Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) blames soil for sinking homes in New York State. The ACE’s $500,000 study shows that clay soil in Amherst, New York, may be causing a dome effect under some homes, pushing up the centers of basement floors and allowing the walls and edges of foundations to sink. Nearly 1,100 homes, or about 3 percent of all Amherst homes, have been affected by foundation damage over the past 20 years. The ACE says the problem clay soil is found in a layer above a second type of clay that is so soft it’s been dubbed “peanut butter.”

Wheeling, West Virginia, official wants building inspectors to have more authority. In an effort to revitalize Wheeling’s downtown, the head of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation says building inspectors should have the power to write citations for building code violations. They currently do not have that authority. Hydie Friend also suggests that offenders’ credit reports should reflect their noncompliance with building codes.

New York homeowner arrested for bribing a building official. Police in Armonk, New York, arrested a 48-year-old man for third-degree bribery for allegedly paying a North Castle building inspector a $2,000 cash bribe. Detectives say the man offered the bribe for the inspector to overlook certain building code violations and issue a certificate of occupancy for a renovation project being conducted at the man’s home. The inspector reported the bribe offer to police who set up a sting operation.

WTC 9/11 investigation draws ire of critics. The findings of the WTC 9/11 investigation, released by NIST in April, has sparked a barrage of criticism from many prominent building officials, according to an article in Engineering News Record. Officials criticized the study’s suggested code changes based on a unique building that was subject to an unprecedented event, other recommendations that are imbedded in the report, and unsubstantiated “plugs” for fire protection engineers.

New Jersey considers “lemon law” for new homes. The State Commission of Investigation issued a report last month recommending that New Jerseyans who find dangerous defects in their new homes get a full refund from the builder. The report also proposes that builders be required to have licenses and meet competency standards, and that municipal building code officials face prosecution when they knowingly allow construction to move forward without proper inspections. The report comes after a 33-month investigation uncovered systematic problems with poor construction, lax oversight and corrupt building departments. To read the state’s report, click here.

Minnesota Governor announces consolidation plan. Governor Tim Pawlenty’s “Drive to Excellence” initiative seeks to make its faster and easier for citizens to get business or professional licenses, construction permits and other state services. Under the plan, the state would consolidate the six agencies that regulate building construction. State lawmakers also are considering a bill that would require construction inspectors to pass an exam and take continuing education courses. No such standard currently exists.

Virginia code changes keep residents out of new homes. Virginia building officials say the occupancy of dozens of homes is being held up because the structures’ windows do not have special bracing to withstand wind. In some areas, windows have had to be pulled out and redesigned to comply with the new code guidelines.

Couple using own nightmare to push for building code adoption in Idaho county. The couple says the lack of building codes in Bonner County, Idaho, forced them to spend thousands of dollars redoing much of the construction of their new home. They say it’s outrageous that the county doesn't require inspections, but hope to use their experience to get the IBC adopted. They say the contractor never checked on the work of his crew and a former building inspector said he saw dozens of violations the moment he walked in the door. Bonner County eliminated its building department in 1997.

North Carolina courtrooms violate fire codes. An inspection last month of the Wake County Courthouse revealed 26 code violations including missing occupancy signs and overcrowding. The county says it will make repairs and is building new courtrooms to ease overcrowding.

Hurricane expert predicts another active season in 2005. Hurricane expert William Gray of Colorado State University told the Houston Chronicle during the National Hurricane Conference that he predicts another active hurricane season in 2005. In December, Gray released his initial forecast for the 2005 season, which called for 11 tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast basins, and a 69 percent chance that at least one major storm—a category 3 hurricane or larger—will make landfall in the U. S. At the conference, Gray said it is likely he will increase the forecast this month because of increasingly favorable conditions for storm formations this summer.

Minnesota Supreme Court overturns conviction of developer. The court reversed the conviction of the CEO of Carriage Homes following the development of 38 residential units in the City of Austin. A year after the project’s completion, the city informed the developer of inadequate home elevations and roofing problems. In response, Carriage Homes attempted to fix the problems but city inspectors alleged that drainage issues remained. Carriage Homes pleaded guilty to violation of the Uniform Building Code and paid a $1,000 fine. The CEO, however, was also charged under a statute holding corporate officers criminally liable for their companies’ violations of public welfare statutes. In its ruling, the Court re-evaluated whether the building code was a public welfare statute imposing strict liability and requiring no proof of intent. Click here for the complete story.

REINFORCED CONCRETE MASONRY DESIGN: AN APPLICATION GUIDE

#9280S03     $59.00     $47.00

Authored by Dr. Vilas Mujumdar, P.E., S.E., C. Eng., this publication is based on the 2003 IBC and ACI 530-02/ASCE 5-02/TMS 402-02 Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures. The application guide covers the design of concrete masonry structures through numerous design examples with a step-by-step solution approach. The book offers extensive coverage of the strength design method and includes a design example in the appendix. Basics of seismic design are also discussed.

This book is at the printer and will be available soon. (304 pages)

IDAHO CONTRACTORS BUSINESS AND LAW REFERENCE MANUAL

#9291S     $59.00     $53.00

This manual is a learning tool for those who are preparing to become licensed contractors in Idaho. The publication is an overview of business management and legal processes for starting and maintaining a construction business. The materials cover Idaho’s rules and laws as they pertain to plumbing, mechanical and electrical contractors and is covered in 11 chapters. Also included is contact information for federal and state agencies and excerpts from government rules and regulations that directly correspond with the information in the chapters. Soft cover, approximately 230 pages.

May 11-13,
Wisconsin Building Inspectors Institute,
Wisconsin Dells, WI

May 14-18,
Building Officials Association of Georgia,
Augusta, GA

May 17-19,
National ADA Symposium & Expo,
Overland Park, KS

May 19-21,
AIA National Convention,
Las Vegas, NV

May 20-22,
Fire Expo,
Harrisburg, PA

May 23-25,
Building Professional Institute,
Arlington, TX

ICC ePARTNERS
Volume 1, Issue 2
May, 2005

ICC Vision and Mission Statements

Vision
Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of people by creating better buildings and safer communities.

Mission
Providing the highest quality codes, standards, products, and services for all concerned with the safety and performance of the built environment.

CEO James Lee Witt and COO Rick Weiland appreciate your feedback on this enewsletter. Please send your comments to Dominic Sims, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 5267.

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

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

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

©2005 International Code Council, Headquarters; 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600; Falls Church, VA 22041 USA

Building Safety Week underway

The ICC Board of Directors is meeting in Washington, D.C., This week to help build awareness about the important public safety mission of ICC. In addition to the International Code Council Foundation’s Silent Defenders Awards Dinner, the Board will participate in ICC’s first Capitol Hill Day which is intended to inform lawmakers about ICC’s mission and its 2005 legislative priorities. The day will be capped off with another first, ICC’s Capitol Hill Reception in observance of Building Safety Week.

ICC partners with Mexico to develop building safety codes

ICC will provide technical assistance to the Mexican government to develop a residential building code as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mexican National Commission of Housing Development. Under the MOU, the I-Codes will serve as a guide for the creation of new codes and standards in Mexico. Federal agency representatives and ICC partners attended the MOU signing ceremony. Mark Ginsberg (bottom picture from left), Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Board of Directors, Department of Energy; Marco Amaro, Manager, International, National Association of Home Builders; and Rita C. Feinberg, Executive Director, International, National Association of Home Builders. The MOU signing kicked off Building Safety Week activities on Monday. More news from this week’s events is available on ICC’s Web site at www.iccsafe.org.

California publication discusses I-Codes

CEO James Lee Witt was recently quoted it in an article by the Sacramento Business Journal that examines the lengthy battle over code adoptions in California. Kurt Cooknick, Director of Regulatory Affairs for the American Institute of Architects California Council, is also featured as is Gary Keith, Vice President of NFPA’s Building Codes and Standards/Regional Operations. Click here to read the article.

ICC well represented at CFSI event

ICC hosted three tables at the Congressional Fire Service Institute's Annual Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 7. Hosts included CEO James Lee Witt and COO Rick Weiland, Board President Frank Hodge, Immediate Past President Anne vonWeller, Vice President Henry Green and Directors Adolf Zubia and Kevin Scott. Witt had a prominent seat on the dais. Guests included Chief Howard Hill of the New York Fire Department, Tom Lariviere, Chairman of the International Fire Code Council and President of the Mississippi Fire Chiefs, and a host of other fire service leaders from across the country.

After the dinner, ICC hosted a reception that attracted many key fire service leaders, including Los Angeles Fire Marshal Jimmy Hill and Lonzo Wallace, President of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association, as well as key insurance industry leaders. While attendance wasn’t as high as ICC had hoped, evaluation methods are underway to increase participation next year.

ICC continues reaching out to industry members

ICC COO Rick Weiland recently held meetings with representatives from AGA, PHCC, AGC, NIBS and NAIMA as a part of his COO initiative to reach out to organizations that share common interests with ICC. Also, CEO James Lee Witt, Weiland, Deputy COO Dominic Sims and others held a lunch meeting with ICC’s Strategic Partners in Washington, D.C., on April 6. Representatives from BOMA, NAHB, NMHC and AIA attended.

Witt appears on Oklahoma radio

CEO James Lee Witt recently appeared live on the Shannon and Stein Show, 930 WKY AM Oklahoma. The subject was the 10th anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City.

Industry Advisory Committee Update: The IAC met recently in Washington, D.C., where staff informed the group that Tom Frost will be taking over the Secretary responsibilities to help improve communication between the committee and ICC. IAC passed a motion recommending to the Board that the dual release is not the preferred mechanism; only the alternate should be used and incorporated into the Procedures. A few members are still concerned about the alternate copyright release language and its impact on derivative works. IAC established a floor modification task force to review the hearing modification procedures.

ICC, in cooperation with the California Building Standards Commission, has developed licenses that will cover the code amendment activities by state agencies. Since the Commission’s decision to use the I-Codes as the basis for the next edition of the California Building Code, ICC has been working closely with state agencies and other stakeholders to help expedite the development and adoption process.

ICC has seen a surge in requests for the new Florida Building Code, includes fuel gas, plumbing, mechanical, existing building and other code provisions. March activity in Florida was significant and marks the culmination of the efforts of a coalition of diverse interests that worked hard to assure the new Florida Building Code provided communities the tools they need to protect people and property.

Code Technology Committee (CTC) holds first meeting. The committee finalized the scope and objectives for five of the six areas of study. The sixth area, Balanced Fire Protection, is generating a considerable amount of attention from interested parties. The next meeting, scheduled for July 25-26, will include a public hearing to allow all interested and affected parties to voice their views on this activity, from which the CTC will finalize the scope and objectives. In addition to the July meeting, two more meetings are planned for 2005. The CTC will be monitoring the current activity of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Workshops on the Use of Elevators in Fires and Other Emergencies as it relates to the CTC’s Emergency Evacuation with Elevators area of study. It is anticipated that code changes on at least two areas of study, Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Climbable Guards, will be submitted for the 2006-07 cycle.

NIST Presentation: Dave Conover, Senior Advisor for Government Relations, and Mike Pfeiffer, Vice President of Code Standards Development recently made a presentation to the National Institute of Standards and Technology today, outlining ICC's code development process and how it can be used to consider the results of the NIST studies of the World Trade Center collapse and Rhode Island nightclub fire. The Chairman of the Terrorism Resistant Building Committee has agreed to make analysis of the NIST WTC report an action item for the next committee meeting.

ICC makes presentation to NASA. Dave Conover participated in the NASA Facilities Engineering and Real Property Conference the week of April 11. An annual event for all NASA facility staff and contractors, Dave discussed the I-Codes and, with co-presenter Dave Harris, President of the National Institute of Building Sciences, focused on interoperability and the ability to establish a foundation for automated review of building plans for code compliance.

ICC creating Disability Council. ICC is in the process of developing a proposed scope and objectives for the new National Disability Organizations Accessibility Council. Organizations interested in accessibility issues and would like to get involved are invited to contact ICC. A formal invitation letter will be sent to potential committee members in the near future. Interested individuals can contact Richard Kuchnicki at rkuchnicki@iccsafe.org.

I-Codes are official in Phoenix. The Phoenix City Council unanimously adopted the I-Codes on March 30. The 2003 IBC, IRC, IEBC, IMC, ICC PC and 2004 IECC Supplement take effect on July 1. SVP of Business and Product Development Mark Johnson, SVP of Member Programs Terry Leppellere and GR Regional Manager David Nichols had a very successful meeting with Phoenix’s Department of Buildings staff on April 11 to discuss publication issues.

ICC Standards: The Log, Hurricane and Storm Shelter Committees are making steady progress. The Hurricane Committee is working to resolve an issue between the need for developing new provisions for wood and steel versus relying on the currently available standards for such materials. The committee has completed its draft of the ICC Log Standard. It is currently being reviewed by staff and will be sent to ANSI for public comments shortly.

Disaster Response Committee Update: The DRC has established two task forces dealing with training and certification. The certification task force is performing a job task analysis, the first step in the certification process. The TRB and the Hazard Abatement in Existing Building Code Drafting Committees have held conference calls. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Administrative Provisions scheduled a conference call for April. Individuals or organizations that are interested in working on the committee should contact John Battles, Secretary of the Ad Hoc Resistant Buildings Committee, at jbattles@iccsafe.org.

Meeting schedule: The ICC Hurricane, Storm Shelter and Hazard Abatement for Existing Buildings Committees all have meetings scheduled for May.

Kentucky recognizes ICC examinations. Beginning this month, the Commonwealth of Kentucky will require two additional ICC contractor examinations for all applicants for state licensure: HVAC and Electrical and Fire Suppression.

ICC develops new National Certification for Coastal and Flood Plain Construction Inspector. The ICC Coastal and Flood Plain Construction Inspector Examination Development Committee has completed development of the new ICC certification. The new exam will be available in August.

Chapters, municipalities, federal agencies and businesses seek ICC training. Recent groups to contact PDS about contracted seminars include the Monterey Bay and San Diego Area Chapters, the National Institutes of Health, Dunkin' Donuts, Won-Door Corp., the Association of General Contractors of America, and Colliers, Turley and Martin. Talks are underway with the Smithsonian Institution for two training contracts, one in the spring and another in the fall.

Several thousand receive ICC training in the first three months of the year. The Training and Education Department delivered training to 14,098 participants in the first quarter of 2005. A total of 12,447 participants received classroom training while 1,651 registered for online courses. These strong registration numbers are expected to continue into the foreseeable future.

Online registrations for Contractor Examination Services set record in first quarter. ICC has seen a dramatic increase in the number of contractor examination applicants registered via ICC’s online registration option. The increase leads to a growing interest and focus on ICC’s mission of building better, safer and more affordable communities.

ICC receives special status in Texas. On April 18, ICC was granted “Electrician Continuing Education Provider” status in the State of Texas. The state currently has 92,467 licensed electricians required to attend annual training. Training and Education is evaluating how best to market and deliver training to this new audience.

Contract training sales sets record. Professional Development Services delivered a record 44 days of contract, chapter and open enrollment training during the week of April 4-8. Contract training included the Indian Health Service in Michigan, the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, Won- Door Corp. in Texas and the Association of General Contracts of America in San Diego.

Price comparison shows ICC seminars are a good value. Comparing the cost of ICC training to NFPA and IAPMO training indicates that ICC continues to provide an exceptional value. Comparing Open Enrollment Seminars and Contract Training shows that ICC's training is priced from 30 to 60 percent below the cost of comparable NFPA and IAPMO training.

ICC develops new on-line course. The 2003 IBC Understanding and Designing a Special Inspection Program is now available at www.icccampus.org. The course simplifies the basic procedures required when starting a special inspection program and discusses such a program's advantages and challenges.

ICC and Minnesota building officials agree to develop new certification. ICC and the Association of Minnesota Building Officials signed a deal to jointly develop a Minnesota Plumbing Inspector certification, which will be administered through ICC as a “Legacy Certification.” The certification examination will be based on Minnesota's plumbing code and will be designed to ensure smooth transition of certified inspectors into ICC’s national plumbing inspector certification program when the state adopts the International Plumbing Code.

IAS calibration laboratory accreditation program receives international recognition. The Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement Council (MRA Council) voted unanimously to admit IAS to its MRA for calibration laboratory accreditation. APLAC recognition is a crucial step to assure the global acceptance of reports of testing, inspection and calibration work done by IAS-accredited entities.

IAS Special Inspection accreditation program moves forward. In early April, IAS staff and a team of technical experts in concrete, masonry, fireproofing, soils and foundations, structural steel welding, non-destructive testing and high-strength bolting conducted the first round of assessments for agencies that perform special inspections for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada. The assessments consisted of office visits, interviews with management and key personnel, reviews of inspection records and verification of the qualifications of inspection staff. Following the office visits, the assessors accompanied inspectors to actual construction sties to observe their inspection practices.

IAS Technical Advisory Council holds first meeting. The 10-member council appointed by the IAS Board of Directors includes representatives from the Masonry Institute of America, building departments, inspection agencies and consultants. Items discussed included the new IAS special inspection agency program, technical checklists for on-site assessments, hiring, training and monitoring inspectors, maintaining an adequate assessor pool for IAS to effectively manage the program, and sampling techniques for initial and reassessments of special inspection agencies.

Representatives attend NACLA annual meeting in Washington, D.C. IAS is a founding member of the National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (NACLA), which was formed to coordinate all accreditation activities within the U.S. and to eliminate redundant, paper-chase accreditation bodies.

Final Measurement Uncertainty workshop held last month. The third and final workshop on Measurement Uncertainty in testing and calibration was conducted by IAS on April 6-7 in the Los Angeles area.

NAHB joins Foundation Board of Governors. The National Association of Home Builders has announced it will join the International Code Council Foundation's Board of Governors. NAHB is the first organization to announce its participation and is in the process of choosing a representative.

Publications receive awards. The Building Safety Journal and ICC eNews garnered four honors in the Communication Awards 2005 print media competition. ICC received the Crystal Award of Excellence, the top award in the contest, for the cover design of the August 2004 issue of BSJ. Communications also received two Awards of Distinction, which are given to publications "that exceed industry standards in communicating a message or idea," for the overall design of the August 2004 issue of BSJ and for the January 2005 edition of eNews. ICC also earned honorable mention for the cover design of the February 2004 issue of BSJ. There were more than 5,000 entries in the Communication Awards program, which is an international awards competition founded by communication professionals to recognize excellence in their field.