Jake explains how to use the International Residential Code (IRC) book effectively without feeling overwhelmed. He shares that many experienced builders ask him code-related questions, not because he knows the code better, but because he’s skilled at navigating the book. Jake talks about the IRC’s three-year update cycle, with the 2021 version being the most commonly used, and provides tips on accessing it online for free. He emphasizes using tabs and gel highlighters to mark important sections and suggests maintaining a good relationship with local code officials for help with code interpretation.