For further information, contact:
Mel Cosgrove, 1-800-877-2224, ext. 229
Regional Director, Fire Services Activities
ICC, IAFC Strengthen Commitment to Public Safety
A renewed commitment to public safety between the International Code Council (ICC) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will provide new opportunities for building and fire officials to cooperatively develop building safety codes.
In an environment of unprecedented threats to homeland security and demand for improved building safety and fire prevention following several tragedies, building and fire officials are addressing the challenges of public safety. While they work together toward a common goal of public safety, building and fire officials often find themselves challenged on one of the basic tools of public safety: building safety and fire prevention code development.
By signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the two organizations opened the door to increase their commitment to public safety and the safety of first responders. The MOU stipulates active participation of IAFC members on ICC committees and matters of interest to the fire service.
"The IAFC has taken a more aggressive role in promoting fire prevention and life safety by ensuring that fire chief officers have a greater degree of involvement with the code development process," said IAFC President Randy R. Bruegman. "The agreement with the ICC paves the way for the members of the IAFC to have a greater voice on those issues that we know will save lives in the future. We look forward to helping to lead and influence that process."
"The agreement between ICC and IAFC strengthens the commitment of both organizations to public safety," said ICC CEO James Lee Witt. "It also provides more opportunities for fire service involvement on ICC code development committees and participation in the code development process."
The ICC is a 50,000-member association dedicated to building safety. It develops the codes used to construct and maintain residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. ICC members represent every segment of the building industry. The IAFC is a network of more than 12,000 chief fire and emergency officers. Its members are the world.s leading experts in fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation.
IAFC will make up the majority of the International Fire Code Council (IFC) membership, ICC.s oversight committee on fire service issues. The IFCC makes recommendations to the ICC board of directors on code development issues, certification and training.
"Through this unprecedented involvement, the fire service can take positions and participate in debate with code officials from across the country," said Chair, IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section, and IFCC member Jackie Gibbs, Fire Chief, Marietta, Georgia. "This relationship provides fire chiefs with the opportunity to influence the code development process and also to attend the code hearings with the code officials as community partners."
IAFC also will participate in four regional International Fire Code Action Committees. The committees will develop and review I-Code change proposals related to fire and life safety. The International Fire Code Action Coordinating Committee will recommend code change proposals to the Fire and Life Safety Section of the IAFC and coordinate activities of the four regional action committees. Committee membership will include representatives from the IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section, the National Association of State Fire Marshals and the ICC.
The ICC develops its building safety codes through a governmental consensus process. Participation in the development of I-Codes, including code hearings, is open to all at no cost. The ICC governmental consensus process leaves the final determination of code provisions in the hands of public safety officials who, with no vested financial interest, can legitimately represent the public interest.
