Batteries and Energy Storage Ad Hoc Committee

Batteries and Energy Storage Ad Hoc Committee
(AH-BES)

Batteries and Energy Storage Ad Hoc Committee

Established by the Code Council Board of Directors, this ad hoc committee will explore how building safety is impacted by the manufacturing, storage, use and recycling of batteries and energy storage systems.

This committee will identify any increased risk to the built environment and pinpoint gaps in codes and standards needing to be addressed to strengthen building, fire and life safety requirements for batteries and energy storage systems.

The committee will then identify and recommend areas of change to the Code Council Board for relevant codes and standards. Upon completion of its stated objectives, the committee will prepare and submit a final report of its activities and findings to the Board.

The committee will follow the Code Council’s established procedures and is expected to conduct its activities through the 2024-2026 Code Development Cycle.

ICC Codes & Standards Home | Committee List

Committee Overview

STATUS
Inactive | Sunset

MEETING INFO
BES Meeting Notices

MEMBERSHIP
BES Roster

DOCUMENTS
BES Documents

SECRETARIAT
Russ Manning, SVP
Christine Reed, Staff Coordinator
Karl Fippinger, Staff SME Fire
Kris Stenger, Staff SME Energy

Committee News Apply Published Editions FAQs

Committee News

25.08.08 | Keep engaged with the Code Related Work at the FCAC.

The code related work continues in this effort within the ICC Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC). You can find information on the FCAC page.

You are encouraged to sign up for the FCAC related workgroup as an interested party (IP). Sign up for the "Code | FCAC - Fire Code Action Committee | WG04 Energy Technologies" workgroup IP list on the ICC Applications & Interested Parties site. (Click on the "Interested Party..." button.)

25.07.12 | Ad HOC BES Committee Report is Published.

The final committee report is published for public viewing. This industry leading report provides insights from experts across the building and manufacturing industry on Lithium Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for safety in the built environment. (See BSJ Article) Report: English Version | Spanish Version

25.04.26 | ICC Board of Directors Receives Final Report.

The ICC Board of Directors was presented with the final report from the Ad Hoc Committee and sunset the committee.

23.10.20 | ICC Board of Directors Appoints Committee

The ICC Board of Directors appointed the AD HOC Committee members. (See "Membership" / "Roster" above)

Apply

The applications for this committee are closed. You may request to be added as an interested party using the following form.

Thank you for your interest in applying to this committee. Volunteers are one of the most important assets of the International Code Council. Their work on the ICC Board of Directors, committees and councils is directly related to the success of ICC. It takes the time and expertise of many individuals working through the numerous ICC committees to shape the Code Council into the world-class membership organization that exists today.

Published Editions

FAQs

2024 IECC Appeals

The rigorous, transparent development process for the International Energy Conservation Code^® meets the fundamental principles of Office of Management and Budget Circular No A-119 (Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities), a key principle of which, is an appeals process.

Read on to view information about appeals that have been made to the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code.

IECC Feedback Form

Submitted Appeals

ICC Board of Directors Hearing

Appeals Hearings

IECC Info and Committees

FAQs

April 2024

2024 IECC Appeals – IECC Feedback Form Click here.
2024 IECC Appeals – ICC Board of Directors Actions Report Read here.

March 2024

2024 IECC Board of Directors Final Decision Read here.
2024 IECC Appeals Board Report Now available.
2024 IECC Appeals – ICC Board of Directors Hearing More info.

February 2024

2024 IECC Appeals – Hearing Schedule (Speaking Order) Now available.
2024 IECC Appeals – Staff Analyses Now available.
2024 IECC Appeals – Viewpoints Now available.

January 2024

2024 IECC Appeals – Notice of Hearing The International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC) Notice of Hearing is now available. Download it here. Updated 2/16/24
2024 IECC Appeals – Appeals Notice Read an update on the 2024 IECC appeals process and download the Appeals Notice. Download notice

November 2023

2024 International Energy Conservation Code Update: Appeals Deadline Extended and Next Steps
Includes information on 2027 Next Steps and 2027 Call for Committees. Read article

2024 IECC APPEALS – SUBMITTED APPEALS

In accordance with CP-01 Appeals process, the International Code Council has received appeals on the 2024 IECC (Commercial & Residential) committee actions. The appeal deadline was January 2, 2024 (see BSJ Notice). Details on the appeals process can be found on the ICC Corporate Governance web page. Further information on the 2024 IECC Appeals Process Overview can be found here.

The nine appeals received are as follows:

Appeals #1-4 – BOMA/NMHC

Appeals #5-6 – Region VI

Appeal #7 – AGA

Appeal #8 – APGA

Appeal #9 – AHRI

2024 IECC APPEALS – BOARD OF DIRECTORS HEARING

Pursuant to CP-01, the International Code Council Board of Directors shall review each of the appeals and the report of the Appeals Board and shall take appropriate action on each of the appeals. With respect to the appeals filed in connection with the 2024 IECC, the Board will hear from interested parties, in accordance with the guidelines in the “Procedures for Interested Parties to Present to ICC Board of Directors.” The Board meeting will be held at 8:00 AM PT on Monday, March 18, 2024.

For those who are interested in watching the proceedings, a YouTube link is available below, and will go live Monday, March 18 at 8:00 AM PT.

Procedures for Interested Parties to Present to ICC Board of Directors

Presenting to ICC Board of Directors

Hearings Webcast

The 2024 IECC Appeals ICC Board of Directors Hearing occurred on March 18, 2024.

2024 IECC APPEALS – APPEALS HEARINGS

Notice of Hearing

The Appeals Board has decided to consider the appeals in four groups as noted below.

Scope and Intent (AGA, APGA, NMHC/BOMA, Region VI)
Consensus Building Approaches (AGA, APGA, Region VI)
Procedural Specific Issues (AHRI, APGA, Region VI)
Subject Specific Issues (AHRI, NMHC/BOMA, Region VI)

Hearing Schedule (Speaking Order)

Hearing Schedule by Group
See the Hearing Schedule by Group by clicking here ▼

Appeal Basis	Hearing Date/Time	Category Related Issues
Scope and Intent	[Day 1] February 21 at 7 am Pacific Time	Whether the IECC residential and commercial scope and intent statements permit provisions aimed at encouraging decarbonization of buildings or greenhouse gas reduction to be placed in the main code text or require such provisions to be placed in appendices Whether specific code changes fall within scope based on definition of terms “building,” “occupant,” or “occupancy”
Consensus Building Approaches	[Day 2 Part A] February 22 at 7 am Pacific Time	Whether the consensus building approach utilized by the IECC residential consensus committee was consistent with ICC’s policies
Procedural Specific Issues	[Day 2 Part B] February 22 following the completion of Day 2 Part A.	Committee balance / membership Calling of votes (Robert’s Rules) Cost analysis approach Commenting (substantive change procedures)
Subject Specific Issues	[Day 3] February 23 at 7 am Pacific Time	Cost-effectiveness Increasing efficiency Principle of not prioritizing any fuel sources Consistency with other codes, including the IBC Feasibility of implementation Any other subject specific issues

Submitted Viewpoints
See all of the viewpoints by clicking here ▼
See appeals by number in the Submitted Appeals section.

Viewpoint Submitted	Pertains to
350 Contra Costa Action – Farber	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
AIM Associates – Beeler	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Alliance for Transportation Electrification – Tempchin	In Opposition: 3, 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy – Waite	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
American Gas Association – Murray	In Support: 7 Day 1, Day 2
Atmos Energy Corporation – Tate	In Support: 7 Day 1, Day 2
CAIOUs – Surana	In Opposition: 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
California Electric Transportation Coalition – Corby	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
City and County of Denver – Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency – Anderson	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Drive Electric Dayton – Hankins	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Edison Electric Institute – Rosenstock	In Opposition: 3, 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) – Cullen	In Opposition: 3, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Energy Solutions – Burk	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
EV Charging for All Coalition (EVCAC) – Warheit	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Leading Builders of America – Crone	In Opposition: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. – Jouaneh	In Opposition: 2 Day 1, Day 3
Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia – Tolleson	In Support: 8 Day 1, Day 2
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) – Holland	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
National Glass Association, Aluminum Extruders Council – Culp	In Opposition: 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2
National Multifamily Housing Council – Johnson – 1	In Support: 6 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
National Multifamily Housing Council – Johnson – 2	In Support: 3, 6 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
National Propane Gas Association – Swiecicki	In Support: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
New Buildings Institute – Rabe	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
ONE Gas Inc – Rhodes	In Support: 7 Day 1, Day 2
Philadelphia Gas Works – Zuk	In Support: 8 Day 1, Day 2
RESNET – Baden	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Rinnai – McGuire	In Support: 8 Day 1, Day 2
RMI – Kocher	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Bunger	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Collignon	In Opposition: 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2
Self – Guhl	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Guinan	In Support: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Kostka	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Penniman	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Swoape	In Support: 8 Day 1, Day 2
Self – Van Sickle	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Vijayakumar – 1	In Opposition: 5, 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Vijayakumar – 2	In Opposition: 6 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Self – Vijayakumar – 3	In Opposition: 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Southeast Sustainability Directors Network – Livingston	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) – Meyers	In Opposition: 3, 4, 6 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
SWTCH Energy, Inc. – Cohen	In Opposition: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Tesla, Inc – Sanchez	In Opposition: 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Town of Eagle – Koppel	In Opposition: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Staff Analyses
See Staff Analyses by clicking here ▼

Hearings Webcast

The 2024 IECC Appeals Hearings occurred over three days, February 21 – 23, 2024.

2024 IECC APPEALS – PRESENTATIONS

Procedures for Interested Parties to Present to Appeals Board

Presentation Requirements

Slides should use 16:9 Ratio
Images on slides are recommended to be at least 5" x 7" for visibility on the screen
Please do not include audio or video files
Text size is recommended to be at least 32pt (larger if possible) for visibility on the screen

2024 IECC APPEALS – BOARD MEMBERS

David Spencer, CBO, ACO
Appeals Board Chair

Mr. Spencer has been a Building Official in Washington since 2011, with over 30 years overall within the construction industry with 18 years in the code compliance industry. He has worked for five different municipalities throughout the state of Washington, and is currently in a State Operations Manager Role. Currently serving as International Code Council Vice President and served on the Board of Directors from 2017 to present.

Thomas Allen, CBO, MCP,
CFM, LEED AP

Mr. Allen is the Building Official for Orange County, FL. He has over 42 years’ experience in the construction industry, with over 29 years in the enforcement side of the industry. He has worked as an inspector, plans examiner, fire inspector, floodplain manager, building official, fire marshal, and ICC Regional Manager for Government Relations. He is currently serving as Director of the Building Officials of Florida (BOAF) and is the Immediate Past President of the ICC Gulf Coast Region IX.

Alex “Cash” Olszowy III

Mr. Olszowy joined Lexington, Kentucky’s Division of Building Inspection in 1997 as a Residential Inspector, eventually becoming a supervisor, ultimately retiring as the Director of Code Enforcement for Lexington in October 2023. He holds Kentucky’s highest level of certification as a Level III Plans and Specifications Inspector. He is a Past President of the International Code Council, Board of Directors, serving on the Board from 2010-2017. He has served as a moderator at the code development hearings.

Michael Shannon, PE, CBO

Mr. Shannon was appointed Development Services Director for the City of San Antonio, Texas in May 2017 and is currently the city’s Building Official. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Texas in the discipline of Fire Protection Engineering, holds multiple ICC certifications including Certified Building Official, and is a Texas state-licensed Code Enforcement Officer. He has served multiple times on the ICC IBC-Fire Safety and IBC-General Code Development Committees.

Purview of the Appeals Board

The appeals board shall only consider matters of process and procedure and to sustain an appeal must determine there was a material and significant irregularity in the process or procedures.

Issues of preemption are legal in nature, and thus are not addressed in the appeals process. Preemption issues are addressed in accordance with CP 49 Conforming Codes and Standards to United States Federal Law and International Law.

CP 01 6.3.7 – Review by the Appeals Board shall be limited to matters of process and procedure. The Board of Appeals shall not render decisions on the relative merits of technical matters.

CP 01 6.3.8 – In order to sustain the appeal, or any part thereof, the Appeals Board must find that there was a material and significant irregularity of process or procedure.

2024 IECC APPEALS – PROCESS OVERVIEW

Summary Overview

The appeals process is defined in CP-01. The 2024 IECC appeals process will use CP-01 following the prescribed procedures utilizing section 4.1 as the pathway for processing appeals, as approved by the Code Council Board of Directors.

The following main milestones exist based on that approach:

The public can appeal against the final decisions made by the IECC committees (commercial and residential) at the conclusion of the Final Balloting. [CP-01 Section 3.1]
The appeal will be placed before the Appeals Board within 30 days of the receipt of the appeal. [CP-01 Section 4.1]
The appeals board must be established. [CP-01 Section 5]
Note: This can occur concurrently with the earlier steps.
ICC must notify all interested parties that the appeal was received within 30 days. [CP-01 Section 6.1]
The Appeals Board Chair (ICC Board Vice President) will schedule an appeals board hearing to review the appeal within 30 days of the appeals board receiving the appeal. [CP-01 Section 6.2]
The Appeals Board conducts the appeal hearing. [CP-01 Section 6.3]
The Appeals Board renders a recommendation to the ICC CEO. [CP-01 Section 7.1]
The ICC CEO submits the Appeals Board report and recommendations to the ICC Board of Directors. [CP-01 Section 7.2]
The Board of Directors reviews the appeal(s) and provides a decision to the ICC CEO. [CP-01 Section 7.3]
The ICC CEO notifies the appellant and parties of the Board decision. [CP-01 Section 7.4]

Summary Appeals Steps Graphic

Questions?

Appeals Hearings FAQs

Contact Dr. Russ Manning, Senior Vice President of Technical Services, with additional questions at rmanning@iccsafe.org.

International Code Council Initiative Supports the Buildings Breakthrough to Advance Sustainable and Resilient Buildings

The launch of the Buildings Breakthrough at COP28 is supported by 28 countries, including the United States and China.

International Code Council Partners with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Address Water Scarcity and Public Safety

Through this agreement, the Code Council will provide leadership and resources to regulate and educate on the importance of responsible management of wastewater systems.

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International Code Council Initiative Supports the Buildings Breakthrough to Advance Sustainable and Resilient Buildings

Dubai, UAE– During the thematic day for Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport held on December 6 at the global climate conference, COP28, the Buildings Breakthrough was formally launched. The Buildings Breakthrough is a cross-sectoral campaign to support governments in the universal adoption and implementation of near-zero emission and resilient buildings by 2030. It is supported by 18 private-sector led initiatives, including the Building Capacity for Sustainable and Resilient Buildings Initiative led by the International Code Council.

“The International Code Council has long recognized the essential role buildings play in our world and the impact they have on the sustainability and resilience of people and the planet,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Dominic Sims, CBO. “We applaud the attention global leaders have placed on supporting advances in the sector and stand ready to assist in the development and implementation of the solutions that governments and the building industry need to achieve climate adaptation and mitigation goals.”

Because of the work that the International Code Council has done to advance the importance of employing a holistic approach to the building safety regulatory ecosystem and the essential need for capacity building, the organization was recognized during the official launch, along with representatives from the supporting countries and other supporting initiatives.

The focus on the adoption and enforcement of modern building codes was reinforced by White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi during the launch. Zaidi said of the U.S. participation in the Breakthrough, “We’re working just like many of you across jurisdictional levels, providing grants through the president’s infrastructure law to state and local governments to level up their capability to design standards, implement and enforce them. Because codes are only as good as the enforcement that follows.”

The next steps under the Breakthrough include developing priority actions to drive progress. This action setting will occur at a first of its kind meeting of building and construction related ministers in March 2024 in Paris, France. While building and energy codes have already been recognized as a key component of achieving the Breakthrough’s objectives, the International Code Council has developed a brief released at COP on Building Codes and the International Breakthrough Agenda providing specific opportunities to leverage existing code solutions.

The International Code Council-led capacity building initiative recognized today is also supported by Architecture 2030, ASHRAE, Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA), Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), HOK, International Building Quality Center (IBQC), International Living Future Institute (ILFI), Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA), +LAB Architects, ResALLience, Saint-Gobain, and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Photo courtesy of COP28

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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.

International Code Council Partners with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Address Water Scarcity and Public Safety

Washington, D.C. – On December 5, 2023, the International Code Council signed a Decentralized Wastewater Management Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its partner organizations. Through this agreement, the Code Council will provide leadership and resources to regulate and educate on the importance of responsible management of wastewater systems.

One in five homes in the U.S. relies on private decentralized wastewater systems. The MOU is a continuation of a decades-long collaboration between the Code Council and the EPA which included information sharing on system technology, training initiatives, public awareness campaigns about septic system care and maintenance, and the development of materials on decentralized wastewater systems.

“We are honored to join in this partnership and look forward to working collaboratively to help implement wastewater and sanitation best practices,” said Code Council Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Executive Director, Matt Sigler. “When this type of wastewater system fails, the results are catastrophic, often polluting drinking water and creating public health hazards. Changes in flood plains like rising sea levels brought on by a changing climate are exacerbating these system failures and they must be addressed.”

The Code Council facilitates the development of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code® (IPSDC), which has been adopted in communities across 17 U.S. states and by Puerto Rico and Guam, required by the General Services Administration, and recognized by FEMA’s Community Rating System, which provides federal flood insurance discounts for communities undertaking disaster mitigation measures. The Code Council is currently improving upon the existing code through development of the ICC 825 – Private Sewage Disposal Systems Standard, a new international standard that builds on the IPSDC to integrate newer technologies and methods, and most importantly, the impacts of a changing climate.

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The International Code Council Releases 2024 International Codes®

Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council’s 2024 International Codes® (I-Codes) are now available for order in print and digital formats. As part of the Code Council’s digital transformation strategy to enhance the user experience, the updated I-Codes® have undergone substantial design and formatting changes, resulting in a revolutionary design that improves both readability and sustainability.

The recently released I-Codes include the 2024 editions of the:

International Building Code®
International Existing Building Code®
International Fuel Gas Code®
International Mechanical Code®
International Plumbing Code®
International Private Sewage Disposal Code®
International Property Maintenance Code®
International Swimming Pool and Spa Code®
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code®
International Zoning Code®
ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities®

The remaining 2024 International Codes will be released in early 2024.

“We are continuously looking for ways to improve the user experience,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “The 2024 I-Codes enhance safety, increase affordability and incorporate the latest advancements in building science, and we are looking forward to users engaging with the new format.”

Other notable changes to the 2024 I-Codes include QR codes replacing marginal markings and a new NFC tag pilot program. More information on all of the style changes made to the I-Codes can be found here.

Visit here to preorder or purchase the 2024 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.

2023 Sponsor Options

Sponsorship Options

The International Code Council is grateful for the companies and organizations that are making building safety a priority by helping to sponsor Building Safety Month.

Become a Sponsor

Sponsorship for the 43rd Annual Building Safety Month provides unmatched, high profile opportunities to demonstrate your organization's commitment to building safety. Sponsorship will showcase your message and highlight your commitment to individuals and organizations in building code development, catastrophe management, emergency management, fire safety, green and energy construction, home improvement, home inspection, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, recreational safety, standards and testing, and more.

Read the 2023 ICC Visibility Prospectus for all International Code Council sponsorship, advertising and exhibiting options, including Building Safety Month, the 2023 Annual Conference, Learn Live and more.