Skip to Main Content
Building Safety Journal Logo

Building Safety Journal - International Code Council

Main Menu

Menu

      • April, 2025 Articles
      • March, 2025 Articles
      • February, 2025 Articles
      • January, 2025 Articles
      • December, 2024 Articles
      • November, 2024 Articles
      • 2025 Articles
      • 2024 Articles
      • Deep Dives
      • Member News
      • Personal Perspectives
      • Quick Hits
      • Technical Topics
      • Press Releases
      • Sponsored Content
      • View All
      • Buildings, Construction, Architecture/Design
      • Fire, Wildland-Urban Interface
      • Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Pools/Spas
      • Energy, Solar, Green, Sustainability
      • Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation, Resiliency
  • Subscribe
    • ICC Family of Solutions
    • ICCSafe
    • myICC
    • Digital Codes
    • cdpACCESS
    • Store
    • Support

Join today!

Keep up-to-date on crucial industry news, innovative training and expert technical advice with a free subscription to the award-winning Building Safety Journal.

Subscribe

Sign In or Register Here

Provide your email address
Provide your password
Answer the math challenge
Please enter your e-mail address below. We will email you a link to reset your password.
Provide your email address
Answer the math challenge
To complete your registration, please verify your email address.
Answer the math challenge

We have emailed the address you provided. Please click the link in the email to confirm your email address.

Your account has been marked for password reset. Please change your password.
Provide your new password
Verify your new password
Answer the math challenge 6 minus four

Only registered ICC members have access to this article at this time.

Explore all the benefits that ICC Membership has to offer and become a member today to gain access to this exciting content.

If you're already an ICC member Sign In Now.

Can We Help?

  • Reset My Password
  • I Need More Help

UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute Recommends IWUIC Adoption Following Lahaina Fire

Following the Lahaina Fire in Maui, UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute recommends adoption of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.

April 11th, 2025
by Louis Bedigian
  • Technical Topics

Recognizing how modern building codes save lives and protect property from fire, earlier this year UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) released a report recommending the adoption of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code® (IWUIC) following the Lahaina Fire in Maui, Hawaii.

The 2023 fire burned more than 2,000 structures and killed 102 people, prompting Hawaii Governor Josh Green and Hawaii Attorney General Anne E. Lopez to commission the Lahaina Fire Forward-Looking Report.

Phases of the Maui Wildfire Investigation

The report (Phase Three) makes a number of critical recommendations relating to building codes, including a recommendation that county fire departments and county planning departments take a second look at the review and adoption processes for codes and standards.

The report’s authors believe that building codes/standards should be driven by public safety and effectively address wildfire risks. They also want fire prevention chiefs to prioritize and appropriately staff organizational structures to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of updated codes.

In Phase Two, Lahaina Fire Incident Analysis, the report recommends that stronger Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) codes, such as the International Code Council’s IWUIC, should be used to reduce the risk of embers penetrating building envelopes. The report also recommends the adoption and enforcement of contemporary codes and standards for construction in wildfire prone areas, which is a direct recommendation for IWUIC.

Moreover, Maui County had delayed code adoption (enforcing the 2006 editions of the International Building Code® and International Residential Code®) at the time of the fire. Per the report, current practices must be reviewed to ensure they comply with Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) 107-28, which require the latest building and fire codes to be adopted every three years.

Use Modern Building Codes for a Safer, More Resilient Built World

Modern building codes, particularly the IRC, IBC and IWUIC, help protect life and property from the deadly and destructive forces of fire.

Whether originating in an area of high winds and dry vegetation, caused by faulty wiring or ignited in an accident at home or work, modern building codes serve as a frontline defense. They ensure that buildings are constructed properly, are less susceptible to the spread of fire and are equipped with the necessary safety and warning mechanisms, such as smoke alarms and sprinklers.

By adopting modern building codes, the future of the built world will be far safer and much more resilient.

To learn more about the wildland-urban interface, visit the Code Council’s dedicated webpage here.

About the Author
Louis Bedigian
Louis Bedigian is a writer, editor and content strategist with experience producing short- and long-form content for a variety of industries. By day, he's Senior Copywriter for PR agency Brands2Life, where he transforms complex and often technical jargon into content that’s compelling and easy to digest. By night, he's Freelance Copywriter at Fundable, where he develops powerful narratives that drive brand awareness within the investment community.
Submissions
Check out upcoming BSJ topics and send us articles for consideration:
Or send by email

Want to advertise in the BSJ?
Click Here

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

  • 25 24862 MTS CLE BSJ WAD 270X270 FINAL
  • 25 24731 BSM BSJ Website 270x270 WAD FINAL
  • 25 24651 TRN WDS BSJ BSJW WAD 270x270 FINAL a
  • tile 3
  • 25 24699 PD TRN SKGA Sub Plan BSJ WAD FINAL 270 x 270 2
International Code Council
International Code Council
International Code Council
International Code Council

Subscribe to the Building Safety Journal

Subscribe

Connect with Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • X
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

ICC Family of Solutions

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Policy
b3rnM5ftxm96oy8yIDyYeZUjVdt8_yxcF5mrcpAeEJA=.html