Take Control of Your Career at ICC’s Training & Certification Summit

Held in conjunction with the 25^th Building Professional Institute, the International Code Council’s (ICC) Training & Certification Summit, May 22-26 at the University of Texas at Arlington, is offering unique educational tracks, Continuing Education Units, and opportunities to take ICC Certification Exams all in one place.

“No matter what stage industry professionals are in their careers, there is something advantageous for everyone to learn at the ICC Summit,” explained Code Council Board of Directors President M. Dwayne Garriss. “Not only are we offering the technical training you have grown to trust from ICC, we also are bringing tracks on Leadership and Generations in the Workplace that will give attendees the tactical skills to enhance your offices and plans for the future.”

Summit attendees will earn CEUs from ICC for participating in any of the three-day training tracks that may be applied toward renewal of certifications issued by ICC. Summit tracks include:

Track 1: Leadership Institute. This institute provides an overview of leadership principles, the characteristics of effective leaders, and how to apply basic leadership skills.

Track 2: Principles of Building Safety Institute. This institute covers the unique concepts of building safety while addressing the principles and the science behind code provisions.

Track 3: Residential Building Inspector Certification Academy. This new academy provides information and the opportunity to study for and take the 2015 B1 Residential Building Inspector certification exam.

Track 4: Multigenerational Communications in the Workplace Institute. This institute explores how to create a mentoring program, discovers how to use practical communication and leadership strategies, and teaches how to solve workplace problems with others from different generations.

Training for each track will be provided by ICC’s nationally-recognized instructors including John Gibson, Sandra Hyde, Tracy Lendi, Ron Lynn, David Rabiner, Tim Ryan, Kevin Scott, Haydn Shaw, Terrell Stripling, Michael Temesvary, Doug Thornburg, Steve Van Note, and Jay Woodward.

ICC Certifications will be administered May 25-26 during the Summit. To pre-register for an examination, click here for an application. Walk-in registration at the Summit will be available from 8:00-8:30 for the morning session and from 12:30-1:00 p.m. for the afternoon sessions.

Several pre-Summit events will be held, as well, including individual ICC Membership Council meetings, Education and Certification Committee meetings, a Professional Development Council meeting, and a Members Forum session.

“Our training attendees will walk away with smart strategies, actionable tactics, improved skills and real connections with the people who are shaping the future of building safety,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “This is a great opportunity to expand your skills and knowledge on building safety, inspections, leadership and communication in the workplace from nationally recognized instructors. We invite you to join industry professionals from across the nation at ICC’s Training & Certification Summit.”

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About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

About the Building Professional Institute

The Building Professional Institute (BPI) was originally established at the University of Texas at Arlington in 1992 by the Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) and the Construction Research Center (CRC) at UTA. The BPI is typically an annual week-long program of quality education and training for the Building Professionals including Builders, Building Officials, Contractors, Municipal Inspectors, Real Estate Inspectors, Architects, Engineers, Plumbers, Fire Protection Personnel, Code Enforcement, Permit Technicians, Electricians, and Environmental Health and Safety Personnel. Many of these professionals need areas of certifications and approved continuing education to maintain their licensing and expertise. Such courses and training are developed and offered by BPI.

New Publication Combines Model Building Code with Statewide Amendments for Washington

The Evergreen State and the International Code Council (ICC) will soon release a helpful resource that combines the 2015 International Building Code with customized amendments adopted statewide in Washington last July. The integrated 2015 International Building Code with Washington State Amendments will increase ease of use for building officials, local government, and industry and design professionals.

The up-to-date requirements for commercial construction will help designers and contractors create safer, more resilient communities. The 2015 International Building Code with Washington State Amendments is co-published by ICC and the Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) with the cooperation of the Washington State Building Code Council.

“Since 2003, for each edition of the IBC adopted by Washington State, code users had to insert additional pages into the code wherever the state made an amendment,” said Tim Nogler, Washington State Building Code Council Managing Director. “This new collaboration with ICC integrates the state amendments, provides unique margin markings to help the user identify state amendments, and saves the trouble of inserting separate pages. All of this makes the code much more user friendly.”

“Members of WABO are excited by the new publication from ICC incorporating Washington State amendments into the IBC,” said WABO Technical Code Committee Chair Lee Kranz, CBO, ACO. “This is another example of WABO’s commitment to leveraging technology to better serve the end users of the codes.”

Print copies of the 2015 International Building Code with Washington State Amendments will be available in early March and can be pre-ordered from the Code Council. A PDF download can be purchased beginning late March.

“Updating construction safety codes is an effective method of helping to ensure the public’s safety in buildings while supporting innovation in the building construction industry,” said Mark Johnson, ICC Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development. “The Code Council is ready to assist Washington designers, policy makers and the construction community to ensure a smooth transition to the updated codes.”

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The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.  Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

Ramani Announces Retirement from International Accreditation Service

	C. P. “Chuck” Ramani Founding President

C.P. “Chuck” Ramani, President of the International Accreditation Service (IAS), will retire effective March 2018, capping a 44-year career in global conformity assessment and construction code enforcement.

Ramani was named Founding President of IAS when it was formed in March 2002 during the International Code Council consolidation. IAS is a nonprofit, scientific, educational subsidiary of the International Code Council (ICC) that accredits calibration and testing laboratories, providers of inspection services, building/code enforcement agencies, fire prevention bureaus, and conformity assessment organizations.

“Chuck has shepherded IAS to become a key component of the ICC Family of Companies,” explained Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO.  “Last year was IAS’s most successful growth year, which sets a new standard for continued success.”

“We congratulate Chuck on his outstanding career and express our deep gratitude for his leadership and lasting contributions to our organization and the industry,” added Sims.

“Chuck’s departure will mark the end of the first chapter in the history of IAS,” said IAS Board of Directors Chair James G. Toscas, P.E.  “Chuck displayed amazing foresight when he initially pursued a dream that ultimately became IAS.  He has always had a clear vision of what IAS should be, and could become. He also has a deep understanding of customer needs and an unrelenting drive to address those needs – and he has instilled this culture into the IAS organization.  It is clear the organization would not be what it is today without his leadership.”

In December 2016, IAS reached a milestone by issuing its 900^th accreditation, just four years after the 500^th accreditation was issued in April 2011.

“The ‘Race to 1,000’ now appears achievable by early 2018, which will be a major accomplishment in IAS history,” Ramani said. “This would not have happened without the wholehearted support of the IAS and ICC Boards, our staff, contract assessors and evaluators. I thank everyone for going well above the call of duty to help us reach these very important milestones.”

Ramani first joined the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) in 1973 as associate research engineer. He later transferred to the ICBO Evaluation Service in 1981 as a senior staff engineer, and was named Vice President of Administration and Field Services in 1986. Ramani became Vice President of Accreditation and Public Relations with ICBO in 2000, a position he held until he was named Founding President of IAS.

Ramani is a Registered Civil and Quality Control Engineer with the state of California. He is an ICC Certified Building Official, holds Lead Evaluator credentials with the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), the Pacific Accreditation Corporation, and the IAS Building and Fire Prevention Bureau accreditation programs.

He has taught classes on codes, building and fire prevention department accreditation and large-scale fire testing. He is a globally recognized instructor on conformity assessment standards and has been involved in development of international assessment protocols for inspection practices.

Ramani is a member and former chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials E36 Subcommittee on Accreditation; a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation; and a founding-member of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. He has served on trade and standards delegations for the U.S. Department of Commerce including the ITAC 16 Committee on Standards & Trade.

“The most difficult aspect of my retirement will be coming to terms with not having to go to work every morning and engaging the IAS staff and clients in spirited technical discussions,” Ramani said. “I came to ICBO in 1973 just so I could work under a licensed engineer for two years prior to being allowed to take the state board civil engineer licensing exam. That was 43 plus years ago, and I’m still here! This truly is a tribute to the quality of people that built ICC and its predecessor organizations.”

After retirement, Ramani will continue to support IAS and the ICC in an emeritus role. He will remain engaged with IAS while ICC and the IAS Board conduct a global search for the next leader to assume the role as President of IAS.

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About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

ICC Announces New Award for Innovation in Code Administration

The International Code Council Family of Companies (ICC) has created a new honor to acknowledge public safety creativity in the built environment: the ICC Innovation in Code Administration Award.

In announcing the award, ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO, said it recognizes building and fire departments for innovation in the delivery of code administration services in their communities. The award program is sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs-Fire and Life Safety Section, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, and the Code Council.

“Code enforcement is one of the five pillars of community risk reduction: education, enforcement, engineering, economic incentives and emergency response,” added ICC Board of Directors President M. Dwayne Garriss, who serves as the Georgia State Fire Marshal. “Fire and building departments across the country are developing new and innovative approaches to deliver code administration services as part of community risk reduction. These tools and techniques should be shared — and honored — to help reduce risk from death, injury, fires and other natural or man-made disasters.”

Organizations eligible for the award must be a building or fire code organization that provides code administration services to one or more jurisdictions.  This may include fire departments, fire marshal’s offices or building departments charged with code administration.

The organization must have implemented a unique practice to enhance building or fire code administration services in the community. The practice should have resulted in a positive impact on public and firefighter safety, measurable reduction in deaths, injuries or property damage, and/or the quality, effectiveness or efficiency of code administration services. An organization can nominate itself; individuals are not eligible for this award.

“Such recognition is long overdue,” said Park City, Utah, Deputy Chief and Fire Marshal Scott Adams, Fire Service Membership Council Governing Committee Chairman. “Building officials and fire marshals work hard to protect public safety and provide citizens good service. They should be acknowledged for their work.”

Jefferson County, Colo., Building Official Becky Baker, chair of the Building Official Membership Council, agreed.  “Nearly every jurisdiction that has codes has some creative idea that can be shared with others to improve the level of building safety and make the workforce more effective,” she said. “We hope sharing these ideas will support the process of continuous improvement.”

The deadline to submit applications for the annual award is March 3. Applications must be submitted to the International Code Council, 900 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL 35213 or by fax to 205-591-0775.

Applications will be reviewed by a team from the ICC’s Fire Service and Building Official membership councils that provide overarching policy guidance to the Code Council on emerging issues and trends.

Recipients of the annual award will be honored in May during the ICC-sponsored Building Safety Month and at the annual Building Safety Month Reception in Washington, D.C.

Questions about the award criteria or application process should be submitted to Karla Higgs at 1-888-422-7233, ext. 5268, or by email to khiggs@iccsafe.org.

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About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

ICC Announces Theme for 37th Annual Building Safety Month

The International Code Council Family of Companies’ (ICC) theme for 2017 Building Safety Month, the 37^th annual worldwide public safety campaign celebrated in May, is Code Officials: Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth.

“Every day, code officials work to ensure the safety and welfare of citizens in the built environment,” explained ICC Board of Directors President M. Dwayne Garriss, who serves as the Georgia State Fire Marshal. “This year, Building Safety Month focuses on code officials and the critical role they have in developing and applying model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to help construct safe, sustainable, and more affordable and resilient communities.”

During May, ICC’s 60,000-plus Members, along with other professionals in the construction and design community, will conduct events including school assemblies, hosting information booths at builder supply stores, and implementing proclamation signing ceremonies to increase awareness about the importance of building and remodeling to modern codes and standards.

Code Officials: Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth will be supported by weekly themes that spotlight specific areas of the roles of code officials in building safety and fire prevention:

• Week One, May 1-7, 2017, Mentoring the Next Generation of Building Professionals
• Week Two, May 8-14, 2017, Building Design Solutions for All Ages
• Week Three, May 15-21, 2017, Manage the Damage—Preparing for Natural Disasters
• Week Four, May 22-28, 2017, Investing in Technology for Safety, Energy & Water Efficiency

ICC will provide several resources to assist communities in promoting Building Safety Month, including strategies on how to set up an event, a fill-in news release, a sample proclamation, kids’ activity pages, and much more. Many resources will be available for free download and others may be purchased from the ICC Store in the near future.

Building Safety Month also offers corporate sponsorship opportunities. For sponsorship information, please contact Sara Yerkes at SYerkes@IccSafe.org.

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About the International Code Council

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.