Page 97 - DP-2-3

Design+

ARTICLE
Evaluating the benefits of using the Building

Code Calculator app for design educators and
industry professionals

Hebatalla Nazmy* and Merida Valentin-Mendez

Department of Design, College of Arts and Letters, California State University Sacramento,
Sacramento, California, United States of America

Abstract

Technology has transformed the field of interior design, improving efficiency
through the use of digital tools. However, calculating building codes remains a
complex, time-consuming, and error-prone task. Mobile apps have demonstrated
their ability to facilitate complex tasks such as calculating clinical scoring systems
and medication dosage in the medical field. Despite this potential, user-friendly
solutions for building code compliance remain limited. Therefore, this study aims
to explore the experiences and challenges faced by design professionals when
working with building codes and to assess their willingness to adopt a new mobile
app designed to help with building code calculations. Using a mixed-methods
approach, 31 participants from the Midwest and South Central regions, including
*Corresponding author: industry professionals and instructors, were interviewed about their experience with
Hebatalla Nazmy building codes. Participants were then introduced to the Building Code Calculator
(hebanazmi@gmail.com)
(BCC) app and surveyed using the innovation diffusion theory framework. The
Citation: Nazmy H, interviews revealed that professionals and students experience challenges with
Valentin-Mendez M. Evaluating the
benefits of using the Building Code the current available resources and traditional calculation methods. Professionals
Calculator app for design educators also recognize the potential of the BCC app in improving efficiency and enhancing
and industry professionals. students’ learning. Survey results indicated strong agreement among instructors
Design+. 2025;2(3):025190025.
doi: 10.36922/DP025190025 regarding the app’s relative advantage, image, ease of use, result demonstrability,
visibility, and trialability, indicating a high willingness to adopt the tool. In addition,
Received: May 6, 2025
statistical analysis using the one-sample Wilcoxon test suggested a significant
Revised: June 11, 2025 difference between the observed median and the hypothesized median for all
Accepted: July 10, 2025 survey questions. These findings suggest that the BCC app can potentially enhance
efficiency in professional practice and serve as a teaching aid in classroom settings.
Published online: August 12, 2025
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article Keywords: Building code; Interior design; Cognitive load; Mobile app; Design tool; Digital
distributed under the terms tool
of the Creative Commons
AttributionNoncommercial License,
permitting all non-commercial use,
distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original work 1. Introduction
is properly cited.
1.1. The role of building codes
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with Interior design aims to create spaces that protect the health, safety, and well-being of
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional the occupants while meeting their needs. Designers are responsible for various tasks,
affiliations. including space planning, egress, fire safety, lighting, material and finishes selection,

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/DP025190025