The International Code Council signed on as an inaugural member of the International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS) Coalition, which brings together key organizations from around the world that deal with the fire safety of buildings. Read more.
Brea, Calif.- The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) and APA – The Engineered Wood Association (APA) released their first joint evaluation report for cross-laminated timber products (CLT). This program certifies CLT products for compliance with ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Cross-Laminated Timber Panels for Use as Components in Floor and Roof Decks (AC455) and ANSI/APA PRG 320 Standard for Performance-Rated Cross-Laminated Timber. The joint evaluation report, ESR-3631, was issued in September 2018 to Structurlam Mass Timber Corporation for its Structurlam CrossLam CLT panels.
Verifying that the CLT panels are in compliance with building, residential, and green codes and standards, ESR-3631 also provides information about the acceptance criteria used to evaluate the product and how the product should be identified and installed. The evaluation report authorizes Structurlam to add the ICC-ES mark of conformity to their product packaging and identification, and the company may now list their panels as certified by ICC-ES and APA.
“As experts in product evaluation and certification, we take immense pride in the research behind our evaluation reports,” said ICC-ES President Shahin Moinian, P.E. “We evaluate cutting edge products and technology in the built environment quickly and efficiently. We are pleased to be working with the experts at APA to verify the highest quality and safest CLT products in the market today.”
“APA is pleased to collaborate with ICC-ES in offering CLT manufacturers with the high-quality joint evaluation reports that support the cross-laminated timber used in the demanding mass timber construction,” said Dr. BJ Yeh, P.E., director of the Technical Services Division at APA.
Manufacturers may apply separately to ICC-ES for a product listing under the new Product Listing Program. For more information about the ICC-ES Product Listing Program, visit https://icc-es.org/evaluation-report-program/.
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About ICC-ES
The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), a member of the ICC Family of Companies, is a nonprofit, limited liability company that does technical evaluations of building products, components, methods and materials. ICC-ES evaluation reports and building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and solar thermal product listings provide evidence that products and systems meet the requirements of codes and technical standards.
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 APA
APA – The Engineered Wood Association is a nonprofit trade association that works with its members to create structural wood products of exceptional strength, versatility and reliability. Combining the research efforts of scientists and engineers at APA’s 42,000 square-foot research center with the knowledge gained from decades of field work, and cooperation with our member manufacturers, APA promotes new solutions and improved processes that benefit the entire industry.
In its 39th year, the international campaign raises awareness about the importance of modern building codes and strong code enforcement.
International Code Council CEO Dominic Sims announced one of the association’s newest partners, the Home Depot, at the 2018 Annual Business Meeting in Richmond, Va., in October. View video.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rattled through Southcentral Alaska on November 30 underlined the effectiveness of the I-Codes in protecting lives and property.
A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Anchorage, Alaska, on November 30 highlights the importance of building codes in saving lives, protecting property and contributing to a rapid post-disaster recovery. These results are consistent with several studies that demonstrate that well-enforced building codes help mitigate earthquake risk. The Alaska earthquake did not result in any collapsed buildings, widespread damage to infrastructure or loss of life, partially due to the strong building codes the state adopts – the International Codes (I-Codes).
The I-Codes, developed by the International Code Council, are a family of modern, comprehensive and coordinated building codes used in all 50 states, in federal buildings and in many other countries around the world. They are updated regularly and take into account the latest technology and advancements in building science. In the aftermath of the Alaska earthquake, state and federal leaders are speaking out about the importance of strong building codes.
Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz credited building codes for minimizing structural damage and said, “Considering the scale of [the November 30th] earthquake, the extent of damage was relatively small.”
After assessing the minor damage to his own home, Governor Bill Walker praised the state’s building codes and said, “Building codes mean something.”
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski stated, “We have worked as communities in our state to be prepared for disasters when they should come. We have some of the most stringent building codes in the world, and for the most part, our buildings held up.”
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan said, “We were fortunate that there were no deaths…Given how many earthquakes we have had over the years, we have learned a lot. The first thing we learned is about building codes. Fortunately–again, thank God–we had no buildings collapse. We have a lot of structures–homes, businesses, schools–that have severe structural damage, but a collapsing building is where you get a lot of deaths…Strong, strict building codes…[help] to prevent that.”
Additional information:
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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.
Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council announced the 39th annual Building Safety Month theme: No Code. No Confidence. Modern, regularly updated building codes and a strong system of code enforcement ensure that individuals and communities are safe in the buildings where they live, work and play – codes build confidence. As we face disasters on an unprecedented scale – from hurricanes and tornadoes to wildfires and earthquakes – building codes become increasingly important to the safety, health and well-being of our families and communities.
Building Safety Month is an international campaign that culminates in May to raise awareness about building safety. The Code Council, its 64,000 members, and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community come together with corporations, government agencies, professional associations and nonprofits to promote building safety through proclamations, informational events, legislative briefings and more.
“Building safety is about preparing for the future. The Code Council, in partnership with our members and stakeholders, develops model codes that integrate new technologies and the latest advancements in building science,” said Code Council Board President William Bryant, MCP, CBO. “Building Safety Month is a chance to celebrate the entire building safety community and to educate others about the importance of the codes to each and every one of us.”
“After nearly 40 years, Building Safety Month is still the primary international campaign promoting the importance of the codes in our everyday lives,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Because of the enduring commitment of our members and stakeholders, the campaign reaches tens of thousands of people around the world.”
The weekly themes for 2019 are:
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. 2019 campaign sponsors include the American Institute of Architects and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
Visit www.buildingsafetymonth.org for more information about the campaign. Click here to download the campaign poster. Join us on social media using the hashtag #BuildingSafety365.
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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is a member-focused association 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.
Among many other notable items, the legacy of President George H.W. Bush includes signing the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, a comprehensive law on the federal level to address the needs of people with disabilities. Read more
This compendium is the most in-depth analysis to date of the importance of building codes in relation to community resilience.
Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council and the Alliance for National and Community Resilience (ANCR) released a new publication on resilience, Building Community Resilience through Modern Model Building Codes. Intended for use by policymakers and government administrators, this unique publication is an approachable compendium of information, graphics, photos and statistics related to community resilience and the building codes.
As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, strategies for pre-disaster mitigation will save lives, reduce economic costs and support more rapid recovery after a major disaster. Multiple studies have confirmed that adopting and effectively implementing current model building codes is one of the nation’s best defenses against hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flooding, fire and other natural disasters. A 2014 Federal Emergency Management Agency report estimated approximately $500 million in annualized losses avoided in eight southeastern states due to the adoption of modern building codes.
“There are significant opportunities to advance resilience through investment in pre-disaster mitigation, and we are committed to increasing awareness of the contributions of modern building codes and their direct impact on public safety,” said ANCR Executive Director Ryan Colker. “This new publication illustrates the importance of a comprehensive approach to achieving resilient communities that starts with modern model building codes but recognizes the interconnectedness of community functions.”
The Code Council’s family of comprehensive, coordinated and modern model codes, the International Codes, are the most widely used and adopted set of building codes in the world. ANCR, the Code Council’s resilience subsidiary, is currently developing the nation’s first whole-community resilience benchmarking system to help better prepare U.S. communities from future harm.
For more information about the new publication, visit www.iccsafe.org/resiliencebook.
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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 Alliance for National & Community Resilience
The Alliance for National & Community Resilience, a member of the ICC Family of Companies, is a coalition of public and private entities working to create the nation’s first whole-community resilience benchmarking system.