ICC spring meeting features code development hearings, education sessions and expo

The final action public hearings on the proposed changes to the International Codes®; training for code enforcement and fire service officials, architects, engineers, and other construction professionals; and an expo will be featured at ICC's May 16-20, 2004, Spring Meeting in Overland Park, Kansas.

The hearings, which will take place May 17-20, will mark the end of the first 18-month cycle in a 36-month code development period leading up to the publication of the 2006 editions of the I-Codes®. The ICC will web cast the hearings live on the internet to enable building professionals and others from around to world to watch and listen to the hearings taking place. Code changes approved in Overland Park will be published by ICC in the 2004 Supplement to the 2003 I-Codes.

Many of the notable code change proposals acted on at the September 2003 Code Development Committee hearings in Nashville are highlighted in the Nov/Dec issue of ICC's Building Safety Journal, and the full report is available on the ICC web site at www.iccsafe.org. The deadline for submitting comments on the report is January 14, 2004. These comments and all successful assembly actions from the September committee hearings will be published in the Final Action Agenda for the Overland Park hearings, which is scheduled to be released in late February.

The public hearings will be preceded on May 16th by an expo and a full day of education sessions. The expo will provide an opportunity to learn about the latest in building and construction technologies and products offered by product manufacturers, trade associations and related companies exhibiting at the event. The education program will feature sessions presented by industry experts addressing specific needs, opportunities and issues relevant to those who apply or enforce building safety codes.

Sessions are offered at various skill levels, enabling code officials, inspectors, plans examiners, design professionals, builders and contractors to gain valuable hands-on solutions to critical challenges and obtain the tools needed to improve their professional performance. The program will also help meet continuing education requirements for maintaining licensure in some areas.

The Sheraton Overland Park Hotel is the official hotel for this event. For reservations, call (866) 837-4214 and ask for the International Code Council rate ($135 + tax). It is recommended that attendees commuting by air fly into the Kansas City Airport (airport code: MCI).

Online registration for the education sessions and hearings is available at the ICC web site at www.iccsafe.org/springmeeting. For more information visit the ICC web site; phone 1-888-ICC-SAFE, ext. 4229; or .

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.