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The International Code Council and Mexico's National Commission
of Housing Promotion sign an agreement to develop a residential
code for Mexico.
Seated from left: Agustin
Garcia-Lopez, Executive Director, Mexico and Dominican
Republic, Inter-American Development Bank; Carlos J. Gutierrez
Ruiz, National Housing Commissioner, (Mexico) National
Commission of Housing Development; James Lee Witt, Chief
Executive Officer, International Code Council; Anne R.
vonWeller, Past President, International Code Council
Board of Directors; Hector E. Morales, United States Alternate
Executive Director, Inter-American Development Bank. Standing:
Sergio Lozoya, Consejero, Mexico and Dominican Republic,
Inter-American Development Bank; Rick Okawa, Vice President,
International Services, International Code Council.
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ICC partners with Mexico to develop building safety codes
The International Code Council will provide technical assistance
to the Mexican government to develop a residential building
code as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
the U.S. association and the Mexican National Commission
of Housing Development. Under the MOU, the I-Codes developed
by the International Code Council will serve as a guide
for the creation of new codes and standards in Mexico.
"The Mexican government has a long-term plan to update
its construction standards to include the safest techniques,
materials and technologies," said International Code
Council CEO James Lee Witt, former Director of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. "The I-Codes, already
enforced in thousands of U.S. jurisdictions, will be the
basis for housing construction in Mexico. The codes will
provide Mexico's residents with safe, affordable and comfortable
housing."
"Signing this agreement is a concrete step in support
of the housing sector within the framework of the Housing
Sector Program strategies," said Carlos Gutierrez Ruiz,
National Commissioner of Housing Development for Mexico.
"This is also a great opportunity for the International
Code Council and the National Commission of Housing Development
to establish the basis to participate in the development
of instruments to promote quality and safety in residential
buildings in Mexico."
The MOU signing took place during Building Safety Week,
May 8-14. Building departments across America and around
the world observe Building Safety Week to raise public awareness
of building safety, and to promote the use, enforcement
and importance of building safety and fire prevention codes.
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.
