Code Council Thinks Green in D.C.

	Rick Weiland stands outside ICC’s world headquarters in the National Association of Realtors Building in Washington D.C.

The International Code Council has moved its world headquarters to the heart of Washington, D.C., and into a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in the nation's Capitol.

"Our new world headquarters will be just two blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building," said Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. "Having our offices in a LEED-certified green building in D.C. shows our corporate commitment to respect the environment. Green technology is going to play an important role in our collective future—not just in the United States but around the world."

2007 Budget Invests in Member Value
The International Code Council Board of Directors approved the 2007 budget, reflecting significant investments in member value and customer service by providing free instructional materials for chapters to utilize on their education benefit days and hiring new technical staff to support external activities.

“We are and will continue to be a member-focused organization,” said Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “This budget signals our ongoing commitment to meeting your needs and positioning ourselves as the leader in the building safety and fire prevention industry.”

Code Adoptions Moving Forward in California
The California Building Standards Commission ratified and approved the IEBC. The IBC and IFC will be voted on next month and the IRC later in 2007.

Are You Up to Speed on the I-Codes?
The IBC is used by nearly 20,000 jurisdictions, the IRC by more than 16,000 and the IFC by more than 12,000 jurisdictions. Discover the jurisdictions that are safeguarding residents and businesses and guiding construction and renovations using the I-Codes. Let us know if you have jumped on board as well.

Second Chance for ICC/ANSI A117 Meeting
The A117 committee meeting scheduled for January 15-19 has been rescheduled for April 16-20 at the Washington Plaza hotel in Washington, D.C.

Residential Plans Examiner Certification Approved
The International Code Council Board for International Professional Standards (BIPS) approved development of a national certification for Residential Plans Examiners. The Residential Plans Examiner certification will be developed by a group of residential planning experts and will be available by late 2007.

Weiland Emphasizes Codes
The current issue of the Construction Industry Trends newsletter includes an interview with Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. A Growing Emphasis on Building Codes discusses ICC's role in developing codes and offering training and other support.

Comment Now on Storm Shelter Standard
The first draft of the ICC/National Storm Shelter Association Standard on Storm Shelters is posted on the ICC website. The public comment deadline is December 26.

Three Great Resources for Civil, Structural Engineers
Revised and expanded to reflect the latest design methods contained in the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and ASCE/SEI 7-05, the Structural/Seismic Design Manuals are important resources for civil and structural engineers. Developed by the Code Council and the Structural Engineers Association of California, the three-volume set incorporates requirements defined by the 2006 IBC.

Code Council Participates in NIST Workshop

ICC co-sponsored the workshop between experts from visiting countries and the U.S. regarding the use of current codes and standards, conformity assessment, and code enforcement methodologies used in U.S. construction.

Foreign and U.S. representatives at a recent National Institute of Standards and Technology Workshop agreed on many issues relating to life safety in the building construction sector. Attendees learned what is going on within the borders of other countries, that implementation and enforcement techniques for building codes is more important than the codes themselves, and that Middle East and North African countries should strive for uniform adoption of codes and standards, and uniform implementation and enforcement.

Report of Code Hearings Soon Available
The printed version of the Report of the Public Hearings is scheduled to be available this month. This has been the largest Code Development Cycle to date with 2,233 code change proposals, exceeding the record of 2,114 that were processed during the 2004/2005 cycle.

Take an Illustrated Approach to Building Codes
Architects and design professionals need to understand and apply building code concepts when developing plans for construction. Building Codes Illustrated, Second Edition, is an illustrative guide to the 2006 IBC that provides an easy-to-understand interpretation in both words and illustrations. Developed by the International Code Council and publisher John Wiley & Sons, the book highlights major changes between the new code and previous model building codes, and provides a straightforward understanding of how the codes affect building design through the practice of architecture.

Where Do You Stand on Federal Energy Standards?
New U.S. Department of Energy building energy efficiency standards reference the 2004 Supplement to the International Energy Conservation Code for low-rise federal residential buildings, requiring that new federal buildings achieve at least 30% energy savings over prevailing private sector standards.

MOU Brings Code Council and JCBO Together

ICC and the Japan Conference of Building Control Authorities and Officials (JCBO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the JCBO Annual Conference November 6-7 in Kumamoto, Japan. Above, ICC Vice President of International Services Rick Okawa presents a keynote address before the JCBO General Assembly.

Don’t Blow Off High-Wind Draft Deadline
The deadline for public comments on the International Code Council’s Hurricane-Resistant Construction Draft is right around the corner. Hurry to meet the January 2, 2007 deadline to submit your input on the November 2006 Public Comments Draft.

ICC recently presented at the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) symposium on the subject of “How the IBC is meeting its intent to protect firefighters.” The discussion between panel members and the audience focused on the appropriate balance between active and passive fire protection required by the IBC. ICC Government Relations Deputy SVP Jim Tidwell (second from left) demonstrated that the ICC Code Development Process is the appropriate arena for making this determination by hearing from all parties by leaving the final decision to code officials, who have no financial interest in the outcome of the code change proposals.

News Views. . .
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 Holding Steady In December
Jamaican Building Codes under Construction
March 2007 Deadline for Hurricane-Resistant Buildings Competition
Green Building Not As Hard As You Think
USGBC Accredited as ANSI Standards Developer
Bonneville Honored by State Association of Structural Engineers
Building Sector Unites to Fight Global Climate Change
Beware Automatic Sprinklers with Unauthorized UL Marks
U.S. Chemical Safety Board Approves Final Investigation Report
Green School Study Shows Average Annual Savings of $100,000
USGBC Reports Winners of Natural Talent Design Competition
FiberBrace Passes UL Fire Test
Remembering America's Deadliest Hotel Fire

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