NIST issues report on WTC. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) called on the organizations that develop building and fire safety codes and others to improve the safety of tall buildings, their occupants and first responders. To read more, click here.


New Florida building code bill won't affect Panhandle. A new law signed by Governor Jeb Bush continues to exempt the Florida Panhandle from state building code standards for protecting openings, but also orders a study of building performance during Hurricane Ivan to determine whether tougher standards are needed. The Florida Association of Home Builders lobbied to keep the Panhandle exemption in place.

Survey shows support for stronger codes. More than half of Florida's homeowners say they have taken action to protect their homes from hurricanes. Eighty-three percent of respondents recognized that Florida building codes are important in reducing damage while 40 percent believed the codes should be stronger. The survey was conducted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety and State Farm Insurance.

Tacoma, Washington, puts spotlight on code violators. To foster the development of cleaner, safer neighborhoods, the city of Tacoma has established a Web site called the "Filthy 15." The page lists photos of dilapidated properties, the violations against them and a description of what city officials and property owners are doing to fix the problems. A city official says the new site has a "shame factor" but is also a way for people to see how the code enforcement process works. See Tacoma's "Filthy 15" by clicking here.

Appeals court sides with city over location of caboose. An appeals court has sided with an earlier ruling that a Lake Ransom, Texas, couple remove a 1914 Burlington Northern caboose from their property. The couple wanted to use the caboose for storage and a play area for their grandchildren. However, during the installation process, the couple poured concrete pads without obtaining a building permit. Even though the city's building official observed the concrete work, the couple was charged with 15 citations and the legal battle ensued.

Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), an ICC partner, joins forces with "Bob Vila's Home Again" to help couple rebuild from hurricane damage. Shooting started recently in Punta Gorda, Florida, where FLASH, FEMA and engineering experts from the University of Florida will help build a hurricane-resistant home. The home was selected by FLASH as an educational tool to tell viewers the story of the home's destruction and the improvements that could have saved it. The project, which will be part of Vila's disaster resistance construction programming, is set to run for several shows starting Sept. 12.

Chicago claims building inspector falsified report in deadly porch railing accident. The day before a porch rail snapped, sending a 9-year-old girl to her death, a city inspector had been to the apartment building to investigate a complaint about a stairway. After hearing about the deadly accident, the inspector allegedly falsified the report claiming he had done a complete inspection of the building, including the rail that broke away. City officials say the inspector was only at the building for 13 minutes; not even enough time to properly inspect the stairway.

Ohio won't test rides for proper grounding. Despite the deadly electrocution of an 8-year old on a county fair ride last year, the state says the rides' owners will remain responsible for verifying proper grounding. A county prosecutor, however, says the child's death proved that electrical issues are critical in ride safety and that there is now a gaping hole in state inspections.

FUNDAMENTALS OF DWELLING CONSTRUCTION: BASED ON CHAPTERS 1-11 OF THE 2003 IRC

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This publication was developed for the convenience of the home builder interested in building a house in conformance with the International Residential Code (IRC). The review will help the home builder become familiar with the administrative, building and energy conservation aspects of the IRC which serve to help ensure the health and safety of occupants, as well as protecting the owner's investment. This guide covers legal requirements, location, ventilation, exits, stairs, foundations, drainage, fireplaces and much more. Approximately 158 pages.

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2003 MICHIGAN RESIDENTIAL CODE

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This state code is based on the 2003 IRC. It comes in a binder and is fully integrated with the 2003 IRC. Approximately 600 pages.

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CONTRACTOR'S GUIDE TO THE PLUMBING CODE: BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW OF THE 2003 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE

#7201S03     $25.00     $20.00

A valuable tool to help understand the 2003 IPC, this publication steps away from the legalese of codes and explains code provisions in a more simplified and less formidable manner. This guide helps contractors get up to speed quickly on the latest code provisions. It contains numerous illustrations and figures as well as a unique section on key plumbing terms and definitions. Chapters include a history of plumbing codes, discussions of conventional DWV systems, water supply and distribution, and much more. Soft-cover, approximately 106 pages.

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NFPA 13R: INSTALLATION OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS IN RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCIES UP TO AND INCLUDING FOUR STORIES IN HEIGHT, 2002 EDITION

#9431S02     $34.50     $31.00

Users can access new sprinkler discharge rules, new design requirements for garages, and much more in the revised and updated edition of NFPA 13R. This Standard provides essential requirements for the installation of life-saving sprinklers in multiple family residential occupancies. It includes the latest provisions for water supplies system components, system flow rates, and sprinkler location and position. The new user-friendly format includes exceptions worded into requirements.

ICC ePARTNERS
Volume 1, Issue 4
July, 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.

NYC Committee holds hearing on bill to adopt the I-Codes

Last month, the New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings held a hearing on Intro. 478(A), which would adopt the 2003 IBC, IMC, IRC, IEBC, IFGC and IPC as the basis for the city's new building code, and require the city's Department of Buildings to submit modifications to the I-Codes before the new code takes effect.

Intro 478(A) also requires that the new code be revised every three years in conjunction with ICC's Code Development Cycle. The bill contains the complete plumbing code for the city based on the IPC and administrative portions of the building code that relate to department operations such as permitting, licensing, and fees.

More than 25 groups testified in support of the legislation while three opposed: NFPA, the Master Plumbers and the American Plastics Council, which in fact commended city officials for the adoption of the I-Codes but spoke in opposition to a ban on plastic pipe for more than five stories.

The committee did not vote on the legislation although it is expected to be taken up at a later date (hopefully July). A second piece of legislation to complete the new building code is expected to be introduced early next year. Both Intro. 478(A) and the second bill will have an effective date of July 2006.

Texas adopts IBC statewide

Texas Governor Rick Perry recently signed legislation adopting the 2003 International Building Code effective Sept. 1. Cities must be enforcing the IBC by Jan. 1, 2006.

A second piece of legislation gives Texas counties the authority to adopt the International Fire Code in unincorporated areas.

Iowa is on track for I-Code adoptions

At a recent meeting of the Iowa State Building Codes Advisory Council, the group voted unanimously to adopt the 2003 I-Codes.

The state will review the IBC, IMC, IFGC, IRC, IPC, IEBC and IECC, and make administrative amendments. The I-Codes could take effect in Iowa in early 2006.

Proposed HUD rules could impact ICC

The deadline for public comments on the proposed HUD Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards was June 27. The proposed rules have implications for ICC, its members and partners, and Government Relations issued a member alert to review and comment on the proposal. The rule would be the benchmark by which all state-based installation standards will be judged.

Survey on committee participation

ICC members, we need your help! Please take five minutes and tell us how ICC councils, committees and ad hoc committees meet your needs, and how we can better share with you exciting opportunities to get involved in shaping the future of your organization. Your input is greatly appreciated. Click here to take the survey.

Witt moderates town hall meeting

CEO James Lee Witt led a town hall meeting June 28-29 during the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) National Conference in Pueblo, Colorado. The focus of the meeting was tied to the "Emergency Preparedness & Response" and "Crisis Management" sections of the 9/11 Commission's Report.

Conference attendees consisted of emergency managers and first responders, physicians, hospital personnel and emergency medical technicians, as well as elected officials.

Tsunami benefit held in D.C.

James Lee and Lea Ellen Witt recently attended a benefit for the Washington, D.C. support of Thailand's schools and living facilities for orphans.

The event was sponsored in part by the Thai Royal Family. The Witts were guests of the Thai Ambassador.

Award from Nebraska Association of State Floodplain Managers named after Witt

Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District have received the 2005 James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence from the Association of State Floodplain Managers for adopting flood standards for new growth. The award is named after Witt in recognition of his efforts to support, enhance and encourage local floodplain management capabilities while serving as director of FEMA.

International Fire Code Council (IFCC) responds to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) nightclub fire report. IFCC Chairman Tom Lariviere recently sent a letter to NIST and the Governor of Rhode Island calling for leaders at all levels of government to take a stand against the dangerous operation of business to help prevent tragedies like the nightclub fire. Lariviere also asked that leaders assess their fire prevention operations and assure that the enforcers are well trained and well staffed. He asked that NIST include those items in its final report on the nightclub fire.

Electronic newsletters are in development. Communications, with assistance from Marketing, is in the process of developing electronic newsletters for ICC-ES, IAS and the Foundation. These publications will debut later this year. Also, the Chapter e-newsletter is going electronic next month.

Training got off to a roaring start in June with 49 seminars occurring in the first week. Attendance trends show that seminar participants are a very mixed group. For example, at the 2003 IBC Special Uses and Mixed Occupancies in Nevada, attendees included those from the state of Nevada, city of Reno, SVWB Architects, Washoe County School District, Billings Fire Department, A.W. Kong Building Consultants, Certified Plan Review and the Nevada State Public Works Board. At the 2003 IRC Performing Residential Building Inspection in Alabama, attendees derived from such diverse employers as the city of Tuscaloosa, Prattville Fire Department, GEC Engineering, US Home Corporation and Jade Home Inspection.

ICC delivers more than 106 days of training in May. The Property Maintenance Institute held in the Chicago area had 150 participants and received very high satisfaction ratings. Chapters from Webster, New York, to Silverdale, Washington, received 19 days of training using the Chapter Benefit Day. Contract training was strong and training delivered through PDS' university relationships at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Rutgers and the University of Wisconsin. At the federal level, training at the Smithsonian Institution was a great success and they have already requested that Bob Schutz do additional training in the fall in Panama, where the Smithsonian is having problems with a facility.

Staff continues to aid in specialized chapter training. The state of Ohio wants ICC to expand its proposal for customized curriculum to include management and facilitation services for the Ohio Code Academy. ICC is also working with the Building Officials Association of Florida as it explores the possibility of developing a chapter managed and funded code academy. ICC has been awarded a five year contract for the management of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials Annual Conference and a proposal has been sent to the Southern Nevada Chapter to manage its annual EduCode event.

Certification and Renewal Program Update: Certification staff relayed notice to the state of Texas to request a change to plumbing legislation to recognize ICC certifications for state plumbing inspectors.

Contractor Testing Update: GR Regional Manager Jason vonWeller continues to be very effective in marketing ICC contractor/trade testing in his assigned states and has identified several opportunities for substantial new business.

ICC represented on committee for Performance-Based Codes. Senior Staff Engineer Beth Tubbs has been appointed by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers to participate on the program committee for Performance-Based Codes for the 6th International Conference on Performance- Based Codes and Fire Safety Design Methods. Beth also served in this capacity for the 4th and 5th conferences. Participation on the program committee will involve reviewing and accepting papers for the conference.

Foundation speaks to Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Speaking in Spanish, International Services Representative Alberto Herrera delivered a presentation on ICC and the Foundation. The U.S. Executive Director of the IDB gave the opening remarks and encouraged the group to look toward private sector organizations like ICC to provide new ways to solve old problems.

Silent Auction charity selected for 2005 Annual Conference. YouthBuild Detroit is the organization that will benefit from this year's Silent Auction. The group takes inner-city youths into a construction trades training program and teaches the skills necessary for them to enter the construction industry. YouthBuild is truly excited at this opportunity and is working with the Foundation on leveraging the money raised during the auction.

Project H.E.R.O. is gaining momentum. The Disabled American Veterans and the Paralyzed American Veterans Association have agreed to partner with the Foundation to make Project H.E.R.O. happen. The next step is to schedule a marketing meeting to formulate a campaign around the project. The National Association of Home Builders and the American Institute of Building Design have also pledged their support to the project. With a little encouragement, more organizations will be joining soon.

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.

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