ICC, IAPMO sign MOU regarding joint codes

ICC and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding a joint venture relating to the development of future plumbing and mechanical codes.
The parties intend to explore a joint venture that would allow them to work cooperatively to develop successor codes to the Uniform and International Plumbing and Mechanical Codes. The new system would utilize the Governmental Consensus process to create and maintain the codes that result from the proposed joint venture.

ICC urges industry representatives to participate in code development process

Building safety and fire prevention officials serving as voting representatives of ICC processed 2,200 proposed changes to the 2003 International Codes during the 2004-05 Code Development Cycle. More than 500 of these proposals were individually considered and acted upon at the Final Action Hearings in Detroit, Michigan. The hearings were held in conjunction with the ICC Annual Conference,
Sept. 25-Oct. 2.
In response to concerns that have been voiced about the results of code change proposals to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and others, ICC encourages all parties involved in the building safety and fire prevention industry to continue participating in its code development process.
"Only the best interests of protecting the lives and property of citizens enter into the hearings rooms," said ICC CEO James Lee Witt. "ICC's open code development process allows for public input and comment and a consensus vote among its governmental jurisdictions that are enforcing the codes. The process works."
The 2006-07 ICC Code Development Cycle begins with the deadline for receipt of applications for the Code Development Committees on Jan. 3, 2006. The deadline for receipt of code change proposals is March 24, 2006.
For more information on the ICC code development process, click here. For a complete schedule of the 2006-07 cycle, click here. The results of the Final Action Hearings in Detroit can be accessed by clicking here.

Green, Bailey, Shapiro elected Board officers

Henry Green, Executive Director of the Bureau of Construction Codes & Fire Safety for the State of Michigan, was elected President of the ICC Board of Directors during the Annual Conference’s Business Meeting in Detroit. Green served as Vice President of the Board in 2004-05.
Joining Green as officers are Wally Bailey, C.B.O., Director of Development and Construction for Fort Smith, Arkansas, who was elected Vice President; and Steven Shapiro, C.B.O., Director of Codes Compliance for Hampton, Virginia, who was elected Secretary/Treasurer. Bailey served as Secretary/Treasurer in 2004-05 while Shapiro was a Director on the Board.
Five Directors were re-elected to serve three-year terms on the Board and a sixth member was elected to serve a one-year term. For more information on the ICC Board of Directors, click here. For Board member bios, click here.

Nienaber presented Fowler Award

Ron Nienaber, Building Official for the City of Maple Grove, Minnesota, was the recipient of the Bobby J. Fowler Award during the Opening Session of this year’s Annual Conference.
The Fowler Award is the highest honor given by ICC each year. Nienaber was recognized for his outstanding service and commitment to public safety through effective code development and the advancement of professionalism among code officials.
“The one thing Bob (Fowler) always did was look at the big picture,” Nienaber said in accepting the award. “I can’t tell you how much I respected Bob Fowler—as a code official and as a person. He simply was the best.”
Several other awards were presented during the conference. For a recap, click here.

BOAT earns Chapter of the Year honor

The Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) was presented the ICC Chapter of the Year Award at the Annual Conference in Detroit. Merit Awards were presented to the California Building Officials, Southern Nevada Chapter, Southern New Mexico Building Officials Association, and the Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association.
ICC also welcomed 16 new chapters during the conference.
For more information on the chapter award winners, click here. To read more about ICC Chapter activities, click here.

Chapters contribute to ICCF Members Helping Members fund

ICC Chapters contributed nearly $50,000 to the International Code Council Foundation’s (ICCF) Members Helping Members fund during the Annual Conference. The fund was established to assist employees and families of building and fire departments impacted by this year’s devastating hurricanes. Several chapters also made donations to the Foundation’s scholarship fund.
“On behalf of ICCF, I would like to express our deep appreciation to all of the Chapters and individuals who recently contributed to the Katrina Relief Fund and the Scholarship Fund,” said ICCF President Paul Myers. “The money will be used for worthy candidates for scholarships and the families of employees of the buiding and fire departments that were devastated by the hurricanes.”
For more information on the Foundation, click here.

Clark: Project H.E.R.O. needs your help

Retired General Wesley Clark served as the keynote speaker during the General Assembly Luncheon during this year’s Annual Conference. Clark encouraged delegates to support Project H.E.R.O., which will assist veterans with disabilities make their homes accessible once they return from duty.
“We need you to help us with this project,” Clark said. “This could be one of the greatest things that the Foundation and ICC has ever done.”
For more on Clark’s keynote address, click here.

Web site helps navigate accessibility codes, standards, laws

Accessibility compliance may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Knowing which codes and laws apply helps to avoid the headaches of costly retrofits or lawsuits.
Now a new Web resource, www.iccsafe.org/accessibility, makes it easier to navigate the codes, standards and legislation that address accessibility. ICC developed the site to help people understand how the different accessibility regulations fit together. The new site covers the International Building Code, ICC/ANSI A117.1 Standard and different federal laws that address access for people with disabilities.
For more information on the new accessibility Web site, click here.

Forty more jurisdictions use I-Codes

From May through early September, the International Codes went into effect in 40 jurisdictions in 15 states.
During that time, 34 jurisdictions began using the International Building Code while another 32 jurisdictions implemented the International Residential Code. Twenty-four jurisdictions began enforcing the International Fire Code while 28 implemented the International Mechanical Code.
To read more about the new code adoptions, click here. Has your jurisdiction adopted one or more of the I-Codes? If so, let ICC know by clicking here.

MOU signed with Mexico's National Commission of Housing Promotion

An ICC contingent recently traveled to Mexico City to meet with Mexican President Vincente Fox and sign a Memorandum of Understanding MOU with the country's National Commission of Housing Promotion. Under the MOU, ICC will help Mexico develop a residential building code based on the IRC. The agreement previously was signed in the U.S. during Building Safety Week.
To read more, click here.

Call for Committees — Codes & Standards Committees

ICC is currently accepting applications for the International Building Code Council, the International Fire Code Council, the International Mechanical/Plumbing Code Council, and the International Standards Council.
International Councils are responsible for the implementation and management of ICC Codes and Standards Development. The Councils also serve as the appointing authority for the majority of the ICC Codes and Standards committees.
For more information, click here.

Building Department Accreditation a hot topic

Building departments across the U.S. are asking about the new Building Department Accreditation Program offered by the International Accreditation Service (IAS), a subsidiary company of ICC. The program is the first of its kind which provides third-party recognition for building departments that meet nationally accepted standards for excellence. Since August, IAS has received more than 100 calls from building departments seeking accreditation information and application packets. Hundreds more attended informative presentations or picked up information during the expo at the ICC Annual Conference in Detroit.
To prepare for the demand from departments seeking accreditation, IAS has aggressively started recruiting additional evaluators to join its accreditation teams with more than 75 building safety professionals attending IAS-sponsored lead evaluator training programs so far. For more information about the new building department accreditation program, click here.

Save the date for Silent Defender Awards dinner

Start making plans now to attend the annual Silent Defender Awards dinner, May 11, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation (ICC Foundation), the Silent Defender Awards recognize exemplary actions taken to improve public safety, health and welfare. Held during Building Safety Week, the event will help raise funds and awareness for the work of the foundation.
ICC CEO James Lee Witt, who also serves as Chairman of ICCF, will be presenting the awards to the invited 2006 Silent Defender Award recipients, including the Honorable Rep. Ted Stevens (R-AK), the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Home Depot. Individual tickets are available for $500 each. Sponsorships are also available.
For more information on the Silent Defender Awards dinner, please contact Amy Goetz at (202) 338-6100 ext. 103 or by email, amyg@oai-usa.com. Click here for more information on the mission and programs of ICCF.

Call for Comments on ICC/ANSI A117.1- 03 – Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities

The ICC (ASC A117) Consensus Committee on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities will be developing the next edition of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 standard. If you have suggested revisions or additions to the ICC/ANSI A117.1-03 standard please complete the public comment form and submit it to ICC.
The deadline for this Call for Comments is December 15, 2005. To purchase a copy of the ICC/ANSI A117.1 standard, click here.
For more information, click here.

ICC partners with ICECF to provide Illinois Energy Conservation Code training

In Spring 2006, the Illinois Energy Conservation Code for Commercial Buildings went into effect. This means Illinois municipal and county code officials must enforce, as a minimum requirement, the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC®), as modified by the 2001 IECC Supplement Edition (2001 IECC) developed by the International Code Council, or ASHRAE 90.1. Thanks to the generous support of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the International Code Council is offering a full schedule of training throughout the State of Illinois this fall.

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