We are deeply saddened by the news of the building collapse in Surfside, Florida. As officials investigate this tragedy, the Code Council will support Florida in any way it can, sharing information with our network of code officials and inspectors should Florida need additional support.
In times like this, we are reminded of the vital role building safety professionals play in making sure these incidents are rare while ensuring safe and sustainable communities. Together we will help Florida recover, and we will look to the lessons of the past to help us prepare for a better future.
Reimagining the ICC Performance Code
As interest in performance-based design grows, the International Code Council is launching a process to conduct an in-depth review of the ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities (ICCPC). An updated and expanded ICCPC could bring value to communities in the United States and globally, learning from the past two decades of increasing use of performance-based codes. The Code Council has laid out a three-phased approach, the first of which is launching with a new ICCPC portal, which includes the opportunity for stakeholders around the world to register their interest in collaborating to rethink the ICCPC.
“Performance-based design has both advanced and grown in use over the past few decades, and many standards development organizations in the United States have embraced performance-based design in their area of focus,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “And while performance criteria and methods have been incorporated into the International Building Code, the time seems right to explore the potential opportunities as well as concerns that can support the development process of a modernized ICCPC.” Read more
Texas updates statute for building, residential codes
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 738, which amends sections of Texas’ Local Government Code and establishes the 2012 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) — part of the Code Council’s family of building safety codes — as the statewide municipal statutory codes for commercial, multi-family and residential construction in Texas. As the intensity and frequency of natural hazards like hurricanes continue to increase, the adoption of both the IBC and IRC by Texas will create a uniformity that ensures maximum efficiency, resilience and safety for its citizens. Read more
First cannabis industry training accreditation issued by IAS
The ēLearn Cannabis Academy (TēCA) is the first cannabis-related training and curriculum development organization to be accredited through the International Accreditation Service (IAS) Training Provider and Training Course Developers (AC371) program. The TēCA certificate credential will recognize and validate an individual’s qualifications to work in the cannabis and cannabidiol industries. Learn more
This year, the Code Council’s 2021 Committee Action Hearings were held virtually for the first time and offered code officials, architects, builders, plumbing officials, contractors, engineers, and fire and energy conservation professionals the opportunity to provide input on the proposed code changes to the Group A International Codes. Speaking participants and those interested in listening to the proceedings were able to join virtually, and the hearings were available to view for free through a live stream. There were a total of 1,870 registrations this year, with 1,202 individuals actively participating in the hearings — an overwhelming response for our first virtual code hearing. That participation is an increase of 28 percent from the 2019 Committee Action Hearings that were held publicly in Albuquerque, N.M. And more than 2,500 code professionals from around the globe tuned in to livestream the hearings. Read more
New building regulations for low-income countries released
The International Building Code (IBC) is viewed by many as the gold-standard model of building regulation and it is used in jurisdictions throughout the world, whether mandated or not. However, the IBC, and most of the other International Codes, are mostly applicable in advanced economies with strongly regulated construction in all sectors of society, including both urban and rural settings. What options exist, then, for lower- and middle-income economies with a much wider and more complex mix of building types and highly limiting economic circumstances impacting both construction and its regulation that nonetheless have a need and desire to ensure building safety? Learn more
ICC Pulse Podcast examines building regulation guidelines
In the final ICC Pulse Podcast of the season, Judy Zakreski, Code Council vice president of global services, talks with Professor Kim Lovegrove and Professor Alfred Omenya on the newly released Good Practice Guidelines and Principles for the Development of Building Regulations in Low-Income Countries, developed by the International Building Quality Centre. Listen in
Reminder: Validate your voting representatives
This year marks the exciting start of a new code development cycle. All Governmental Member Voting Representatives must be validated this year. Governmental Member primary representatives must validate their voting representatives by August 21, 2021, in order to fully participate in the code development process. Validate credentials
Significant changes to the 2021 IEBC
A modification to Sections 603.1, 704 and 801.3 (Furniture and Equipment) of the 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) states that furniture, such as office cubicles, reception desks and small bookcases, is exempt from a permit and not intended to be a Level 2 alteration. Learn more
New member benefits and member categories are here
Starting this month, Code Council membership introduced updates to its membership categories and benefits, including a streamlined membership category selection. The Building Safety Professional and Certified Member categories have been consolidated into one, now referred to as the Building Safety Professional category. The Associate, Retired and Participating memberships will roll into one membership category — the Participating Member. Government, Corporate and Student memberships will remain the same. Those who currently hold a membership category that no longer exists will be moved into the consolidated category upon their next renewal or they can select another category at that time. Learn more
Meet Code Council member Lori Greene Manager of Codes & Resources, Allegion, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
“Code Council membership is important for me so I can keep up with what’s happening with code development as well as having access to the codes and standards. For some authorities having jurisdiction, ICC membership is a sign that I am involved with and knowledgeable about the codes.” Meet Lori
Code Council welcomes 15 new board shadows for 2021
Now in its fifth year, the Code Council’s Board Shadow Program — part of its successful Safety 2.0 initiative — provides an opportunity for emerging code professionals to “shadow” the Code Council Board of Directors at the ICC Annual Conference, to intercept and absorb information and experience real-time leadership as they observe their board mentors. This year’s selections for the 2021 Board Shadow Program are Jacinda Cheatham, Karen Courtney, Daniel Dabler, Lindsay Evans, Tela Gardner, Greg Gilbert, Kevin Gore, Ed Green, David Jackson, Serena Locke, Paul Messplay, Rachel Patterson, Celine Sarkisloo, Ayiende Toby and Lauren Wood. Each shadow will attend selected Annual Conference events with their board sponsor and serve on the Emerging Leaders Membership Council, an entry point for new, motivated members to engage in the activities of the Code Council. Learn more
Proposed committee interpretation for review, comment
A proposed committee interpretation to Section 1010.1.10 (Panic and fire exit hardware) of the 2018 International Building Code was posted for review and comment by Code Council membership on June 30, 2021. The review and comment period will end on July 30, 2021. View interp
The International Code Council and the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) released the second edition of Deck Construction: Based on the 2021 International Residential Code, which is the most comprehensive publication available for deck code compliance. The publication contains provisions for decks from the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), as well as tables and figures, commentary, photos, and illustrations that help readers better understand the intent and purpose behind the code provisions. Read more
Updating fed loan standards to 2021 IECC save money, carbon
A new analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that updating energy efficiency requirements to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code for loans backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture would save more than $1 billion in energy bills and other consumer benefits with a greenhouse gas reduction equivalent to the annual emissions from 1.4 million cars and light trucks. Read more
Donny Phipps: Upholding the high standards of professionalism
Dedicated to strengthening the credibility of the Code Council’s certification and education programs, the Professional Development Council is comprised of 14 dedicated experts, including Board Liaison Donny Phipps, building official in South Carolina, with 47 years in the industry. Meet Donny
New accessibility standards are coming. Are you ready?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved a rule that would change how it implements regulations in the Fair Housing Act by expanding the safe harbors and incorporating the newer International Building Code standards developed by the International Code Council. Essentially, multi-family housing built after March 1991 would need to be fully accessible to those with physical disabilities. Now in effect, this is a huge step forward in adopting contemporary standards developed to ensure accessible housing. But what does this mean for the U.S. construction industry? Read more
Corrosion mitigation and control in swimming pools
Now that you’ve learned how corrosion occurs and the different types, follow this advice for preventing or managing this scourge. Read more
A study examines the performance of fiber optic sensors embedded in concrete to gauge factors such as temperature, cracking and strain. A particular advantage is the ability of the sensors to provide continuous data on expansion that would otherwise be unavailable. Discover more
Video to share: ICC HERS Compliance Specialist Designation
Are you looking to improve energy efficiency in your jurisdiction? The Code Council and RESNET have partnered together to help bridge the gap between energy code and energy efficiency by offering the IECC HERS Compliance Specialist designation. Jurisdictions can leverage these third-party resources to advance energy efficiency in their jurisdictions. Watch now
Discover conformity assessment best practices
Join the Code Council’s Global Membership Council in the second of a series of four quarterly webinars in 2021 focused on global building safety issues. The upcoming free webinar, Conformity Assessment Best Practices, on July 29 includes a panel of experts from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States to discuss the challenges in effectively regulating building products to avoid disasters. Panelists will provide an overview of building product assessment and certification practices and new initiatives in their countries and facilitate a discussion about whether it is possible to achieve improved global certainty and address pressure points and problem areas in the certification of building products. Register now
Learn more on accelerating rooftop solar installations
Increasing rooftop solar across the U.S. is essential to meeting renewable energy goals, but cumbersome and inconsistent permitting processes are delaying growth and frustrating customers. Join U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm for a leadership roundtable discussion on lowering solar deployment barriers, meeting climate action targets, and increasing resiliency through automated permitting in their communities. This event will examine the benefits of instant, automated, permitting and will also feature the national launch and wider availability of an innovative, automated solar permitting software called SolarAPP+. Register now
The Connecticut Building Officials Association recently held an in-person event where they installed their new officers and honored five retiring Connecticut stakeholders with certificates in appreciation of their long-time support of the codes. Code Council Board Director Steve McDaniel and Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes attended and addressed the group as well.
The Code Council's 2021 Chapter Leadership Academy was held on June 8 and featured many informative panel discussions on topics such as community outreach, chapter management, virtual engagement, and code enforcement officer safety. Justin Edson, president of the Code Enforcement Officer Safety Foundation and Matthew Wheeler, executive director of the California Building Officials, both gave special presentations.