- I-Codes
used in “Extreme Makeover” construction
- Hurricane
Symposium examines lessons learned, develops strategies
- IAS
to accredit building departments
- Annual
survey of building officials underway
- Last
chance to recruit a member and win; Contest ends March 1
- Institutes
improve skills for success
- ICCF
accepting nominations for Silent Defender Award
- Fire
Plans Examiner Certification now available from ICC
- ICC
files notice with ANSI of intent to create low-cost Sprinkler Standard
- HUD seeking comments on proposal to continue Technical Suitability of Products Program
Hot
Off the Press
Use the new
"how to" guide, Applied Codeology: Understanding the 2005 NEC®,
written by the experts at the NJATC to help you read and interpret the
2005 NEC®. This systematic guide helps readers use the code as a tool
to increase skill and proficiency in making code-compliant installations.
It explains how to apply the code to the question at hand, where to
find key information and how to integrate the code with the planning
of an electrical installation for safer and more dependable results.
Click
here for more information and to order.
Get it right the first time with the 2003 IRC® CheckList™:
Building Provisions. A must for any plan reviewer, architect
or engineer, this helpful reference takes you step-by-step through the
building provisions in Chapters 1-11 of the 2003 International Residential
Code® for One- and Two-Family Dwellings to ensure code compliance.
It is organized and categorized into subjects that allow you to quickly
identify comments applicable to your project, and have easy reference
to the code provision for clarification. Ensure compliance and safety
while you save time with this valuable tool. Click
here for more information and to order.
A click puts commentary
at your fingertips
Have a question about a specific section of the code? Finding the relevant
code commentary is easy when you have the 2003 I-Code Commentaries
on CD. They are a fast way to navigate through the 2003 Commentaries
in PDF format. Users can search text, figures and tables and even copy
and paste small excerpts from code provisions into correspondence or
reports. For more info, click
here.
Online Membership Renewals—Did you know? Renewing your membership online is quick and easy. In addition, as a member you can post jobs for free, search for other ICC members, save with member pricing, and much more in the Member's Only-Area of the ICC Web site. Click here to go there now. Not a member? Sign up today to begin enjoying exclusive benefits by clicking here.
Need assistance with Plan Review? Call 1-888-ICC-SAFE, ext. 4309 or click here.
ICC Campus Online Train online, anytime, anywhere. More than 100 courses on the campus are available in the following areas: Regulatory and Compliance, Personal Development, Community Safety, Management Skills, Accounting and Finance, Office Skills and Desktop Applications. For more online courses, click here.
New seminars available! S.K. Ghosh, Ph.D.; David Fanella, Ph.D., PE.; and ICC partner to provide Code Transitioning from the 2000 IBC to the 2003 IBC Seminars. Ghosh and Fanella will present the IBC Structural Overview-Based on the 2003 IBC Seminar on March 8 in Kansas City, Missouri; March 10 in Greenville, South Carolina; and March 16 in Birmingham, Alabama. For more information, click here.
Time for certification renewal? Is your certification about to expire? Click here for information on how to renew.
Give your career a jump-start — become a Master Code Professional. Click here for information.
Need to update your CEUs/LUs? Click here for an available list of classes, and all the other training options that ICC offers.
Question on a product order? Call 1-800-786-4452 for customer service.
Building Safety
Week 2005 Coming Soon!
First observed in 1980, Building Safety Week raises the general
public's awareness about the importance of safety in the built environment.
Mark your calendar today to celebrate Building Safety Week 2005! Community
resources to help you celebrate Building Safety Week are available.
Click here
for details.
Onsite
Registration Available at 2005 ICC Codes Forum
If you are not yet registered for the 2005 ICC Codes Forum, scheduled
for Feb. 21-March 4 in Cincinnati, Ohio, you may register onsite at
the Millennium Hotel.
The education program, "Code Boot Camp," offers a selection of four full-day technical sessions on the critical concepts of the 2003 International Building Code®, 2003 International Fire Code®, 2003 International Plumbing Code® and the 2003 International Mechanical Code®. In addition to the education program, the event features Code Development Hearings which lead to the 2006 editions of the International Codes and a free ICC Expo. Click here for more information.
Unable
to attend the code hearings?
Tune in to the Live Webcast!
A live webcast of the Code Development Hearings at the 2005 ICC Codes
Forum will be presented February 22-March 4. This year, Tracks 1 and
2 hearings will be webcast.
Click
here for details.
2005
ICC Annual Conference Save the date!
September 25-October 2 COBO Conference/Exhibition Center Detroit, Michigan.
ABC's
hit television show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," recently traveled
to the Birmingham, Alabama, area to construct a new home for a local
family in need.
Representatives from the Jefferson County Department of Inspection
Services were on the scene—at times ranging from 2:00 a.m. to
2:00 p.m.—to inspect the work on the new home that was completed
within seven days. I-Codes used for the inspections included the 2003
IBC, IRC, IPC and IFGC.
Another ICC supporter, the City of Garden Grove, California, participated
in an "Extreme Makeover" episode that aired last year, and the Orange
County Fire Authority was involved in an episode of Fox's "Renovate
My Family."
ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" airs in most television markets
on Sunday evenings, with the Birmingham episode scheduled to appear
next month. For more I-Codes news, click
here.
Hurricane Symposium examines lessons learned, develops strategies
Examining
the lessons learned from the devastating 2004 hurricane season and
developing effective strategies for the future was the theme for
the Hurricane Symposium held last week in Tampa, Florida. More than
300 representatives from the construction industry participated
in the symposium, including code officials, homebuilders, government
agency representatives and academia, to examine what worked and
what failed during last year's hurricanes and to generate new ideas
to protect lives and property in future disasters.
The three-day event featured a series of presentations focusing
on structural performances during the 2004 hurricane season, disaster
response efforts among building departments, and the growing need
to provide training and education efforts for contractors and tradesmen
in the building industry.
"The Hurricane Symposium was a great success," said ICC CEO James
Lee Witt. "A lot of very valuable, scientifically-based information
was presented from experts in a wide range of fields. This information
will translate into improvements to ICC codes and standards through
our consensus code development process. This information will also
serve as the catalyst for new initiatives ICC and its partners will
develop to advance the public safety mission."
Look for more detailed reports from the Hurricane Symposium in future
issues of Building Safety Journal. For more ICC news, click
here.
Building
departments and the public they serve will benefit from a new voluntary
accreditation program offered by the International Accreditation Service
(IAS). An IAS team of independent evaluators will evaluate all aspects
of a building department's services to determine if the codes the community
has adopted are being effectively enforced to provide public safety
and protect property. When a building department earns IAS accreditation,
it means the department operates under the highest professional and
technical standards.
The new accreditation program is supported by the Insurance Services
Office, Inc. (ISO), an organization that provides information on risk
assessment of communities to insurance companies. For more information
about the new building department accreditation program, click
here.
Annual survey of building officials
The
second annual ICC Building Safety Week survey of building officials
is underway. The 2005 version of the survey seeks information about
the most common code violations found in new and existing homes and
buildings. The survey also asks about sprinkler requirements and building
department operations including the number of building permits issued,
plan reviews and inspections conducted during 2004.
Survey deadline March 9, 2005.
Recruit
just one member to join ICC by March 1 and qualify to win a getaway
vacation to San Francisco and other great prizes. Each member who
recruits at least one new member will have his or her name entered
into a prize drawing to win:
-
Grand Prize: A getaway vacation to San Francisco, including two round-trip airfare tickets on American Airlines® and a two-night stay at the Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf (Complimentary accommodations provided by Site Services).
-
First Prize: PDA with mCodes, and a six-month subscription to Optasoft's commercial building plan review software. (PDA and Optasoft software sponsored by Optasoft, www.optasoft.com).
-
$200 Gift Certificate from ICC ($100 Publications, plus $100 Training and Education).
Institutes improve skills for success
Attendees of the 2004 Plan Review Institute in St. Louis improved their skills in performing effective and efficient nonstructural and structural plan reviews based on the 2003 International Building Code and residential plan reviews based on the 2003 International Residential Code.Attendees received up-to-date information and practiced performing specific plan reviews with instruction provided by industry experts in the I-Codes, technical aspects pertaining to building design, and performing commercial and residential plan reviews.
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If you missed
the recent Plan Review Institute, plan to attend the Code
Official Institute on March 21-24 in Orlando, Florida, or
the Property
Maintenance and Housing Institute in May 19- 20 in Chicago,
Illinois.
For more information on ICC training and education available,
go to www.iccsafe.org/training
or call 1-888-ICC-SAFE, extension 4322.
The
International Code Council Foundation (ICCF) has initiated the
Silent Defender Award Program. This award recognizes persons and
organizations that perform an extraordinary act that demonstrates
a commitment to the Foundation's mission of building stronger,
safer communities.
If you know someone who made a difference in the lives of people
by performing a selfless act of benevolence, has high ethical
standards, and lends themselves to the dignity and credibility
of their profession, then help give them the recognition they
deserve by nominating them for the Silent Defender Award. This
award may be presented to more than one person and is not limited
to those in the building safety profession.
For more information on the Silent Defender Award, click
here.
Fire Plans Examiner Certification now available from ICC
Fire
Plans Examiner is a brand new certification available from ICC.
Candidates can now sign up for a computer-based exam designed to
provide professional recognition for those individuals performing
plan reviews for building departments around the country.
The exam will cover administration, occupancies, hazardous materials,
fire protection, egress and safety.
The references for this exam are the 2003 International Fire
Code®, 2003 International Building Code®, NFPA 13 Installation
of Sprinkler Systems, and NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm Code.
Fire Inspector II is a prerequisite for obtaining this certification.
The new Fire Plans Examiner certification will also serve as a component
part for individuals working towards obtaining the Fire Code Official
certification.
For additional information on computer-based and paper pencil testing,
click
here.
ICC files notice with ANSI of intent to create low-cost Sprinkler Standard
ICC
has filed a public notice through the ANSI Project Initiation Notification
System (PINS) to create a low-cost Sprinkler Standard. The notice states,
"The objective of this standard is to provide technical design and performance
criteria that will facilitate and promote the design, construction,
and installation of safe, reliable and economical multipurpose piping
systems for combination plumbing and fire sprinkler systems in one-
and-two family dwellings."
Anyone with comments on this activity, pro or con, is encouraged to
contact Dave Bowman, ICC Manager of Standard Development, by clicking
here.
HUD seeking comments on proposal to continue Technical Suitability of Products Program
On
February 1, The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published
a Federal Notice seeking comment on its proposal to continue the Technical
Suitability of Products Program. Under this program, manufacturers of
nonstandard housing-related materials, products or structural housing
systems must apply to HUD for a determination of technical acceptance.
A March 2003 study by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
recommended that HUD discontinue this program and rely on ICC-ES evaluation
reports.
Interested parties have been invited to submit comments on this proposal
by March 3, 2005. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or
OMB approval number (2502-0313) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer,
Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington,
D.C. 20503; fax: (202) 395-6974.
To read the HUD Federal Notice, click
here. For more information on the NIBS studies, click for TSP
report and MPS
Report.
Codes Save Lives
Do
you have a story about how building safety and fire prevention codes
have helped to save lives or property in your community? Tell us your
experience. We love to hear when codes make a positive impact on public
safety.
To submit your Codes Save Lives story, click
here.
|
How
to Reach Us
ICC has established a toll free number — 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233) — to improve member and customer access to its various departments and services. By dialing this toll number, you can reach the following: Headquarters
and Membership x33804 IT Product Support x33822 Code Opinions x33807 Plan Review x33809 Training x4322 Building Safety Journal™ x5248
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You can also reach the following departments and subsidiaries by dialing: Product
Orders/Customer Service Government
Relations National
Certification Program Contractor
Examinations International
Accreditation Service, Inc. ICC
Evaluation Service, Inc. ICC
Foundation |
ICC eNews
February 16, 2005
Volume 2, Issue 2
ICC eNews is a free, monthly e-mail publication.
To make sure you continue to receive ICC's monthly newsletter in your
inbox (not sent to bulk or junk folders), please add enews@iccsafe.org
to your address book.
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