Final answer:
Building codes have been used for approximately 4,000 years, including the Code of Hammurabi developed around 1754 BC.
Step-by-step explanation:
Building codes have been used for close to 4,000 years to protect the public from poor construction practices and unsafe conditions. One of the earliest examples of a code was the Code of Hammurabi, which was developed by Hammurabi, a Babylonian king, around 1754 BC. This code was inscribed on ancient clay tablets and included laws and punishments based on the principle of 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'.