Committee Chosen for Green Home Standard
A Consensus Committee, made up of more than 40 groups representing a broad spectrum of the industry, will develop the National Green Building Standard for homes. The Code Council and National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) announced the committee make up appointed by the NAHB Research Center Executive Standards Committee. Its purpose is to review the working draft of the national standard based on NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines and to develop the ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard.

Register Now 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.

It's not too late to check voting eligibility for the Final Action Hearings. All Governmental Members should review their member records for accuracy to ensure eligible voters can obtain their voting credentials.

Building Safety on the Hill
During Building Safety Week, May 6-12, the Code Council Board of Directors and Government Relations Advisory Committee will meet with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to discuss Council legislative priorities on behalf of its members and stakeholders. ICC’s main focus will highlight efforts to establish a federally funded, competitive matching grant program to promote and enhance the operation of local building code administration and enforcement across the country.

Swept Up in Safety Week

	Governor Matt Blunt signing the Building Safety Week proclamation for the state of Missouri.

Everyone is setting time aside to increase public awareness about the importance of making homes and buildings safe places where people can live, work and play.

• The New York City Department of Buildings is holding a Construction Safety Week from May 1-4, cosponsored this year by the Code Council, with an aim of reaching 25 percent of subway riders.
• Kansas issued the first state proclamation received by ICC this year for Building Safety Week. It’s the first time the state sent in a proclamation. Ohio, Montana and Mississippi have also jumped on board.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its own Safety Week campaign aimed at reducing construction-related fatalities in the Southeast.

Warm Up at Council's Fireside Chat
In his second fireside chat, Code Council Board President Wally Bailey will sit down to discuss those issues most important to Council members and stakeholders. In his last address, Bailey outlined current organization initiatives such as the Code Officials Awareness Program and answered questions for nearly one hour. The popular fireside chats will continue on a quarterly basis, with the next being held May 8 at 4:00 p.m. EST from the Council's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Discover Who’s Building Safer Communities
The list of extraordinary individuals and organizations who silently labor to build stronger, safer communities will be honored for their achievements at the ICC Foundation’s Silent Defender Awards Dinner on May 10, during this year’s Building Safety Week.

ICC Represented at Hurricane Conference

Code Council CEO Rick Weiland addressed delegates on the effective role of codes and enforcement in mitigation efforts, the economic impact on communities when disasters strike, and the Council's goal to make sure code officials have the tools they need to carry out their duties, at the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Hurricane-Simulation Facility Takes Flight
The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) is planning a Windstorm Simulation Facility in Florida. IBHS hopes to create the most advanced wind-hazard facility in the world, and the Council is offering to assist and participate in activities at the facility.

ICC Member Discounts and Services
The Code Council is offering new discounts and services to its members. In addition to the benefits members already enjoy, valuable packages from third-party companies are now available, including a 10-percent discount on Society of Fire Protection Engineers seminars.

Survey Says Hawkeyes Prefer I-Codes
An informal survey conducted by the Clinton Herald shows that Iowa cities have reached a virtual consensus on the importance of the International Building and International Residential Codes. Join those states and jurisdictions selecting the I-Codes as their first choice for construction safety and moving to the latest code requirements published at the national level.

15 Ideas for a Better Building Department
Like to tell the City Manager how the department has improved its customer service? These ideas have lead to success in many jurisdictions, for very little cost.

Have an Award-Winning Chapter?
Consider participating in the Code Council’s Chapter of the Year competition where the Council’s Board of Directors recognizes the professional achievements of chapters and their contributions to ICC. Application information and guidelines are available and all chapters are encouraged to participate. Applications are due June 1.

Focus on Disaster-Recovery Leadership

Interested in sharing innovative practices and establishing networks among government, private-sector and non-profit organizations for recovery after a disaster? Registration for Restoration 2007, May 2-4, is still open. The event is cosponsored by the Code Council and features ICC CEO Rick Weiland as a speaker.

Whistle Stop Tour Hits the Road for Firefighters

On average, two American firefighters die every week in the line of duty. Many of these deaths are preventable.

The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation (NFFF) began its nationwide tour promoting firefighter safety and public fire safety with the goal of reducing the number of firefighter line-of-duty deaths by 25 percent within five years. The "Everyone Goes Home" tour, supported by the Code Council for the past five years, will continue across America, wrapping up in Boston on May 12.

ICC, Arup “Brown Bag” at World Bank
The Code Council and Arup made a joint presentation—Engineering Best Practices for Hazard Mitigation—at a World Bank brown bag lunch addressing risk mitigation approaches and the benefit of performance-based design. The presentation tied in with a new initiative the Bank launched in 2006 to build national capacities for disaster risk reduction.

Arup Principal Brian Meacham (left) and ICC Director of International Operations Sylvana Ricciarini discuss performance-based building codes during an ICC/Arup joint presentation at the World Bank.

Foundation Sets Record Straight on Grant
Heard about a Code Council government program grant to elevate homes in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina? Misinformation about such a grant is circulating throughout the Gulf Coast region. To set the record straight, while people should consider elevating their homes to avoid further risk of flood damage, the Council has no such program, nor does it have any funds for this type of work.

A Chance to Win $2,500
This year’s U.S. celebration of World Standards Day 2007 has begun with the announcement of its World Standards Day Paper Competition. This year’s theme—Standards and the Global Village—gives you a chance to participate and possibly win $2,500. It takes a global village to raise awareness of the importance of standards to the global economy and create strong standards. Don’t let this opportunity to share your voice with the world pass you by.

You are invited to attend this year’s World Standards Day on October 18. You won’t want to miss National Institute of Standards and Technology Acting Deputy Director Dr. James Hill receive this year’s Ronald H. Brown Standards Leadership Award.

NIST and ICC Discuss National Voluntary Standards

Mary Saunders (center), Chief of the Standards Service Division for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), visits with Council CEO Rick Weiland (right) and Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes (left) at ICC Headquarters in Washington, D.C. They discussed the federal government's use of national voluntary standards.

Symposium Examines High-Rise Egress Strategies
The Architectural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers is hosting a symposium May 5 on High-Rise Building Egress Stairs at the McGraw-Hill Auditorium in New York City. The symposium will feature a series of presentations by leading experts on proposed egress enhancements and related high-rise evacuation concepts.

South Dakotans for Safety
		U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chair Nancy Nord and fellow South Dakotan ICC CEO Rick Weiland met in Washington, D.C., to discuss public safety concerns shared by both organizations.
CFSI Dinner
		U.S. Senator Joe Biden from Delaware (third from left) welcomes ICC Board Treasurer Adolf Zubia (right), ICC CEO Rick Weiland (left) and Government Relations Deputy SVP Jim Tidwell (second from left) at the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) Dinner. The annual event was held in Washington, D.C.

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.
Builder Confidence Slips in April
Florida Bill Considers Requiring Storm Shutters
Empire State Building Tops America's Favorite Architecture Poll
NAACP and NAHB Address Affordable Housing Need
California Appoints First Female Fire Marshal
Capitol Hill Veteran Joins NMHC Lobbying Team
CFLs Get Big Push in U.S. and Australia
Dan Bailey Appointed to IAWF Board
ANSI Publishes Online Standards Initiatives Snapshots
New 2007 NAHB Building Systems Councils Chair Named
Builders Honored for Green Building Practices
Remodeling Industry Poised For Green Growth
First Retail Hurricane Protection Outlet Opens in Florida
Class Action Suit over Building Fees Gets National Attention
Faulty FSA and FSB Series Smoke Detectors Recalled
Housing Market Correction Weighing on the Economy
2007 A Year Of Transition for State Housing Markets
DHS Adopts Standards for First Responder Equipment
Delaware State Fire Marshal Abruptly Resigns Post
Firewise Kicks off 2007 Wildfire Awareness Season
ASHRAE Opens Standards, Addenda for Public Review

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