AF&PA initiates research on performance of adhesives in end-jointed lumber. ICC widely distributed information to its members and stakeholders related to the performance of finger jointed-lumber. In case you didn’t receive it, here’s the information, provided by the American Forest & Paper Association and its member companies.

Florida's hurricane woes give FLASH national exposure. After securing a contract to launch the My Safe Florida program, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) now travels nationwide and has worked with disaster officials in Maryland, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and other states. My Safe Florida offers training for inspectors and contractors and free inspections to see how homes can be more hurricane-resistant, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

ICC CEO Rick Weiland (left) and Senior Advisor and General Councel David deCourcy meet with Leslie Chapman Henderson of FLASH in Washington, D.C., to discuss ways the two organizations can work together to strengthen homes and safeguard families.

BOMA's Vegas meeting sets record attendance. A record number of BOMA International members from across the country met in Las Vegas for BOMA International's Winter Business Meeting. Over four days, committees, special interest groups and councils put forth business plans in advocacy, education codes and standards, and research.

Significant increase in non-residential construction activity expected in 2007. The non-residential construction market is expected to increase by almost seven percent in 2007, following growth of nearly six percent in 2006. With balanced growth in the commercial/industrial and institution sectors, strong construction activity is projected in office buildings, hotels and health-care facilities. These are highlights from The American Institute of Architects semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation's leading construction forecasters.

The recent tornadoes in central Florida destroyed this manufactured home and many others in the Lady Lake community. (Mark Wolfe/ FEMA)

2006 International Residential Code: Code and Commentary, Volume I (Chapters 1-11)
List $105  |  Member $84
This comprehensive publication provides a convenient reference for regulations in chapters 1 through 11 of the 2006 International Residential Code. The commentary series is presented in an easy-to-understand format. Every chapter begins with "General Comments" and "Purpose" sections followed by code and commentary to subsequent sections, tables and figures.

Property Inspector's Guide to Codes, Forms, and Complaints, 2006 Edition
List $39.95  |  Member $35.95
Thanks to this resourceful guide, inspectors now have a partner in enforcing the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). The guide demonstrates how to prepare the documents required to pursue property maintenance code violators so inspectors can perform inspections, file charges in the absence of compliance, obtain administrative search warrants, and condemn property "by the book." Comprehensive coverage also shows the inspector how to enforce the IPMC regulations with sample forms for every document that the code requires, and sample complaints for every possible violation.

The following are upcoming events at which ICC staff will attend and/or host an exhibition booth:
February 15,
Tennessee Underground Storage Tank Exam Development Committee meeting, Nashville, TN
February 18-20,
New York Association of Towns, New York City, NY
February 21-23,
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation meeting, Ocala, FL
February 21-23,
Texas Advisory Board meeting, San Antonio, TX
February 26-28,
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation meeting, Austin, TX
February 26-March 2,
EduCode, Las Vegas, NV

You're Invited to Chat with the President

	Bailey

ICC 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 ICC 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.

Joint Green Building Agreement Announced

NAHB President David Pressly (left), ICC CEO Rick Weiland and Board President Wally Bailey answer questions during a press conference announcing the joint development of a green building standard.

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, organization leaders announced last week during a press conference at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida. The Code Council and NAHB reinforced their commitment to sustainable building practices and the creation of national standards for green home building.

The Code Council and NAHB are seeking applicants for membership in the consensus committee for the development for the ANSI green home building standard. Applications can be submitted at www.nahbrc.org/gbstandard and must be received by March 10 to be considered.

The United States Green Building Council has announced its support of the initiative.

California Adopts I-Codes
The California Building Standards Commission has voted unanimously to adopt the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) as the basis for the state's new codes. The decision comes after an adoption process involving several agencies that make up the Commission representing building and fire officials, architects, engineers, contractors, labor and the public.

Partnering in Building Safety

Numerous partner, industry and government representatives were on hand as the Code Council officially opened its new world headquarters in Washington, D.C. The move into a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building in the nation's Capitol elevates the Council's profile, according to CEO Rick Weiland, and enhances relationships with government and national and international organizations. Above, Jim Turner (left), Chief Council to the Science and Technology Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, speaks with Weiland and Senior Vice President of Government Relations Sara Yerkes.

Discussions Held with RJA
Code Council CEO Rick Weiland, Senior Vice President of Business and Product Development Mark Johnson and Board member Ron Lynn met with representatives from Rolf Jensen and Associates to discuss potential collaborative international projects and other areas of interest to both organizations. The meeting was held in the conference room of the Code Council's new headquarters office.

From left: ICC Senior Vice President of Business and Product Development Mark Johnson; CEO Rick Weiland; Board member Ron Lynn; and RJA representatives Mickey Reiss, President and CEO; Randy Tucker, Executive Vice President; and Robert Libby, Executive Vice President.

Plumbing Standards Available Online

Bob Ferguson (second from left), Vice President of Water Programs at NSF International, points out an NSF standard referenced in the IPC. From left: ICC CEO Rick Weiland, Ferguson, NSF CEO Kevan Lawlor, and ICC Executive Director of Plumbing and Mechanical Programs Jay Peters.

An agreement has been finalized with NSF International to provide electronic access to 18 NSF/ANSI standards referenced in the International Plumbing Code (IPC), the International Residential Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code. The standards can be purchased for download at eCodes.biz and are also available on CD-ROM. "This is the beginning of a collaborative effort between both organizations to support the plumbing and HVAC industries," Code Council CEO Rick Weiland said in announcing the agreement.

AWC Agreement Announced

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

ICC and the American Forest & Paper Association's American Wood Council (AWC) have agreed to a joint venture to provide design tools for home builders in high-wind areas. The Guides to Wood Construction in High Wind Areas are available for free download and printed copies can be ordered by calling the Code Council.

Labor Officials Meet with ICC

Representatives from the Labor International Union of North America (LIUNA) met with ICC at the new headquarters office. From left: Rocco Davis, Vice President and Special Assistant to the General President of LIUNA; ICC Senior Vice President of Government Relations 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 Deputy Senior Vice President of Government Relations Jim Tidwell; and ICC CEO Rick Weiland.

New Reference Guides Available

Jim Sealy (left), Chair of the Seismic Safety Council, and Mike Mahoney (right), Senior Geophysicist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, meet with ICC CEO Rick Weiland to introduce the Homebuilder's Guide to Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction and the IRC Codemaster—Woodframe Dwellings and Townhouses reference guide.

Prisons Modify Manual for I-Codes

	Rod Arrington (left), Construction and Management Coordinator for the Design and Construction Branch of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, ICC COO Dominic Sims (center), and CEO Rick Weiland (right) discuss the Bureau's recent modification for the I-Codes.

The Design and Construction Branch of the Federal Bureau of Prisons modified its operational manual to indicate that the IBC, the IPC and International Mechanical Code are acceptable to use in lieu of NFPA 5000. Modifications were made to Chapter 10 of the IBC to meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, which is similar to what the Department of Defense and other federal agencies have done. 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.

Public Comments Begin on NYS Codes
Proposals to update the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code in New York State (NYS) were recently published, thus beginning a public comment period that continues through March 7. As part of the public comment period, hearings will be conducted in Albany, Syracuse, Amherst and Hempstead. Comments received during this period will be presented for final consideration by the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council on March 22.

Fire Safety Act Reintroduced in Congress
The Fire Safety Act asks colleges and universities to report information on the level of fire safety on their campuses to the U.S. Department of Education and the public. The Code Council fully supports the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know legislation and has made it one of the organization's Congressional priorities.

ICC Translating Concrete Standards
ASTM International and the Code Council's International Services division signed a contract to translate 48 ASTM standards referenced in the American Concrete Institute's (ACI) ACI 318S-05 Structural Concrete Code into Spanish. The ACI 318S-05 requirements are referenced in the IBC. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.