Proposed Grant Program Highlights BSW Activities

	Code Council CEO Rick Weiland (left) and Board member Ron Lynn (right) meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to discuss the proposed Community Building Code Administration Grant Program.

One of the features of 2007 Building Safety Week activities was the Code Council's annual Capitol Hill Day, which focused on ICC's proposed Community Building Code Administration Grant Program. In more than 130 meetings on Capitol Hill with Congressional offices, Council leaders promoted the proposal that would provide federal grants to building departments to enhance their code enforcement capabilities. Response to the proposal was positive and follow-up efforts will focus on continuing to build a bipartisan coalition of sponsors and co-sponsors. The Council's Hill delegation included ICC Board members, the Government Relations Advisory Committee, ICC Chapter leaders and senior staff.

Raising the Profile of the Code Official
The Code Council hosted industry associations during Building Safety Week to discuss ways to improve public perception of code officials—an effort initiated by ICC Board President Wally Bailey. The Raising the Profile Summit brought together industry representatives to discuss the important role code officials play in making everyday life safer, ways to challenge the current public perception code officials face, and other organizations that might be interested in joining the coalition.

Code Council Board of Directors President Wally Bailey welcomes attendees to a Raising the Profile Summit, held last week during Building Safety Week activities at the Council’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Building Safety Week Builds Awareness
Building Safety Week, an annual event since 1980, raises public awareness of building safety. Many Code Council member jurisdictions celebrate the week by hosting community events to promote better understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes, and how they save lives and protect property.

Building departments across the country celebrate Building Safety Week with activities, proclamations and press coverage. Whatcom County, Washington, Executive Pete Kremen (right) shakes hands with Inspector Ron Booth and other Building Services staff during the department’s Building Safety Week Open House.

Fireside Chat Heats up BSW Activities
Almost 90 people participated in the second Fireside Chat held during Building Safety Week in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Code Council Board President Wally Bailey, topics included the 2007 Codes Forum and electronic voting at the event; the Council's proposed Community Building Code Administration Grant Program; the Governance Review Ad-Hoc Committee; and the green building initiative. Members of the Council's Board of Directors, Government Relations Advisory Committee and Chapter leaders participated in the event.

ICC Board President Wally Bailey (second from left) and numerous Code Council representatives participate in the second Fireside Chat at the Headquarters office in Washington, D.C.

Defending Safety in the Built Environment
The International Code Council Foundation recognized the Silent Defenders who work to ensure safety in the built environment at its annual banquet in Washington, D.C. This year's honorees included Senator Ken Hollis and Representative Gillis Pinac of Louisiana; the City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Department of Building & Safety; and Architects Without Borders.

From left, Louisiana State Senator Ken Hollis, Las Vegas Building Official Paul Wilkins, Code Council Foundation President Paul Myers, Craig Williams, Founder of Architects Without Borders, and Louisiana State Representative Gillas Pinac at the 2007 Silent Defenders Awards Dinner.

MOU Signed with USGBC
The Code Council and U.S. Green Building Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further green building practices between the two organizations. The agreement, which was signed during Building Safety Week, calls for both organizations to identify cooperative areas of interest and to work together on industry advocacy and public policy matters.

From left, Code Council CEO Rick Weiland, U.S. Green Building Council Greening the Codes Committee Chair David Eisenberg, Code Council Board President Wally Bailey and USGBC Public Policy Director Joe Maheady sign the MOU to further green building practices between the organizations.

LMAC Meeting to Debate Green Building
The Code Council's next Labor/Management Advisory Committee (LMAC) will meet June 14 in St. Louis, Missouri, to discuss "The Green Building Debate; Issues and Opportunities".

The International Code Council advocates for green building in the legislative, regulatory and codes arenas. It promotes environmental features of the International Codes and how these codes support green building.
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Modernization Plan Submitted for NYC Codes
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster announced the submission of a landmark modernization of the City Building Code, the first since 1968, to the City Council for review and consideration. The proposal overhauls all aspects of the city's construction codes and sets new standards and rules in order to emphasize safety, efficiency and sustainability.

Joining New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the press conference are, from left, Bob Ledwith, Lathers Local #46; Lou Coletti, BTEA; Ernie Conrad, BOMA; New York City Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster; Matthew Sapolin, Executive Director, Office for Persons with Disabilities; and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.

New Product Registration Program Goes Live
The Council's new Product Registration program went live last week with the launch of the CodesPlus home page. CodesPlus allows users to register their 2006 I-Codes and the ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003 Standard, no matter who they purchase the code from, to receive value-added services.

Last Chance to Make an Impact in Rochester
Time is almost out to make a difference in building safety and fire prevention through participation in the 2007 Codes Forum May 18-26 in Rochester, New York.
Can’t make the code hearings? Don’t miss the live webcast.

Updated Building Valuation Data Available
The Building Valuation Data (BVD) has been updated and is available on the Code Council website. This popular feature helps jurisdictions and other parties actively evaluate and access the impact of the BVD table before utilizing it in current code-enforcement-related activities. The next BVD update will be in August 2007.

Rebuilding an American City

	Code Council CEO Rick Weiland discusses New Orleans’ opportunity to build back stronger and safer following Hurricane Katrina.

Twenty months after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region, New Orleans still faces enormous challenges in recovering from one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. With new revitalization efforts underway, Code Council CEO Rick Weiland pointed out to Restoration 2007 conference attendees, “So much of what New Orleans faces right now is the task of rebuilding a community—a sense of place—as it moves forward, and this city has the chance to do that right.”

Code Books Donated to Kansas Town

The EF5 tornado destroyed an estimated 90 percent of the homes and buildings in Greensburg, Kansas. (FEMA/Michael Raphael)

The Code Council has donated sets of code books to assist in reconstruction efforts in Greensburg, Kansas. A massive EF5 tornado struck the town of 1,400 earlier this month, claiming at least 12 lives. The storm destroyed an estimated 90 percent of the homes and businesses in the town.

Architecture Schools Benefit from Donations

	From left, Council Board Vice President Steve Shapiro, Associate Dean and Director of the School of Architecture and Design for Howard University Victor Dzidzienyo, Council Board President Wally Bailey and Board member Gregori Anderson, University of Virginia alumnus and FAIA Paul Barkley, and Coordinator for Outreach and Alumni Relations for Virginia Tech Henry Hollander.

To help students of architecture better understand the role of codes in building designs and plans, the Code Council is working with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to place a complete set of International Codes (I-Codes) in the libraries of AIA-accredited schools of architecture. During Building Safety Week activities, a donation ceremony was held with representatives from Howard University, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. Other area schools receiving I-Code donations were the University of Maryland, Catholic University and Morgan State University.

Earthquake Hazards Discussed at Meeting
Former Code Council Past President Ann vonWeller is a member of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction panel that met May 10–11 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to discuss National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program activities and the annual report. The final agenda is available.

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.
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Study of Coastal Disasters Yields Surprising Findings
Quakes Make Codes Stronger
Code Training Hits the Web
AIA Supports Stronger Codes
August Deadline Set for O-Ring Sprinkler Recall
Are CA Hospitals Ready for the Next Big Quake?
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lists Problematic Levees
Architectural Fantasy Comes Alive in Transparent Plastic
Hilton Head Builders Put the Screws to Trusses
Florida Providing Hurricane Inspections

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