This weekend, millions of Americans will celebrate Labor Day. More than just a favorite cookout holiday, Labor Day recognizes and honors the labor movement, celebrates the achievements of workers, and pays tribute to the creators of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom and leadership. Americans have found fulfilling careers in construction for generations, and our nation was literally built by hard-working construction workers. This Labor Day, the Code Council continues the decades-long tradition of honoring the American worker, especially those in the trades, and recognizes the opportunities of the next generation of craft professionals.
Devastating Hurricane Ida still causing damage in the south
In the wake of Hurricane Ida, the International Code Council reminds its members and partners to remain alert to continuing risks from the remnants of this devastating storm. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding continue to spread over much of Louisiana, Mississippi and western Alabama. Dangerous and life-threatening winds, including tornadoes, continue to pose a threat to people and communities. Read more
Government assistance for code organizations following Ida
Code officials are reminded that the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently announced a new disaster policy specifically aimed at providing much-needed assistance for code officials and floodplain managers during disaster response and initial recovery for up to 180 days following a major disaster declaration. This policy offers reimbursement for critical community functions such as building code administration, code enforcement, floodplain management administration and enforcement, and conducting substantial damage surveys inspections in affected communities. Learn more
Request help, volunteer through the Disaster Response Alliance
As an aid to community disaster response, the Code Council and the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations sponsor the Disaster Response Alliance, a national database of skilled, trained and certified building safety professionals who are standing by and ready to assist communities in need with post-disaster safety assessments, building damage assessments, inspections and surge support for other code-related functions. Request assistance
The Disaster Response Alliance is always looking for volunteers. Architects, engineers and building safety professionals such as plans examiners, permit technicians and building inspectors willing to make a difference during times of disaster are encouraged to apply. Put your specialized skills, knowledge or abilities to work as a second responder resource. Volunteer now
Building codes support disaster preparedness and resilience
Building codes and standards continue to provide a safe structural foundation for communities as a trusted and proven resource and are regularly evolving to meet the challenges of these dynamic threats.
New certificate programs on conformity assessment unveiled
The International Accreditation Service (IAS) and California State University, Dominguez Hills have developed a four-module certificate program on accreditation, standardization and conformity assessment for IAS clients, Code Council membership, assessors and subject matter experts. Scheduled for October, the classes cover conformity assessment principles, global issues in conformity assessment, the world of standardization, common elements in management systems, certification and accreditation management systems and standards, risk analysis in conformity assessment, and metrology in conformity assessment. Class size is limited to 30 students and registration must be completed by Oct. 1, 2021. Join us
First ICC-ES ELC issued for wood screws
ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has issued the first Canadian listing report (ELC) to CSA O86 for Wood Screws to structural building product supplier Simpson Strong-Tie. The CSA O86 standard, referenced in the National Building Code of Canada, provides criteria for the structural design and evaluation of wood structures or structural elements. Read more
At this year’s Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, the Code Council will host an ICC Board of Directors candidates forum on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions beforehand to be asked to the 2021 candidates.
Annual conference ride expanded to a virtual event
This year, the 16th Annual Bob Fowler Motorcycle Ride has been re-imagined to a virtual ride/walk/run event. Suggested 5K routes will be provided to those who want to participate at the ICC Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. Others around the world, can participate virtually in their areas. Proceeds of the participation fee will also go toward funding Code Council scholarships and Safety 2.0 programs. Learn more
Significant changes to corridor and balcony sprinklers
A modification to Section 903.3.1.2.2 (Corridor and Balcony Sprinklers) of the 2021 International Building Code states that sprinkler protection must now be extended into corridors and balconies used in the means of egress.
Martial arts help Texas building inspector Doug Grissom
Doug Grissom, building inspector for the city of Allen, recently was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame and continues to strive to become both a better martial artist and a leader in life.
John Delesandro: Upholding the 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 Education Committee Chair John Delesandro, supervisor of enforcement for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, with 27 years in the industry. For Delesandro, the most satisfying accomplishment with his work on the Professional Development Council has been "helping the board and staff create and refine the Preferred Provider Program. Aside from that, I look forward to helping create new educational programs to bring new folks into code enforcement." Read more
The Federal Emergency Management Agency posted fiscal year 2021 funding notices for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance grants, totaling $1.16 billion. These competitive mitigation grant programs provide states, local communities, tribes and territories with funding for mitigation activities to help build a more resilient nation and reduce disaster suffering. The application period will open on Sept. 30, 2021, and close at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 28, 2022. Read more
NIST assembles expert investigation team for condo collapse
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced the expert team members who will conduct a technical investigation into the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida.
Predicting condensation performance of custom curtain wall [Construction Specifier]
Condensation on glazed areas of building envelopes may seem innocuous—at worst an annoying interference with outdoor views due to glass fogging. However, in addition to being unsightly, it can be unsanitary and over long periods of time, damage adjacent building materials through staining, mold growth, or rot that can lead to costly remediation and even lawsuits over alleged toxic reactions. It can be of major importance in condensation-critical applications, where high levels of humidity are regularly encountered or are particularly detrimental, such as hospitals, laboratories, and museums. Learn more
To help search the most dangerous sections of the collapsed Champlain Towers South building, “throwable robots” were overnighted to the Miami-Dade Fire Department to assist in navigating the treacherous terrain.
Integrate local amendments into a single publication
Join our in-house experts for a discussion on Sept. 9 — Exploring Custom I-Codes — and learn how the innovative Custom I-Codes solution can simplify code access for building officials and improve transparency. New from the Code Council and General Code, Custom I-Codes lets you seamlessly integrate the International Codes with your local amendments, combining all the different provisions that you need to comply with in a single, easily accessible source. Read more