The Council may pass, with or without amendment, standard ordinances and codes prepared by public or private agencies on such matters as fire prevention, building construction, electric wiring, plumbing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, housing, health, and other similar matters by reference to the date and source of the code and without reproducing the same at length in the ordinance. In all such cases, publication of the code at length shall not be required. At least three copies of each code shall be kept in the office of the Clerk of Council for reference by interested persons and additional copies be kept available for sale by the Clerk.