National Association of Counties adopts AIA challenge. The National Association of Counties has adopted a resolution supporting the American Institute of Architects (AIA) SustAIAnability 2030 Challenge that calls for public buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030. U.S. buildings account for nearly the same amount of carbon emissions as the economies of Japan, France and the United Kingdom combined. If designed in an energy-efficient manner, they can significantly reduce energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and slow climate change effects.

ASHRAE, DOE partner to improve energy efficiency. Under a new agreement, ASHRAE and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will work to increase building energy efficiency standards for the year 2010 by 30 percent over 2004 standards. The memorandum of understanding commits ASHRAE and DOE to improving the efficient use of energy and the viable and widespread use of renewable energy sources and to minimizing the impact of energy use on the environment.

IAFC creates new fire institute. The International Association of Fire Chiefs has formed the International Fire Service Research Center and Policy Institute. The Institute was born out of a National Policy Center task force, originally conceived in 2002. The institute was established to build the capacity and adaptability of fire rescue organizations. In addition, it will collaborate with other research institutions from around the world to facilitate, coordinate, conduct and disseminate research projects and findings.

New home sales slide 6.6 percent in June. Sales of new single-family homes slipped 6.6 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 834,000 units as home-buyer demand continued to weaken, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department. The June sales pace was 22.3 percent below a year earlier, and down 40 percent from the housing market peak in mid-2005.

Hurricane testing could change building materials, techniques. The first hurricane test lab is scheduled to open at the International Hurricane Research Center at Florida International University in Miami next summer. The Herald-Tribune reports that the lab will include a giant wind and rain machine and will allow scientists to work in a controlled environment to study how a house comes apart in a storm and why building materials and construction methods fail.

Model Program for Special Inspection: Based on 2006 IBC Chapter 17
List $17.50 | Member $14.00
This document provides users with guidance on the administration and implementation of the special inspection requirements of Section
1704 of the 2006 IBC. The guidance is based on recommended practices and the consensus of building officials, design professionals, and inspection and testing agencies. Duties and responsibilities of the building official, special inspector, project owner, engineer or architect of record, and contractor are defined in this guide.

August 15-18, Maryland Association of Counties Summer Conference, Ocean City, MD
August 15-17, Texas Association of Counties Annual Conference, Austin, TX
August 23-25, Fire Rescue International, Atlanta, GA
August 23-25, Aluminum-Glass Construction & Hurricane Protection Trade Show, Orlando, FL

California Codes Make Official Debut

Code Council CEO Rick Weiland addresses CBSC members, including (from left) Stephen Jensen, Susan Dowty, Debra Kerns, Executive Director Dave Walls, Chair Rosario Marin, Vice Chair Isam Hasenin and Christina Jamison.

Several Code Council staff members were on hand for a one-day instructional seminar and the official debut of the new California Codes. Council instructors John Henry, Scott Stookey and Jay Woodward provided an overview of the 2006 International Building and Fire Codes; Senior Staff Architect Allan Bilka participated in the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) Green Building Forum; while CEO Rick Weiland, Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes and others participated in the official unveiling of the new California Codes during the CBSC meeting.

Golden State Plans Progressive Green Codes
At a Green Building Focus Group Kick-Off Meeting, the state of California announced its plans to create a progressive residential and commercial state green building code. The code will use the best practices and most restrictive requirements of many existing green building programs, including the Code Council’s joint green building standard with the National Association of Home Builders, as its baseline criteria.
Council Senior Staff Architect Allan Bilka and Senior Technical Staff member Kermit Robinson were active participants at the meeting, and ICC was invited to join in the effort to create California’s first state green building code.

Hampton University Presented with Codes

Council Board Vice President Steve Shapiro (center) presents copies of the I-Codes to Hampton University Department of Architecture Librarian Norma Sellman (left), Assistant Director of Collection Management for the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library Alfred Willis (second from left), Dr. Eric Sheppard (second from right), and Library Director Frank Edgcombe (right).

The Code Council presented copies of the International Codes to Hampton University in Virginia. 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 Vice President Steve Shapiro made the presentation to the school’s Department of Architecture.