Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Employs ICC’s Cloud-Based System for Code Development

Department Honored at State’s 18th Annual Innovative Technology Symposium

The International Code Council’s (ICC) cloud-based code development system — cdpACCESS — was the foundation of an award-winning process advanced by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to streamline and enhance safe construction.

The Department was honored at the 18th annual Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS) for developing cdpVA, an online process allowing stakeholders to monitor, update and develop building, fire and other related regulations, which won the Government to Business Award. Government Technology Magazine sponsors COVITS.

“Virginia is the first in the country to deploy the Code Council’s cloud-based code development solution based on cdpACCESS,” explained ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “This innovative system provides digital access to ICC model codes and standards, legislative formatting for AHJ code change proposals, a collaboration tool for working with stakeholders and, most importantly, is customized for Virginia’s specific regulatory process.

“We are hoping other states will realize the value of incorporating cdpACCESS into their operations, and the cost effectiveness of utilizing this technology,” Sims added.

Launched March 1, 2016, Virginia’s online process includes electronic versions of the code requirements, automatic legislative formatting, a collaboration tool and public comment feature, and acts as a depository for all regulatory documents including but not limited to meeting notices, workgroup information, summaries, board meetings and public hearings, gathering them from various other sources and calendars creating a single location for information.

DHCD worked with ICC and a number of stakeholders — including the Virginia Building Code Officials Association (VBCOA), Virginia Plumbing and Mechanical Inspectors Association (VPMIA), Virginia Society of Architects (VA AIA), Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) — to identify needs and test the process before going live with the new system prior to the commencement of this code update cycle which began earlier this year.

Those same stakeholders are embracing cdpVA, which: eliminates the possibility of incorrect proposals being presented at workgroups, code committees and board meetings; eliminates the possibility of losing proposals that have been submitted; significantly reduces the time to prepare and generate agendas for workgroups, code committees and board meetings; allows staff to access any given proposal at any given time; and drastically reduces mountains of paperwork and the need to stand at a copier scanning documents to create pdfs and then copying thousands of pages for every meeting.

After years of study and with input from members and stakeholders, ICC ushered in cdpACCESS late in 2013. For the first time, members with a username and password were able to collaborate, review, submit and vote (if eligible) on code change proposals and public comments, initially on the 2015 International Green Construction Code. The 2015/2016/2017 code development cycle was the first full cycle to use cdpACCESS.

ICC congratulates the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on its innovative adaption of cdpACCESS for enhancing building projects in the safe environment.

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.