A study is made of the accuracy of the static code provisions on torsional effects, with special reference to the National Building Code of Canada of 1977. A uniform frame type monosymmetric 12-story building is used as an example. The static story torque is compared with the dynamic torque computed using the response spectrum technique as outlined in Commentary K of the Code. It has been found that for a building with uniform eccentricity, the static code torque estimate is good if the effect of sympathetic coupled torsional–lateral resonance is small. At the sympathetic coupled resonance, the static code torsional provision underestimates the story torque by a factor of approximately two. Also, it is shown that for buildings with large eccentricities, sympathetic resonance is unlikely to occur and the current Code requirement of doubling the computed torque for design is a very conservative requirement.In addition, the eccentricity expression given in the 1980 Code is used to estimate the story torques for eccentrically set-back buildings and its accuracy is checked with a response spectrum technique. It is concluded that for irregular structures, such as eccentrically set-back buildings, a dynamic analysis is the only reliable procedure for the estimation of the torque loading on the building.