International Code Council Partners with Mexico in Developing Energy Efficiency Model

New Code Represents Cumulative Efforts from Public and Private Sector

The International Code Council (ICC) and Calidad and Sustentabilidad en la Edificacion A.C. (CASEDI) [Building Quality and Sustainability] are pleased to announce the publication of the Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings, the first Energy Efficiency code for Mexico.  This code represents the cumulative efforts on behalf of CASEDI, Mexico’s National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE), the Secretaria de Energia (SENER) [Department of Energy], ICC and input from other interested parties from both the public and private sector.  This new publication is based on ICC’s International Energy Conservation Code, the most widely adopted energy code in the United States.

Working closely with local authorities in selected municipalities, CONUEE is assisting with the adaptation, adoption and implementation of the Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings. Plans are underway to significantly expand these outreach efforts in the months ahead. The Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings is available for public access here.

The code contains the requirements for nonresidential buildings (including mixed occupancies) as well as three-story, or less, residential buildings. These requirements are presented separately in their respective sections and chapters. Both parts contain Administrative and Application, Definition, General Requirements and Energy Efficiency Requirements applicable to buildings for each of the scopes.

This is a comprehensive code that establishes minimum requirements for energy efficient buildings for the entire country and allows the use of prescriptive and performance provisions. This code also permits the use of new energy efficiency designs and materials.

“Mexico and the United States are long-standing allies with deep economic, cultural and building construction ties,” said Mark Johnson, ICC’s Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development.  “ICC welcomes the opportunity to continue to build on its successful collaboration with CASEDI, CONUEE, SENER and others committed to energy efficiency.”

“Achieving the development of the IECC Mexico has been possible with the guidance and expertise of the ICC,” said CASEDI’s President Evangelina Hirata, “and the greatest challenge will be to promote its adoption and adaptation to local needs, and thus truly contribute to energy efficiency in the built environment.”

The parties recognize the mutual benefit to be gained from working together.  Moving forward, the organizations will continue to identify additional areas of mutual interest for possible future cooperative programs or joint activities.

###

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

About CASEDI

CASEDI, (Calidad y Sustentabilidad para la Edificación) is a non-for-profit civil association that promotes green building construction. CASEDI is the ICC Mexico Chapter and has worked mainly during the last years in the development of the IECC-Mexico, (Mexico Energy Conservation Code for Buildings) in coordination with the Federal agencies in charge of energy conservation in Mexico the SENER (Department of Energy) and CONUEE (National Commission for the Efficient use of Energy) with the objective to promote this code at the local jurisdictions to contribute to emissions reduction in building construction.

About SENER

SENER (Department of Energy) is the government agency whose responsibility is to develop and implement the energy policies for the country, according to the current laws, to guarantee that the energy supply is competitive, adequate, of high quality, affordable and sustainable as necessary for the development of the country.

About CONUEE

CONUEE (National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy) is an administratively independent branch of SENER whose main objective is to promote energy efficiency and to act as the technical body for the sustainable use of energy. It is also responsible to develop and update the Official Mexican Standards (NOM) for Energy Efficiency in coordination with other governmental agencies.

New California Codes and Guides to Key Changes Help Code Users Prepare for 2017

The 2016 Title 24 California Codes go into effect statewide Jan. 1

The latest editions of the California construction codes will result in safer communities with more efficient and resilient homes and buildings. The 2016 triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24, is now available and includes, for those who sign up for its subscription service, all updates issued by the state through 2019. Building officials and local government, industry and design professionals, and the general public can purchase California’s new codes that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017 from the International Code Council.

The 2016 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, includes the following parts:

Part 1, California Administrative Code

Part 2, California Building Code (includes Part 8, Historical, and Part 10, Existing Building)

Part 2.5, California Residential Code

Part 3, California Electrical Code

Part 4, California Mechanical Code

Part 5, California Plumbing Code

Part 6, California Energy Code

Part 9, California Fire Code

Part 11, California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen)

Part 12, California Referenced Standards Code

The 2016 Title 24 codes can be purchased individually or in specially priced bundles including the Complete Collection, Home Builder’s Collection, Designer Collection, and Building and Fire combo. The Administrative, Building, Residential, Energy, Fire, CALGreen and Referenced Standards codes are available from ICC in both print and PDF download. The Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing codes are available in print.

To accompany the new codes, ICC partnered with California Building Officials (CALBO) and California Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA) to develop a valuable set of three full-color, illustrated guides to the most important changes. The 2016 editions of Significant Changes to the California Building Code, Significant Changes to the California Residential Code, and Significant Changes to the California Fire Code will help code users gain a clear knowledge of the codes, where and how they have been revised, and the rationale behind those changes. These easy-to-use resources are the perfect tools for transitioning to the 2016 California Codes.

“Time is a precious resource for all construction professionals and safety stewards,” said Mark Johnson, ICC Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development. “The California Significant Changes series will help streamline the transition to the 2016 codes for building and fire departments, inspectors, architects, engineers, builders, and others responsible for building safety in the Golden State.”

Each Significant Changes guide includes: a full-color photograph, table or example to illustrate each change; detailed part summaries and change summaries; clear notation of deleted code language and new code text; and logical organization that follows the layout of the code. The guides are available in soft cover now or PDF download Nov. 1.

For more information, or to order, call 1-800-786-4452 or visit shop.iccsafe.org.

###

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Employs ICC’s Cloud-Based System for Code Development

Department Honored at State’s 18th Annual Innovative Technology Symposium

The International Code Council’s (ICC) cloud-based code development system – cdpACCESS – was the foundation of an award-winning process advanced by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to streamline and enhance safe construction.

The Department was honored at the 18^th annual Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) for developing cdpVA, an online process allowing stakeholders to monitor, update and develop building, fire and other related regulations, which won the Government to Business Award. Government Technology Magazine sponsors COVITS.

“Virginia is the first in the country to deploy the Code Council’s cloud-based code development solution based on cdpACCESS,” explained ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “This innovative system provides digital access to ICC model codes and standards, legislative formatting for AHJ code change proposals, a collaboration tool for working with stakeholders and, most importantly, is customized for Virginia’s specific regulatory process.

“We are hoping other states will realize the value of incorporating cdpACCESS into their operations, and the cost effectiveness of utilizing this technology,” Sims added.

Launched March 1, 2016, Virginia’s online process includes electronic versions of the code requirements, automatic legislative formatting, a collaboration tool and public comment feature, and acts as a depository for all regulatory documents including but not limited to meeting notices, workgroup information, summaries, board meetings and public hearings, gathering them from various other sources and calendars creating a single location for information.

DHCD worked with ICC and a number of stakeholders — including the Virginia Building Code Officials Association (VBCOA), Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association (VPMIA), Virginia Society of Architects (VA AIA), Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) — to identify needs and test the process before going live with the new system prior to the commencement of this code update cycle which began earlier this year.

Those same stakeholders are embracing cdpVA, which: eliminates the possibility of incorrect proposals being presented at workgroups, code committees and board meetings; eliminates the possibility of losing proposals that have been submitted; significantly reduces the time to prepare and generate agendas for workgroups, code committees and board meetings; allows staff to access any given proposal at any given time; and drastically reduces mountains of paperwork and the need to stand at a copier scanning documents to create pdfs and then copying thousands of pages for every meeting.

After years of study and with input from members and stakeholders, ICC ushered in cdpACCESS late in 2013. For the first time, members with a username and password were able to collaborate, review, submit and vote (if eligible) on code change proposals and public comments, initially on the 2015 International Green Construction Code. The 2015/2016/2017 code development cycle was the first full cycle to use cdpACCESS.

ICC congratulates the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on its innovative adaption of cdpACCESS for enhancing building projects in the safe environment.

###

About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.