From the Editors: 15 of Our Favorite Building Safety Journal Articles From 2025

For the International Code Council (ICC) and the building safety industry, 2025 was filled with significant advancements, forward-thinking projects and distinguished accomplishments. As we look back on this remarkable year, the editorial team of the Building Safety Journal has curated a list of the 15 articles that captured the essence of 2025. 

These articles showcase the year’s most compelling stories, from advancements in building safety and sustainability to the latest updates on codes, standards and industry trends. 

Check out 15 of our favorite articles below: 

Get to Know John Belcik, the Code Council’s New CEO 

The International Code Council is under new leadership, with John Belcik taking over as Chief Executive Officer as of Jan. 1, 2025. In Part 1 of our 2-part series, the Building Safety Journal spoke with Belcik to learn more about him on a personal level.

Read the article here. 

Aurora, IL is Using the International Existing Building Code to Rehab Buildings That Were Vacant for 30 Years 

Aurora, IL, Building Official John Curley uses the International Existing Building Code® (IEBC) to save owners hundreds of thousands of dollars while breathing new life into existing buildings. Curley regularly takes the time to educate both designers and owners about the IEBC and how it could be leveraged for their rehabilitation projects.

Read the article here. 

How Tribal Nations Are Leading the Way on Building Code Adoption 

With expanding construction and major renovation projects, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi sought to adopt codes that would provide their tribal citizens, businesses and visitors with the most advanced health and safety code provisions as well as the most advanced code provisions that would promote economic investment and development.

Read the article here.  

A Code Enforcement Officer Discovered an Illegal Biosafety Lab and Fought Tirelessly to Clean Up the Mess 

Few would expect to find an illegal biosafety lab in their own neighborhood, but that’s exactly what Jesalyn Harper, Senior Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Reedley, California, found in December 2022.

Read the article here.  

Maryia Lackansingh Awarded with 2024 Emory R. Rodgers Leadership in Building Safety Fellowship 

Maryia Lackansingh, Code Specialist III in the Commercial Building Division of Land Development Service for Fairfax County, Virginia, will use the Fellowship to attend the Women’s Leadership Program at Yale School of Management, a week-long on-campus leadership program designed to invigorate women leaders.  

Read the article here. 

Ask Me Anything: Your Questions About the Code Development Process, Answered 

Our very own Beth Tubbs, PE, FSFPE, Vice President of Codes, Technical Services, joined us on the Code Council’s online member community to answer member-submitted questions about the Code Council’s code development process. From who votes, to who can testify at the code hearings, here’s a recap of her answers.

Read the article here.  

The Florida Building Code Story: Building Safety, Resilience and Affordability 

For more than 20 years, the Florida Building Code has helped save lives, protect property and safeguard Floridians’ way of life by improving building resiliency and ensuring that new construction is built to withstand Florida’s challenging climate.

Read the article here.  

State of the Building Safety Industry Report Provides a Glimpse of the Future of Building Safety 

Available exclusively to International Code Council members, the report provides a snapshot of the industry as it stands today and the trends that are moving it forward, including new insights on compensation, career satisfaction, challenges and future opportunities.

Read the article here.  

Velasquez Inspires Lifelong Learning as First Woman MCP in South Texas 

Natalia Velasquez, Chief Building Official for the City of Edinburg is the first woman in the South Texas area to earn the Code Council’s Master Code Professional (MCP) designation, joining a continually growing number of women MCPs worldwide. “I studied consistently, leaned on mentors and stayed committed to learning. It was a long journey, but one I truly enjoyed,” she said.

Read the article here.  

The Pipeline with Tom Roberts: Can Science Solve Water Scarcity? (Episode 3) 

In Episode 3 of The Pipeline, Tom Roberts, sits down with Bart Bleys, Senior Researcher in water supply and drainage in buildings from Buildwise, to explore research being undertaken in water reuse and water scarcity issues in Belgium. We delve into research being undertaken on new water reuse opportunities, and discuss new innovations in education and industry awareness using Artificial Intelligence and avatars.

Read the article here.  

Courthouse Challenge: How Code Official David Rittlinger Bicycled Every Corner of North Carolina 

What started as a 108-mile ride with friends from downtown Raleigh to a Henderson coffee shop became Rittlinger’s personal challenge to visit every North Carolina courthouse by bike.

Read the article here.  

Geothermal HVAC Systems: Harnessing the Earth for Sustainable Comfort 

Geothermal HVAC systems represent a forward-thinking approach to building climate control. For code officials, inspectors and contractors, understanding the technology, its benefits and the regulatory framework is essential to supporting safe and effective installations.

Read the article here.  

Remembering Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later: Lessons Learned and How Louisiana Evolved into a Building Safety Leader 

More than 1,000 lives were lost and nearly 500,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but Louisiana legislators acted promptly to prevent future tragedies by adopting a statewide building code.

Read the article here.  

ICC Pulse Podcast Episode 65: Lahaina’s Fire and the Future of Resilient Building in Hawaii 

In this episode of the ICC Pulse Podcast, we gathered key experts to discuss the Lahaina fire and Hawaii wildfires, emphasizing building safety and codes — how they shaped the disaster, what they reveal about vulnerabilities, what could change going forward, and more. 

Read the article here. Listen to all episodes of the podcast here.  

The Coldest Commute: A Plumbing Job in Antarctica 

Dylan Smith packed his tools, thermal gear and sense of adventure for a six-month placement at the Davis Research Station, one of Australia’s three permanent research bases on the icy continent. It was a rare opportunity to test his plumbing skills in the most remote and extreme environment on Earth.

Read the article here.

The Building Safety Journal (BSJ) Weekly is a weekly newsletter from the International Code Council that covers the latest news on the building safety and construction sectors. It offers everything from in-depth technical articles about innovative technologies to quick tips, personal perspectives and more. Click here to subscribe.