Building codes support disaster preparedness and resilience
Building codes and standards have long been a silent partner in the health, safety and welfare of communities and are becoming increasingly more important in society. Today’s leaders face a multitude of risks, including extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornados, straight-line winds, flooding, drought and wildfires as well as global risks from communicable disease outbreaks and environmental change. According to the Code Council’s Karl Fippinger, 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. Learn more
JC Hudgison: IECC consensus hinges on education
For JC Hudgison, CBO, Assoc. AIA, construction services center manager and chief building official for the city of Tampa, Florida, and the incoming chair of the International Code Council’s new Residential Energy Code Consensus Committee, the “consensus” part of the committee’s name will be an important focus of his leadership tenure as it helps to develop the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
“Being energy conscious in residential construction is important,” Hudgison said. “But it’s also important to keep in mind that energy codes, like other building codes, affect more than just occupants, they also affect the building industry at large. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to help steer that conversation.”
ICC-ES issues first ICC 500 storm shelter listing report
ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has issued the first Storm Shelter Listing Report to the ICC 500 Standard. The ICC 500-2020 ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters provides minimum design and construction requirements for storm shelters, containing basic occupant life safety and health requirements for these shelters including means of egress, lighting, sanitation, ventilation, fire safety and floor space. Read more
As we prepare to gather for our Annual Conference and Public Comment Hearings in Pittsburgh, your safety is of primary importance. We are monitoring the situation with COVID-19 and stand ready to implement increased safety measures if needed.
ICC board support for proposed 2021 bylaw amendments
The Code Council Board of Directors are presenting proposed amendments to the ICC bylaws for consideration and approval by ICC membership at this year’s Annual Business Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The proposed amendments accommodate current organizational needs and position the Code Council for future success. Discover more
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
The Code Council is currently accepting applications for the Solar Thermal Standard Consensus Committee (IS-STSC). As an ANSI-accredited, standards-developing organization, the Code Council is seeking applicants to serve on the IS-STSC Technical Committee in order to produce a new standard, ICC 903/SRCC 500, Solar Hot Water Storage Tanks. This committee will have primary responsibility for developing a standard to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through design, construction and testing requirements for solar hot water storage tanks intended for use in solar water heating systems. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 30, 2021. Apply now
Significant changes to distilled spirits
An addition to Sections 903.2.4.2 and 903.2.9.3 (Distilled Spirits) of the 2021 International Building Code states that a sprinkler requirement for both the manufacturing and bulk storage of distilled spirits has been imposed.
Weigh in on vulnerability-based seismic assessment
The fifth public teleconference meeting of the ICC Residential Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Standard Consensus Committee (IS-RSARC) is scheduled for Aug. 24, 2021. As an ANSI-accredited standard developing organization, the Code Council is undertaking a project coordinated with the California Earthquake Authority and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to develop an ICC standard for the seismic evaluation and retrofit of one- and two-family dwellings (including townhouses) designated as ICC 1300 — Standard for the Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings. View notice
Masters of code: Daniel Dabler achieves top code certification
Code Council member Daniel Dabler, a building inspector in Washington, shares his experience on obtaining the elite Master Code Professional designation, highlights of his professional career, and any insights or advice he has concerning the industry.
Future Chemeketa student Alyssa Stone ready to take inspection career through the roof
As she headed into high school, Alyssa Stone was sure she needed an active profession. “I don’t like sitting in classrooms where you can’t move,” said the now-17-year-old graduate, who is excited to be on her way to becoming a building inspector; she can’t wait to get out into the world and check out all that construction.
Modular construction meets changing needs of the pandemic
Modular construction has been growing in popularity among developers as a method for building multifamily housing, hotels and workplaces. As the pace of hospitality and office projects slowed in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, the process of creating prefabricated units that can be quickly assembled shifted as many developers turned to medical buildings, affordable housing, data centers and restaurants. Read more
Fireshed Registry helps address the growing wildfire threat
The Fireshed Registry is an interactive geospatial data portal providing access to data describing past, present and future trends regarding wildfire exposure to communities and forest and fuel management. The “fireshed” classification system factors in longer fire seasons and the rising size and severity of wildfires. It prioritizes large areas of wildlands — the source of fire in developed areas — rather than focusing solely on individual communities that need protection from these sources of fire. Read more
California Energy Commission adopts 2022 building code
Last week, the California Energy Commission voted to approve the 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for newly constructed and renovated buildings that will produce benefits to support the state’s public health, climate and clean energy goals. Going into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, it is the first building code in the nation to requiring electric heat pump technology for space and water heating, expanding solar photovoltaic system and battery storage standards, establishing electric-ready requirements for single-family homes, and strengthening ventilation standards to improve indoor air quality. Read more
Specifying cold-formed steel for resilient buildings
With the number of weather and climate-related disasters in the United States on the rise, the engineering and construction industries have rightly prioritized a focus on adopting methods for designing resilient buildings able to withstand hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there were 22 such events in 2020 to affect the country, with losses exceeding $1 billion each. This marks a new annual record, shattering the previous. Read more
New tool for detecting asbestos in attics and walls
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have created an on-site, time-saving technique for building inspectors to ascertain whether vermiculite insulation contains asbestos. Attics and walls may be tested in a more timely and cost-efficient manner compared to traditional methods.
Bill contains millions for construction technology
The $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by the Senate includes $100 million over five years to accelerate the deployment of digital construction technologies such as 3D modeling software and digital project management platforms. Read more
“Buildings are robust systems, they should not collapse," said National Council of Structural Engineers Associations spokesperson Ken O’Dell in an interview on the condominium collapse in Surfside. "We must now focus on learning from this, understanding the situation and putting forward future programs.”