USGBC, NAHB testify before Congress. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently testified about green building before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. USGBC representatives told the committee that buildings are an often overlooked solution to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. NAHB discussed how its members are bringing green building to the mainstream by developing affordable, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly construction techniques, and working with the Code Council to develop a residential green building standard.

Callahan

Save Energy President Kateri Callahan testified before the Senate Finance Committee as well as the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding comprehensive energy-efficiency policy. "Because of effective public policies that have included tax incentives as well as standards, building codes and mandates, energy efficiency is currently delivering more to meeting today's energy demand than any other source," Callahan told members of the Senate Finance Committee.

Organizations collaborate on IAQ guidance. Six organizations are collaborating to provide advanced indoor air quality (IAQ) design guidance for the construction industry. The collaboration will develop a book and professional development course that will describe an integrated process for achieving improved IAQ in all elements of a building. Participating organizations are the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council.

APA joins coalition supporting rural communities. The American Planning Association has joined the Campaign for a Renewed Rural Development, a coalition of national organizations urging Congress to fully support rural community development needs in the Farm Bill reauthorization. The legislation must provide the necessary assistance, funding and tools to promote good planning and protect rural communities.

	NOAA

2006 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code Commentary
List $54.00 | Member $43.00
This comprehensive publication provides a convenient reference for regulations in the 2006 North Carolina Energy Conservation 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. This is an excellent reference for code officials, engineers, architects, inspectors, plans examiners, contractors and anyone else who needs a better understanding of the 2006 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code.

Reinforced Concrete Masonry Construction Inspector's Handbook, Sixth Edition
List $35.95 | Member $32.00
An information source written especially for masonry inspection, this handbook covers terminology, technology, materials, quality control, inspection and standards. This book includes all aspects of reinforced concrete masonry construction and inspection. Published jointly with the Masonry Institute of America, it is invaluable for individuals preparing to take the special inspector certification examinations on reinforced and prestressed concrete.

The following are upcoming events at which ICC staff will attend and/or host an exhibition booth:
June 14, Texas State Association of Plumbing Inspectors Annual Conference, Corpus Christie, TX
June 14-16, Florida Roofing Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association Annual Convention, Orlando, FL
June 14-16, Fire 2007/New York State Association of Fire Chiefs Annual Conference, Lake George, NY
June 28-29, Wyoming Electrical Exam Development Committee (EDC), Cheyenne, WY
July 9-10, Washington AST/UST EDC, Olympia, WA
July 12-14, Special Concrete Inspector EDC, Salt Lake City, UT

ICC ePARTNERS Volume III, Issue 6 June 2007 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 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

I-Codes Adopted in All 50 States
With adoptions of the International Codes in Hawaii, the I-Codes will soon safeguard Americans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed legislation adopting the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) statewide, effective July 1, and establishing a state building code council. The Honolulu City Council unanimously passed a resolution to adopt the IBC, International Residential Code and International Existing Building Code that are expected to go into effect in September.

The state of California adopted the 2006 IBC and International Fire Code. The new California codes take effect in January 2008. The states of Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah recently updated their codes to the 2006 I-Codes. Around the country, more than 21,000 jurisdictions enforce the International Codes.

Final Action Hearings Results Available

	ICC voting representatives acted on more than 600 code change proposals at the Final Action Hearings in Rochester, New York.

Code Council voting members took action on more than 600 code change proposals during the Final Action Hearings in Rochester, New York. Requirements for residential sprinklers yielded passionate testimony from partners. Significant changes will affect beverage dispensers, commercial cooking hoods and fueled equipment storage. Complete results of the hearings are available online.

MOU Finalized with Saudi Arabia

ICC CEO Rick Weiland (seated left) signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Mohammed Al-Nagadi, President of the Saudi Building Code National Committee at the Code Council's Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Looking on are Deputy Vice President of International Services and Business Development Rick Okawa (standing, left) and Senior Vice President of Business and Product Development Mark Johnson (standing, right).

The Code Council finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Saudi Building Code National Committee (SBCNC) that calls for the joint development and preparation of technical information, organizing and conducting technical seminars, and the exchange of technical experts in support of activities related to various building codes and specifications. The SBCNC is completing the new Saudi Building Code that is based on the International Codes and will be implemented later this year.

Code Books Donated to Savannah College

	ICC Board member Gregori Anderson (right) presents copies of the I-Codes to Joseph F. Keuler, Professor of Architecture at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The Code Council presented copies of the International Codes (I-Codes) to the School of Architecture at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. The Council is working with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to place a complete set of I-Codes in the libraries of AIA-accredited schools of architecture. Council Board member Gregori Anderson made the presentation during commencement ceremonies earlier this month.

Governance Committee Releases Final Report
The Code Council's Governance Review Ad Hoc Committee reached a consensus on recommendations to update the Council's governance model. The committee's final report recommends a substantial number of at-large seats on the ICC Board of Directors with a limited number of geographical seats. The committee's recommendation does not increase the size of the Board but leaves Council members the option of adding two public interest seats if desired.

ICC Participates in ASTM Open House

	ICC's Jay Peters answers questions during the ASTM International Open House.

The Code Council was one of 13 organizations participating in the ASTM International Open House for Sub-Saharan Africa. Held in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute and National Institute of Standards and Technology, the open house provided an opportunity to discuss important issues regarding international standardization, challenges of developing countries, new technologies for standards development, and ASTM International's Memorandum of Understanding program. Jay Peters, Executive Director of Plumbing and Mechanical Programs for the Code Council, participated in a question-and-answer session during the open house.

Call for Honorary Member Nominations
The ICC Board of Directors is requesting nominations for Honorary Members. An Honorary Member is a person who has rendered outstanding service to the Code Council or one of the legacy model code organizations. The Board will present its list of potential Honorary Member candidates for approval by ICC voting members in attendance at the 2007 Annual Business Meeting, October 2, in Reno, Nevada.

Egyptian Training and Certification Announced

	IAS Senior Advisor Dr. David Nelson (left) meets with Dr. Professor Amr Ezzat Salama, Chairman of the HBRC; Dr. Ayman Mosallam, Professor of Structural Engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and ICC consultant; and Dr. Khalid El Zahaby, Professor of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, HBRC.

The Code Council and Housing and Building National Research Centre (HBRC) of the Government of Egypt announced the joint development of a national training and certification program for the country. The new program, modeled after ICC's training and certification programs in the U.S., begins with initial certification levels, including structural concrete, fire protection, plumbing and mechanical inspection. This new collaboration is coordinated with additional research and laboratory accreditation services on behalf of HBRC that are currently underway through the ICC Foundation and International Accreditation Service (IAS).

Staff Meets with Korean Delegation

	Meeting with the Korean delegation at the ICC Headquarters office are Sylvana Ricciarini and Richard Kuchnicki (standing, far right) of ICC's Government Relations Department.

A delegation from the Korea Institute of Construction Materials (KICM) met with Code Council staff at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the Los Angeles District Office. The purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the Council's comprehensive programs and to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and collaboration. KICM is a national testing agency for construction materials and executes numerous national and private research and development projects related to innovation and standardization of construction materials.

Baker Named Chair of GRAC

Becky Baker participates in the Council's SMARTcodes education session at the recent Restoration 2007 conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Becky Baker, Director of Building Safety for unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, was named chair of the Code Council's Government Relations Advisory Committee (GRAC). Baker oversees a professional staff of 37 that perform 75,000 inspections annually. A building official for nearly 25 years, she is an Honorary Member of ICC and serves on the Interoperability Task Group, the Ad Hoc Committee on Administrative Provision in the I-Codes, and previously served on the International Conference of Building Officials Board of Directors.

ICC Visits D.C. Neighbor, PCA

ICC CEO Rick Weiland (left) and Portland Cement Association Director of Federal Infrastructure Markets John Sullivan discuss a new technology made of cement with glass filaments.

Code Council representatives toured the offices of the Portland Cement Association (PCA) in Washington, D.C. PCA is a neighbor of the Council in the National Association of Realtors Building. While on the tour, Council CEO Rick Weiland, Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes and National Programs Liaison Richard Kuchnicki learned how PCA used a number of exposed cement elements as part of its office space design, including exposed columns, and new sign technology made of cement with glass filaments.

New Masonry Books Available
The Code Council partnered with the Masonry Institute of America to develop new versions of three popular masonry books: 2006 Masonry Codes and Specifications; Reinforced Concrete Masonry Construction Inspector's Handbook, Sixth Edition; and Masonry Design Manual, (Fourth Edition). These books are packaged with CDs that contain PDF versions of the publication.

Canadian Organization Carries Log Standard
The International Log Builders' Association (ILBA), located in British Columbia, Canada, is now carrying ICC's new Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures: ICC 400-2007. ILBA is promoting the new standard in Canada and other countries as the top resource to adopt for log structures. The Council has a cooperative arrangement with ILBA to extend its presence internationally within the log building community.