Resources Understanding the laws, building codes and good construction practices should be a priority for every developer, contractor,  homeowner and architect.  We encourage everyone to take advantage these valuable resources available on the web:   ADA - Americans with Disabilites Act Every new public building built in the U.S. must comply with the ADA.   This is the official ADA web site.   Federal Fair Housing Act Every new multi-family residential building consisting of 4 or more units must comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act. View this important law, and others, at HUD's Fair Housing Web Site.   Illinois Accessibility Code All new public buildings and multi-family residential buildings built in Illinois must meet the requirements stipulated in the Illinois Accessibility Code.   View and download it here.  This is the Illinois Capital Development Board's web site.   LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.   Energy Star Energy Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.   U.L. Fire Resistance Directory Each fire rated component shown on our drawings must comply with a design tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratories.   To view a full description of any U.L. Design Number shown on our drawings, simply visit this site.   Masonry Advisory Council The Masonry Advisory Council is a local Chicago area organization that provides techincal design and construction information to contractors and architects.  Proper masonry detailing and installation procedures are described and illustrated on this web site.   Their staff architect is also available by phone to answer your questions and provide recommendations.   Brick Industry Association Technical Notes on brick veneer design, detailing and construction information are provided based on the latest technical developments.   NCMA - National Concrete Masonry Association The NCMA is the national trade association representing the concrete masonry industry.  The NCMA TEK Details, available here, illustrate proper installation procedures for concrete block and concrete masonry veneer.   ACI - American Concrete Institute The ACI has established many of the concrete installation guidelines and standards recognized by most building codes.   A Technical Center and other Free Resources are available on this web site.