IBHS proposes full-scale, hurricane-simulation facility. The Code Council has lent its support to the Institute for Business and Home Safety's (IBHS) proposed Windstorm Simulation Facility in Florida. IBHS hopes to create the most advanced wind-hazard facility in the world that will be an international destination for preeminent scholars and researchers. The Council is offering to assist and participate in activities at the facility and help disseminate research through its Code Technology Committee or other activities that are closely associated with the codes and standards development process.

Dargan

Dargan appointed state fire marshal. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Katherine "Kate" Dargan as California's first female state fire marshal. She replaces Ruben Grijalva, who was appointed Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention. Dargan has more than 30 years of experience. Since 2005, she has served as the assistant state fire marshal.

AIA poll shows ''America's Favorite Architecture.'' Two of the most iconic buildings in the United States—the Empire State Building and the White House—top the list of America's Favorite Architecture, a public poll of the 150 best works of architecture conducted and released recently by Harris Interactive and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This time, at least, the White House beat the U.S. Capitol building, which ranked sixth. Other notable structures that made the list are the Golden Gate Bridge (fifth), Biltmore Estate (eighth), and the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (22nd).

NAACP and NAHB address affordable housing need. Effective deterrents to predatory lending, land banks that make land parcels available for housing, broad-based consumer education efforts and a revitalized Federal Housing Administration—are a few of the many ideas generated and refined in a recent round-table discussion on housing affordability conducted in Washington, D.C. Co-hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the round-table discussion drew leadership expertise from the nation's leading housing advocacy groups.

Capitol Hill veteran joins NMHC lobbying team. Jennifer Bonar Gray has been named Vice President of Tax for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). Gray will have principal responsibility for federal and state tax issues for the organization as part of the Joint Legislative Program of NMHC and the National Apartment Association. Gray brings extensive advocacy and private-sector experience to the position. Most recently, Gray was Tax, Trade and Budget Counsel to U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, a member of the Senate Finance Committee from Kentucky.

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.

NEW PRODUCTS

CodeMaster—Seismic
Design Category
(2006 IBC/ ASCE 7-05)
List $5.00 | ICC Member $4.50
This laminated, handy reference tool contains everything you need to know about the determination of seismic design categories. It is a great time-saving tool and provides a step-by-step procedure to determine a structure's seismic design category in accordance with the 2006 IBC and ASCE 7-05. Shortcuts and illustrations are provided to help quickly assess applicability of exceptions and find the needed information.

Practical Tips for a More
Effective Permitting
and Inspection Process:
Cutting the Red Tape
List $22.00 | ICC Member $20.00
A compilation of suggested practices, methods and tips for anyone involved in the permitting or inspection process, this valuable resource identifies key issues for improving the daily activities and processes for individuals, departments and agencies. Selected recommendations are based on the results of numerous studies and evaluations of processes that have an impact on the image and customer service aspects of the organization and the economic development of the jurisdiction.

The Code Council is currently accepting applications for the following committees:
2007-08 ICC Code Committees
Board for International Professional Standards
Exam Development Committee
Education Committee

The following are upcoming events at which ICC staff will attend and/or host an exhibition booth:
April 12, Associated Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Texas/Air Conditioning Contractors of America—Texas Annual Conference and Trade Show, San Antonio, TX
April 12-14, Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Spring Conference, Redmond, OR
April 17-20, Code Officials Association of Alabama Annual Education Conference, Orange Beach, AL
April 19-21, Fire Department Instructors Conference, Indianapolis, IN
April 21-25, Building Officials Association of British Columbia Annual Conference, Harrison Hot Springs, BC
April 22-25, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Annual State Convention, Hershey, PA
April 22-27, Arizona Building Officials Spring Education Institute, Prescott, AZ
April 23-25, Tennessee Building Officials Association Conference, Gatlinburg, TN
April 25, Utah DOPL Construction Services Commission Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
April 28-May 2, Building Officials Association of Georgia Annual Conference, Savannah, GA

ICC Represented at Hurricane Conference

ICC CEO Rick Weiland addresses delegates at the National Hurricane Conference in New Orleans.

Council Summit Reaches to Raise Awareness
Despite significant advances in building safety, the expectation of safety continues to grow, and there remains little public awareness of the commitment and professionalism that has created the best regulatory building system in the world. To raise that awareness level and create public support for the critical work that code officials perform, the Code Council has invited leading building safety organization representatives to participate in a one-day "summit" to generate support and resources for the many public safety challenges ahead. This one-day summit will be held May 10 at the Council’s Headquarters in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact ICC COO Dominic Sims at (205) 591-1853.

Business Opportunities Discussed with ACI

From left, American Concrete Institute (ACI) Managing Director Doug Sordyl, ACI's Outside Counsel Tom Phillips and ACI Executive VP William Tolley discuss joint publications and future business opportunities with Code Council CEO Rick Weiland at the Council's Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Committee Appointed for Green Standard
The Code Council and National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) have announced that the members to the Consensus Committee on the National Green Building Standard have been appointed by the NAHB Research Center Executive Standards Committee. The Consensus Committee is made up of more than forty groups representing a broad spectrum of the industry. Its purpose is to review the working draft of the national standard based on NAHB’s Model Green Home Building Guidelines and to develop ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard.

2007 Codes Forum
This is your last chance to make a difference in building safety and fire prevention through participation in the 2007 Codes Forum on May 18-26 in Rochester, NY.

Green Building Web Page Launched
The Code Council has launched its new green building web page on the ICC website. The page includes the Green Building Survey, the Council's Policy Position Statement and Green Building White Paper, and information on how to initiate a green building program. The page also includes news, links and articles of interest.

Building Safety on the Hill
During Building Safety Week, 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 our members and stakeholders. ICC’s main focus will highlight efforts to establish a federally funded, competitive Local Code Administration Grant Program.

ICC/ASTM Joint Publications While visiting Code Council Headquarters in Washington, D.C., ASTM International President Jim Thomas (left) invited ICC CEO Rick Weiland to tour the ASTM Headquarters in Pennsylvania. The two organizations are currently working on several joint publications.

NIBS Approves buildingSMART Charter
The National Institute of Building Sciences has approved the buildingSMART Alliance charter. The buildingSMART Alliance is a public-private initiative to advance digital technology in the construction industry. It expands on the goals of the North American Chapter of the International Alliance for Interoperability. As a Board participant, the Council works closely with the Alliance on a number of activities and its SMARTcodes project supports Alliance objectives.

Federal Government's Use of Voluntary Standards

Mary Saunders (center), Chief of the Standards Service Division for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 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.

ICC Renews Focus on Plumbing and Mechanical

Jay Peters discusses the Council's renewed focus on its plumbing and mechanical programs, reestablishing quality training and certification programs, and the value of Code Council membership.

As part of the Council's renewed focus on its plumbing and mechanical programs, ICC Executive Director of Plumbing and Mechanical Activities Jay Peters spoke at the 44th Annual Alabama Association of Plumbing, Gas & Mechanical Inspectors Conference in Auburn, and at the Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association Annual School of Instruction in Virginia Beach.

ICC Cosponsors Restoration 2007
The Code Council is a cosponsor of Restoration 2007: Innovation, Leadership and Networks for Post-Disaster Recovery, May 2-4, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Organized by the International City/County Management Association, Restoration 2007 focuses on building leadership, sharing innovative practices and establishing networks among government, private-sector and nonprofit organizations for recovery after a disaster.

I-Codes Donated to ODU Engineering Students

ICC Board Vice President Steve Shapiro (left) presents a copy of the IBC to Dr. Bill Drewry (center), Civil Engineering professor at Old Dominion University, and Wes Parker (right), a graduating senior.

Code Council Board Vice President Steve Shapiro recently presented a copy of the International Building Code (IBC) to engineering students at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Each semester, graduates-to-be take a senior design class and work as a team to develop a preliminary engineering report on a project of their choice. The team helped a local Boy Scout Council design a new high-adventure and multi-purpose camping facility, and Wes Parker, the student project manager, contacted Code Council Board President Wally Bailey about obtaining a copy of the IBC to help answer questions during the process. Parker serves as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter. In addition to the IBC, the Council has forwarded a complete set of the I-Codes.

Submit Nominations for ICC Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the ICC Awards to be presented at the 2007 Annual Education Conference, September 30-October 4 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Awards will be presented in several categories to honor individuals and organizations for their accomplishments and service to the Council and the building safety industry. The deadline to submit nominations is June 1.

New Member Discounts and Services
The Code Council is offering new discounts and services to its members. In addition to the benefits members already enjoy, (discounts on ICC products and services, code opinions, Building Safety Journal and Bulletin, etc.), the Council is now offering valuable packages from third-party companies. All offers are subject to change.

Congressional Fire Services Institute 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 Dinner. The annual event was held in Washington, D.C.

Compton Visits ICC

Well-known speaker, author and former Fire Chief Dennis Compton (left) met with ICC CEO Rick Weiland and Government Relations SVP Sara Yerkes in Washington, D.C., to discuss fire safety, other home hazards and homeland security. Chief Compton gave a presentation on leadership during the GR staff meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, last month.

CEO Rick Weiland appreciates your feedback on this enewsletter. Please send your comments to COO Dominic Sims, 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 5267.

ICC and its affiliates and subsidiaries respect your right to privacy. To read ICC's Privacy Policy, click here. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

For more information on ICC’s Strategic Partners, Supporting Organizations and Participating Organizations, click here.

To subscribe to ePartners, click here.

To make sure you continue to receive ICC ePartners in your inbox (not sent to bulk or junk folders), please add eNewsLetter@iccsafe.org to your address book.

©2007 International Code Council, World Headquarters; 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 USA