Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Utah, New Mexico, adopt International Code Council building safety codes

The District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Utah and New Mexico selected the most widely adopted and enforced building safety codes, the International Codes (I-Codes), to ensure the highest level of building safety for the people in their communities.

The nation's capital adopted the I-Codes for its new building safety and fire prevention codes. Enforced by the Washington, D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, the newly adopted codes include the 2000 editions of the International Building, Energy Conservation, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Property Maintenance and Residential Codes developed by the International Code Council. The codes became effective in January.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the I-Codes as its statewide, minimum construction codes. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry adopted the 2003 International Building, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Residential and Urban Wildland Interface Codes. The regulation also specifies the 2003 International Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities as an alternate method for compliance. Pennsylvania municipalities have from April 9 until Aug. 7 to decide to enforce codes locally or opt out of enforcement responsibility.

The Utah Fire Prevention Board adopted the 2003 International Fire Code statewide, effective in January, updating from the 2000 edition. The 2003 International Fire Code coordinates with the 2003 editions of the International Building, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing and Residential Codes recently adopted in Utah.

The New Mexico Construction Industries Commission adopted the 2003 International Building, Energy Conservation, Existing Building Codes and the building portion of the International Residential Codes to take effect July 1.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council. Visit www.iccsafe.org and click on the green U.S. map to see the most recent International Code adoptions.