Committee recommends sunsetting Arizona plumbing commission. A legislative review committee will recommend to state lawmakers that they sunset the Arizona Uniform Plumbing Commission after nine years of existence. Last month, the committee voted 8-1 to make its recommendation after receiving comments from a joint coalition that included representatives from the Central Arizona Home Builders Association, Arizona League of Cities and Towns, and Capitol Consulting, a lobbying firm for BOMA Arizona, Arizona Building Officials and the Arizona Multi- Housing Association.

Partners, others unite to confront global climate change. Recognizing that the building sector is responsible for nearly half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, key leaders from the American Institute of Architects, U.S. Green Building Council, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers, Architecture 2030 and other organizations banded together at the 2006 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Sante Fe, New Mexico, to confront the global-warming crisis. The group reached a consensus on three critical issues facing the building sector: the need for a common goal to bring energy consumption and GHG emissions under control, the definition of that goal, and a baseline to measure achievement. The group also adopted the targets of "The 2030 Challenge," a global initiative launched by Architecture 2030 that calls for all new buildings and major renovations to reduce their GHG-emitting energy consumption by 50 percent immediately, and gradually by 100 percent by the year 2030.

HHS-CMS proposed rule on fire sprinklers suggests preemption of local authority. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-CMS) has published a proposed rule addressing automatic sprinkler systems in long-term health-care facilities. The proposed rule would create a new federally stipulated requirement for nursing homes to be fully sprinklered in order to receive compensation for treating Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. In presenting the proposed rule, HHS-CMS seeks to expedite the retroactive sprinkler requirement solely through federal authority without working with state and local authorities and without undertaking a full regulatory review of the 2006 edition of the Life Safety Code. Read more.

Nalco joins BOMA Leadership Circle of Partners. Nalco Company, a leading global provider of integrated water treatment and process improvement services, has joined the Building Owner and Managers Association (BOMA) International's elite Leadership Circle of Partners. With three levels of participation, the partnership program demonstrates the commitment of leading organizations to support BOMA with the needed resources to advance its advocacy, education and research initiatives that benefit the entire commercial real estate industry.

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the International Building Code, 2nd Edition
List $49.95 | Member $44.95
Published by Wiley and co-branded with ICC, this is an easy-to-use illustrated guide to the 2006 IBC. Now more than ever, designers need an interpretive guide to understand how the building code affects the early design of specific projects. Combining the graphic skills of Francis D.K. Ching and the code expertise of Steven Winkel, the newest edition of Building Codes Illustrated thoroughly covers the 2006 updates to the IBC by providing an easy-to-understand interpretation in both words and illustrations. (Soft cover, 400 pages)

The following are upcoming events at which ICC staff will attend and/or host an exhibition booth:
December 14-15, WY UST Operator EDC meeting, Cheyenne, WY
December 14-15, Philadelphia HVAC EDC meeting, Philadelphia, PA

Quarterly Meeting Held with Strategic Partners. ICC CEO Rick Weiland and COO Dominic Sims conducted their quarterly meeting with ICC's strategic partners last month in Washington, D.C. After the meeting, the group took a quick tour of ICC's new headquarters office. From left: Jeff Inks, National Association of Home Builders; Ron Nickson, National Multi-Housing Council; Weiland; Sims; Ron Burton, Building Owners and Managers Association International; and Ed Sutton, National Association of Home Builders.

ICC Develops New Residential
Plans Examiners Certification
The ICC Board for International Professional Standards (BIPS) approved development of a national certification for Residential Plans Examiners. The Residential Plans Examiner certification will be developed by a group of residential planning experts and will be available by late 2007.

"ICC is developing the new Residential Plans Examiners certification to ensure public safety and better serve its members and governmental jurisdictions," says CEO Rick Weiland. "This new certification is especially important for Gulf Coast states that are continuing one of the nation's largest reconstruction efforts in U.S. history following the destruction left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."

FLASH Says Thanks. ICC CEO Rick Weiland attended the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) Board of Directors meeting recently in Orlando, Florida. Weiland was appointed to the FLASH Board earlier this year. While at the meeting, FLASH President and CEO Leslie Chapman Henderson (right) thanked Weiland and ICC for its continued support of the group's initiatives to advance disaster safety.

Report of Public Hearings Posted on Website
The printed version of the Report of the Public Hearings is scheduled to be available this month. This has been the largest Code Development Cycle to date with 2,233 code change proposals, exceeding the record of 2,114 that were processed during the 2004/2005 cycle.

Storm Shelter Standard Available for Comment
The first draft of the ICC/National Storm Shelter Association Standard on Storm Shelters is posted on the ICC website. The public comment deadline is December 26.

Yerkes Testifies before D.C. Council
Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes spoke before the District of Columbia Committee on Consumer and Regulatory Affairs on a bill to amend the Construction Codes Approval and Amendments Act of 1986. Proposed amendments include establishing high-performance building standards; updating the codes to include green building practices; and developing a Green Building Incentives Program, Green Building Fund and a Green Building Advisory Council. Yerkes' comments focused on the use of the I-Codes in the District as well as in all major cities across the U.S., and how the codes take into consideration sustainability issues.

Iowa Seeks to Update Codes
The State Building Commission recently held hearings on updating the state building code to the 2006 I-Codes. Amendments proposed by the Iowa Homebuilders Association are being reviewed by the Iowa State Building Code Advisory Council. The commission also held a hearing on updating the state historical code to the 2006 International Existing Building Code. Competing code organizations did not attend either hearing.

Manuals Aid Civil, Structural Engineers
Revised and expanded to reflect the latest design methods contained in the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and ASCE/SEI 7-05, the Structural/Seismic Design Manuals are important resources for civil and structural engineers. Developed by ICC and the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC), the three-volume manuals incorporate requirements defined by the 2006 IBC.

Fire Prevention Institute Set Next Month
Learn the latest in fire safety concepts by attending the International Code Council Fire Prevention Institute January 22-25 in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Fire and building safety experts will discuss how to effectively apply provisions of the 2006 International Fire and Building Codes to high-piled combustible storage, fire protection systems, hazardous materials and means of egress issues in commercial buildings. These experts include Kevin Scott, ICC Fire Service Manager and former Fire Marshal for Kern County, California.

Silent Defender Awards Invitation
The ICC Foundation invites you to join industry leaders and government representatives for the annual Silent Defender Awards Dinner on May 10, 2007, at the Hilton Arlington and Towers hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

This special event recognizes the individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary achievements in building stronger, safer communities throughout the world. The cost for attending is $500 per person. To make reservations, call 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4226. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

ICC visits Colorado chapter. CEO Rick Weiland and Board President Wally Bailey joined Director Gerry George at the Colorado Chapter of ICC's 53rd Annual Meeting last week in Colorado Springs. Weiland and Bailey outlined their future plans for the organization while George swore in the new chapter officers. Above, Weiland (left) talks chapter and ICC matters with David Vaughn, Pueblo, Colorado, Regional Building Official and a chapter board member.

ICC ePARTNERS
Volume II, Issue 12
December 2006

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.