What type of theory do building laws belong to?

Building laws are categorized as prescriptive theory because they establish guidelines, standards, and regulations that dictate how buildings should be designed, constructed, and maintained. These laws serve to enforce specific requirements to ensure safety, functionality, accessibility, and aesthetic quality in the built environment.

Prescriptive theories not only describe how things should be done but also provide firm rules and parameters that practitioners must adhere to. In the context of architecture, prescriptive theories help in forming a framework to govern the practice, ensuring compliance with laws, codes, and standards that protect public health and safety.

By contrast, critical theory often analyzes and critiques existing frameworks without providing direct guidelines for practice. Descriptive theory focuses on outlining observations and characteristics of phenomena instead of dictating actions, while experimental theory is primarily concerned with scientific experimentation and observations rather than formal legislation or building practices.