Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council commends the state of Utah for adopting the 2021 International Codes® (I-Codes). This adoption of the latest I-Codes, effective as of July 1, 2023, will ensure the safety of Utah residents and workers and standardize building regulations and practices statewide.

The adoption of the 2021 I-Codes is made possible through the passage of House Bill 532. This legislation, with certain statewide amendments, requires the adoption of the Code Council’s 2021 edition of various codes, including the International Building Code® (IBC) with Appendices C and J. Additionally, the bill covers specific provisions of the International Residential Code® (IRC) along with Appendices AE and AQ, International Plumbing Code® (IPC), International Mechanical Code®, International Fuel Gas Code® (IFGC), commercial provisions of the International Energy Conservation Code®, International Existing Building Code® (IEBC) and International Swimming Pool and Spa Code®.

To strengthen fire safety measures, Utah has enacted House Bill 409. This legislation repeals Tall Wood Buildings of Mass Timber Construction Incorporated as part of the state Construction Code. In its place, House Bill 409 adopts the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code® with relevant amendments.

“We applaud the state of Utah for prioritizing the safety and sustainability of its communities by adopting the most up-to-date I-Codes,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Utah joins the ranks of the expanding group of states taking the lead in leveraging building safety as a tool to protect its citizens and buildings for years to come. The Code Council hopes other states will follow suit to ensure the safety and resiliency of their communities.”

Other states demonstrating a commitment to the latest standards in building safety by adopting updated building codes include Colorado, which recently adopted the 2021 IPC, IFGC and the plumbing provisions of the IRC; and Illinois, which recently passed SB2368, requiring that all jurisdictions in the state adopt the 2021 IBC, IRC, and IEBC.

Please click here to learn more information about the 2021 I-Codes.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Denver, Colorado – The state of Colorado has adopted the 2021 Colorado Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes which incorporates the 2021 International Plumbing Code® (IPC), International Fuel Gas Code® (IFGC), and the plumbing provisions of the International Residential Code® (IRC). This decision comes after careful consideration by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Plumbing Board and is a testament to the state’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in building construction and maintenance.

“We congratulate Coloradoans and Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies Plumbing Board on their upgrade to the most current plumbing code,” said International Code Council Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Executive Director, Matt Sigler. “By upgrading to the latest IPC and IFGC, Colorado has taken a crucial step forward in safeguarding its citizens, showcasing a proactive approach to resilience, and promoting safety and sustainability within their communities.”

This change reflects Colorado’s commitment to the health and safety of its citizens and helps to enhance the resilience and durability of future buildings in the state in the face of increasingly severe weather events. By aligning with the 2021 IPC, Colorado strengthens its eligibility for federal funding with programs such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which plays a vital role in facilitating the recovery process during emergencies and natural disasters, and specifically articulates the importance of updating codes such as the IPC.

“With the adoption of the 2021 Colorado Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes, the state of Colorado has taken another big step in ensuring consumer protection,” said James Fernandez, Plumbing Inspector Supervisor for the State of Colorado. “We are proud of our continued relationship with the International Code Council.”

As a minimum safeguard, building codes establish a building’s energy performance and efficiency while ensuring safety. By embracing the 2021 I-Codes, Colorado sets a precedent for other states to evaluate current codes and practices and to adopt updated codes that promote safety, resilience, and sustainability in the built environment. Another state making strides toward updating its building code adoption is Illinois, which recently passed SB2368, requiring that all jurisdictions in the state adopt the 2021 International Building Code® (IBC), IRC, and the International Existing Building Code®(IEBC).

Read the final plumbing and fuel gas rules and regulations from the Code of Colorado Regulations here.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Washington, D.C. – In a move to enhance energy efficiency and building resilience, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to allocate $90 million in grants to aid the implementation of stronger building energy codes for new and renovated structures. DOE will distribute the grants to 27 projects across 26 states and the District of Columbia. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm announced the funding during a visit to a Louisiana Home Builders Association training facility on Wednesday.

The International Code Council will lead a project to develop a digitization roadmap to support small and under-resourced jurisdictions in their transition to digital code enforcement processes.

“This is an unprecedented investment towards supporting community efforts to cut energy bills and reduce climate impacts. Given the resource challenges so many departments face, this funding will have a real impact,” said International Code Council CEO Dominic Sims, CBO.

Building energy codes play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of adverse events and promoting community resilience. The adoption of modernized energy codes also provides significant savings for households, with an average reduction of $751 in utility bills. The country’s 130 million residential and commercial buildings contribute approximately 35 percent of national carbon emissions. DOE estimates that updated codes from 2010 to 2040 will reduce carbon emissions by 900 million metric tons, equivalent to the annual emissions of 108 million homes. Effective implementation of adopted codes is equally critical. DOE, across 7 states studied, found that training code officials on their locally adopted codes keeps code compliance consistent which can help reduce annual energy costs by an average of 45 percent.

The Code Council will be a project partner, delivering training and other services, on seven additional projects with the following organizations:

• Energy Futures Group (Hinesburg, VT) will develop an energy code administration program for the State of Vermont.
• Elevate Energy (Chicago, IL) will develop a resource hub to support compliance with advanced energy codes and building policies such as decarbonization, benchmarking and building performance standards in Illinois.
• Colorado Energy Office (Denver, CO) will support energy code adoption, training and technical assistance at the local level in the state. 
• City of Fort Collins (Fort Collins, CO) will develop new stretch code language and provide implementation assistance and workforce training programs.
• ASHRAE (Peachtree Corners, GA) will develop and deploy education and training resources targeted to energy code officials in a nationwide, multi-year project.
• New Buildings Institute (Portland, OR) will support the development of highly efficient and resilient construction practices that address affordability and regional characteristics for the Southwest.
• Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (Atlanta, GA) will deliver technical assistance, training and workforce development strategies to stakeholders to implement Louisiana’s new energy code.  

The Code Council worked closely with state and local governments and other industry stakeholders to help formulate the proposals and identify a suite of solutions that matched community needs with the funding opportunity. Learn more about additional federal grant opportunities and how the Code Council can help at www.iccsafe.org/federalgrants.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council is the latest standards-developing organization (SDO) to receive accreditation from the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). As a global leader in providing building safety solutions, the International Code Council joins a select group of organizations that contribute to the development of National Standards of Canada for the benefit of Canadians.

“This accreditation by SCC marks a significant milestone in our journey to provide our stakeholders options and enhance our ability to achieve our mission of safety, sustainability and affordability through building science,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “It reinforces our commitment to providing the information, tools, and resources that our members rely on, building safety professionals turn to, and the public trusts.”

The International Code Council has an established presence in Canada, with three provincial building associations having chapter status and many Canadian building safety professionals participating in Code Council membership councils and accessing Code Council training. The ICC Conformity Assessment Group also has a long history of activity in Canada, facilitating North American harmonization and market access efforts for manufacturers, testing laboratories and other facilities through the accreditation of the ICC Evaluation Service to certify product listings to Canadian standards.

Additionally, the organization has increasingly collaborated with Canadian standards developers to create harmonized standards in areas of mutual interest, including the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to update and publish the CSA ICC 805 Rainwater Harvesting Systems Standard. The International Code Council also works closely with Accessibility Standards Canada to develop national accessibility rules for buildings based on the ICC A117.1-2017 Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

“We are thrilled to welcome the International Code Council as our newest accredited SDO,” said Elias Rafoul, SCC Vice-President, Accreditation Services Branch. “By accrediting organizations like the International Code Council, we ensure that industry, government, and consumers are provided with standards that meet their specific needs. Our accreditation program, guided by internationally recognized best practices and Canadian principles, guarantees equal access, diverse representation, and transparent development processes.”

View the Standards Council of Canada’s SDO membership directory here.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

About the Standards Council of Canada
Since 1970, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) has helped make life safer, healthier, more prosperous and sustainable for people, communities and businesses in Canada through the power of standardization. SCC works with a vast network of partners nationally and around the world, acting as Canada’s voice on standards and accreditation on the international stage, including as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). As the country’s leading accreditation organization, SCC creates market confidence at home and abroad by ensuring conformity assessment bodies meet the highest expectations. In all these ways, SCC opens a world of possibilities.