Greetings from ICC President Adolf Zubia
As your incoming president, I’m sending warm greetings to all the Members of the International Code Council who could not attend the Annual Business Meeting and Final Action Hearings here in Minneapolis. You would be proud to see how many dedicated Members have prepared for these final hearings and votes, and witness firsthand how effective our Code Development Process is in weighing so many difficult issues while acting to advance public safety. Our Code Development Process is open, it’s hard work, it’s transparent, it’s intense, it’s vigorous – but it’s working
As I leave for home today, this remarkable gathering of dedicated professionals in public service – which includes both First Responders and First Preventers, produces in me an almost overwhelming feeling of appreciation for what this organization can achieve to help protect our people. It is a feeling of great pride in what we have accomplished and it directs my focus to what lies ahead.
Over the last several days, safety issue after safety issue has been raised, discussed, argued, countered, argued again and finally put to a vote in what must be the most transparent and democratic rule-making process in government or industry.
Just before the Final Action Hearings began, the assembled Membership elected me to serve as the new president of ICC. I am deeply honored by this privilege and in my acceptance speech I pledged to do all I can to serve every one of you to the best of my ability, aided by the advice and support of the most effective team this organization has ever had. Following in Steve Shapiro’s footsteps is not easy but with his guidance and that of the full Board of Directors, I face the year ahead with optimism, enthusiasm and a lot of humility.
As the code hearings now approaching their conclusion make clear, we are exploring improvements in the areas of structural and fire safety alongside sustainable and energy efficient building, all of which will have enormous impact on virtually every aspect of safety in the built environment. Look at the compromise that was reached to assure safer egress from tall buildings in an emergency: the thoughtfulness, thoroughness and common sense of that code change. Our system works.
At the same time, outside of the code process, we are introducing through ICC-ES more effective and efficient methods of verifying and certifying innovative and sustainable products coming into the market to meet rapidly growing demand.
With the use of real time electronic voting devices, the hearings themselves reflect new technologies deployed to assist ICC in its vital mission. In fact, it will be a major goal of my presidency to expand access for current and would-be members to information about participation in the many important functions of this remarkable organization.
As part of that effort, ICC will expand the resources available at our website to explain more fully, both to our Members and to the communities we serve, the central importance of the code development process. That effort will include posting updated information at the site about participation in code development, eligibility to vote, the ethical responsibilities that accompany participation, the calendar of the code cycle and the range of issues under consideration.
The ICC brand is built on the ethical reputation of our code development process. To ensure its standing into future, we must continuously renew and strengthen it. Only by this means can our communities continue to rely on ICC for updated and practical safety codes.
I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the months ahead, learning from what you do and exploring what we can do together to advance the central safety mission of the ICC.
Adolf Zubia
