For further information, contact:
Sara C. Yerkes
(703) 931-4533, ext. 12
Vice President of Public Policy
Eight more states adopt building safety code, 46 states
now use the I-Codes
Indiana has a new state building code. So does Minnesota, West Virginia,
New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Those eight states
adopted new building safety codes created by the International Code Council.
Nationwide, 46 states have adopted one or more of the International
Codes at the state or jurisdictional level. The District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and Federal agencies also are enforcing one or more of the
International Codes.
"Across the country, states are adopting and enforcing International
Codes," said Sara C. Yerkes, Vice President of Public Policy at the
ICC. "The adoptions are a validation that the I-Codes, already the
most widely adopted codes in the nation, continue to be the first choice
to ensure public safety at home, at school and at work."
Indiana adopted the 2000 International Building Code, the International
Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code and International Mechanical Code
effective May 21.
Minnesota now enforces the 2000 IBC, IFC and International Residential
Code, effective March 31.
New Jersey gave formal notice of final action in the May 5 New Jersey
Register adopting the 2000 IBC and IRC, effective immediately.
Tennessee approved the IBC and IFC for local adoption throughout the
state for exempt jurisdictions, as defined by state law, effective April
24.
Virginia approved adoption of the 2000 IBC, IFC and IRC on April 7 (pending
final signature by the attorney general).
Washington adopted the IBC, IRC, IFC and IMC (with IFGC adopted by reference)
on May 14. The statute becomes effective 90 days later.
West Virginia adopted the 2000 IBC, IRC, IMC, International Plumbing
Code, IFGC, International Energy Conservation Code, International Property
Maintenance Code (optional), the 1998 ICC/ANSI A117.1 Standard, and the
2003 International Existing Building Code, effective April 1.
Wyoming adopted the IBC, IFC, IMC and IFGC, effective July 1.
A ninth state, Kansas addressed energy conservation by adopting the IECC
on April 30, effective July 1.
"These latest adoptions of the I-Codes indicate that the code enforcement
community supports the construction industry's call for a single set of
codes to be used nationwide to regulate building safety and fire prevention,"
said Yerkes. "The construction industry welcomes the adoptions because
it makes building requirements less complicated without compromising safety,
and offers economic benefits."
The ICC, a 50,000-member association dedicated to building safety, develops
the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including
homes and schools. The majority of U.S. cities, counties and states that
adopt codes choose building safety and fire prevention codes developed
by the ICC.
