Architecture's mission.

By supporting ABA's efforts to establish fair, competency-based alternative pathways for qualified building-design professionals, AIBD reaffirms its commitment to advancing building design, fostering innovation, and advocating for fair competition in education and credentials.

Click the link below to view the full board agenda, including other reports and actions.

Have a triumphant week.

Thank you to our AIBD Corporate Partners. Their generous support champions our profession, and we encourage you to support them in return.

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Contact us at info@aibd.org, 800.366.2423, or 110 Front Street, Suite #300, Jupiter, FL 33477.

One more thing—in the spirit of transparency, we want to let you know that AI was used to help edit this email.

American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)

The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) is a professional association that promotes the highest standards of excellence in residential building design. AIBD offers a variety of resources to its members, including continuing education, networking opportunities, and marketing assistance. AIBD is a valuable resource for anyone interested in a career in residential building design. If you want to improve your skills, network with other professionals, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends, AIBD is the perfect organization for you.

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