You’re Invited to Chat with the President

Wally Bailey

International Code Council Board President Wally Bailey will hold the first in a series of “Fireside Chats” on Tuesday, March 6. This 90-minute teleconference, which will originate from Bailey’s office in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at 3 p.m. EST, is part of an ongoing effort to improve communications with Code Council members and stakeholders. It will allow listeners to ask questions and participate in the discussion.

The concept of fireside chats dates back more than 70 years, when President Franklin Roosevelt’s radio broadcasts became a staple in American homes during the Depression and World War II. FDR’s fireside chats gave people a chance to hear directly from the President himself on important issues of the day.

We hope you will join the March 6 Fireside Chat. To do so, you must register in advance. Once registered, you will receive an e-mail with the dial-in number (toll-free in the U.S.), a unique access code and directions on how to participate.

A First for Green Building Standards
The International Code Council and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) will undertake the joint development and publication of a residential green building standard, reinforcing their commitment to sustainable building practices and the creation of national standards for green home building.

NAHB Green Building Committee Chairman Ray Tonjes (left), ICC CEO Rick Weiland and ICC Board President Wally Bailey answer questions during a press conference announcing the joint development of a green building standard.

USGBC Supports Green Initiative
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced its support of the partnership between NAHB and the Code Council to create a standard for green homes.

Join the Process for Green Building
The Code Council, NAHB and the NAHB Research Center have initiated a process to develop an ANSI standard for green home building construction practices. Apply for membership on the consensus committee to develop the standard and read the committee membership invitation notice. ICC Governmental Member Representatives are authorized to travel at the Council’s expense if selected to participate on this consensus committee.

Building a Green Revolution
Outlining several initiatives to support green building, the Code Council Board of Directors has issued a policy position on Green Building/Sustainable Communities, which includes member education on achieving environmentally responsible buildings.

California Adopts I-Codes
Bringing the state more in line with the rest of the country, the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) has voted unanimously to adopt the International Building Code and International Fire Code as the basis for the state’s new codes. California now joins 48 other states that have decided to go with the I-Codes.

ICC representatives were on hand to congratulate state officials following the CBSC’s unanimous decision to adopt the I-Codes. From left, CBSC Executive Director Dave Walls, ICC Government Relations SVP Sara Yerkes, State Fire Marshal and Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Ruben Grijalva, Secretary of the California State and Consumer Services Agency and CBSC Chair Rosario Marin and ICC CEO Rick Weiland.

Register for Final Action Hearings
Make a difference in building safety and fire prevention at this years’ Codes Forum. Scheduled for May 18-26 in Rochester, New York, the Forum features the Final Action Code Hearings, the Design Professional Institute and the 2006 Educational Updates. Online registration is now open.

Task Force Responds to Your Needs
The Board of Directors accepted the combined recommendations of the Ad Hoc Task Force on Hearings and the Steering Committee at its last meeting in Washington, D.C. Both groups will continue to respond to member needs by improving the Code Development and Final Action Hearings, and the Annual Business Meeting.

Study Shows Why Building Codes Work
A study of 9,835 reported claims on residential dwellings damaged in Hurricane Rita conducted by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association shows that building codes work. The analysis compares dwellings built to the new, stricter building codes against those not built to the new building codes.

Your First Choice for Construction Safety
Did you know that Massachusetts is the 35th state to adopt the International Residential Code statewide? Meanwhile, Georgia, Iowa and Washington, have updated to the 2006 I-Codes. Overall, almost 21,000 U.S. communities have adopted I-Codes. Join the states, counties and communities as they select the I-Codes as their first choice for construction safety.

Stir Up Community Interest
Order everything you'll need to get the word out to your community. Building Safety Week campaign kits include posters, code and building permit brochures, disaster preparedness information, as well as coloring books, pencils and stickers for the kids.

Still stumped for ideas on how to get the word out? Every year, jurisdictions nationwide reach out to the public in new and innovative ways, and we have some great ideas for promoting Building Safety Week in your area.

High Wind Public Comments Still Available
The next meeting of the ICC Consensus Committee on Hurricane-Resistant Construction will be held February 28–March 2 to consider public comments on the First Public Comments Draft, dated November 2006.

West Virginia Explosion Kills Building Inspector

Debris from the convenience store in Ghent, destroyed by a propane explosion. (U.S. Chemical Safety Board)

Four people were killed, and at least five were seriously injured, when a powerful outdoor propane tank explosion leveled a general store in Ghent, West Virginia, on January 30. Those killed included volunteer firefighter/ paramedic Craig Lawrence Dorsey and volunteer firefighter Frederick Borroughs who was also a Raleigh County building inspector and member of the West Virginia Code Officials Association.

Prisons Modify Manual for I-Codes
The Design and Construction Branch of the Federal Bureau of Prisons modified its operational manual to indicate that the International Building Code, International Plumbing Code and International Mechanical Code are acceptable to use in lieu of NFPA 5000. Modifications were made to IBC Chapter 10 to meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. By rule, the agency is required to use the Life Safety Code to determine the occupancy of a building before mapping to the closest similar occupancy in the IBC.

ICC Meets with Labor Reps

ICC met with Labor International Union of North America (LIUNA) representatives at the Council’s headquarters office January 25. From left: Rocco Davis, Vice President and Special Assistant to the General President of LIUNA; ICC Government Relations SVP Sara Yerkes; Ted Greene, General Council and Special Advisor to the General President; ICC Board President Wally Bailey; Stan Salas, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Ray Poupore, Executive Vice President of the National Construction Alliance; ICC Government Relations Deputy SVP Jim Tidwell; and ICC CEO Rick Weiland.

ICC, SFPE Partner to Benefit Membership
The Code Council and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) are working together on key strategic initiatives to expand services offered to the membership of both organizations. The partnership will facilitate fire protection design education and application, improve public safety nationwide, and offer ICC members discounts on six new SFPE online training seminars.

Free Wind Guides Help Home Builders

	ICC CEO Rick Weiland (left) and Kenneth Bland, AWC Senior Director of Codes and Standards, review the wood construction guides.

Providing design tools for home builders in high-wind areas, the Code Council and the American Forest & Paper Association's American Wood Council (AWC) have partnered to provide free online copies of Guides to Wood Construction in High Wind Areas. Printed copies are available through the Council.

The following news links may take you outside ICC's website. ICC is not responsible for the content and privacy practices of non-ICC websites.
DeckLok Releases Study on Deck Collapse
CPSC Warns of Deadly Fire and CO Dangers
UL Warns of Counterfeit LP and Natural Gas Hoses
India Adopting Energy Conservation Code
New Home Sales End Year on High Note
California Builder Elected NAHB President
Nonresidential Construction Jobs Jump in January
NAHB Breaks Ground on Research-Testing Facility
Students Build Hurricane-Resistant Home to IBC
Texas Senate Resolution Recognizes Jo Ra Wagner
ASSE Launches Redesigned Website
USGBC’s LCA Group Produces First Recommendations
ASHRAE Highlights Outstanding Building Projects

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