Code Council launches “Code on a Mission” challenge
The International Code Council launched its “Code on a Mission” challenge, which aims to have over a third of the U.S. population update their building energy codes to meet or exceed the requirements of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code by the end of 2023.
The International Code Council's official 2021 Annual Business Meeting notice is available, which includes important information on the meeting, proposed amendments to the ICC bylaws and proposed member resolutions. View notice
Your chance to weigh in on performance building codes
As we continue to move forward in our effort to understand stakeholder perspectives on performance-based building codes and performance-based design, the Code Council has launched a survey to obtain widespread input from as many disciplines and professions as possible, including architects, engineers, code and fire officials, and more from across all regulated areas (e.g., energy, structure, fire, etc.) from the U.S. and around the world. Open until August 15, the survey is 30 questions and takes about 30 minutes to complete. Please make your voice heard by following this link to complete the survey. Get started
New update on ICC standards development activities
There is a long-standing relationship between construction codes and standards that address design, installation, testing and materials. The Code Council's Karl Aittaniemi provides an update on the ICC standards that are current, being revised or are under new development.
2021 International Green Construction Code released
Green codes help fulfill the mission of providing for the health, life and safety of the built environment; increasing the economic and resource efficiency of buildings; reducing the effects of climate change through more resilient buildings, communities and cities; and providing for the best buildings of today without compromising the needs of future generations. In support of continuously improving the built environment, the Code Council, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Illuminating Engineering Society released the anticipated 2021 International Green Construction Code. Read more
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. 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. Learn more
Significant changes to the 2021 IPC
A modification to Section 412.3 (Shower Control Valves to be Rated for the Installed Shower Head) of the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) states that lower flow showerheads need to be compatible with the shower control (mixing valve).
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. Get involved
Existing building code essentials: Openings in corridor walls
Corridor wall openings in any level 2 alterations work areas, including exits or corridors shared by more than one tenant in the work area, must comply with International Existing Building Code Section 805.5.
Kelly Como among the first to achieve ICC certification
Kelly Como, an administrative assistant in Inspectional Services for the city of Somerville in Massachusetts, was nervous about taking the 60-question, two-hour test to become an International Code Council certified Permit Technician. “Most of the test is common sense stuff that I had learned over the years,” said Como. “And I’ve learned a lot since I started with the city 24 years ago.” While permit tech certifications are common in the West and Midwest, in the East, only New Hampshire has them. Read more
Masters of code: Damian Jorge achieves top code certification
We asked Code Council member Damian Jorge, combination commercial/residential inspector in Maryland, to share his experience on obtaining the elite Master Code Professional designation, highlights of his professional career, and any insights or advice he has on the industry.
Building code inspectors in Covington, Ky., are utilizing new gas-detection devices that can detect and measure four different types of harmful gases — carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, dioxygen (unburnt oxygen) and lower explosive level of flammable gases — that can be harmful to residents. The new devices are part of an ongoing top-to-bottom look at improving the effectiveness of the city’s code enforcement division. Read more
Funding secured for investigation into cause of Surfside disaster
Florida has secured $22 million in federal funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to conduct an investigation into any sources of failure, provide recommendations to correct any shortcomings in building standards and inform building codes for similar structures.
The pandemic's impact on technology in the built environment
Digital technology played a critical role in getting the $11 trillion construction industry back on its feet. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need to bring building sites into the digital era through automated tools. The Code Council’s Ryan Colker discussed the safety and efficiency of virtual inspections, carbon footprint reductions, and access to building codes and standards in a digital environment during a webinar on the pandemic’s impact on technology in the built environment. Learn more
Can modular construction aid in affordable housing?
America needs affordable housing and modular construction — which offers increased speed, lower costs and reduced construction waste — could help encourage new development and enable new affordable housing that low-income families need.
The Consultative Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences issued its 2020 Moving Forward Report, looking closely at the importance of healthy buildings. The report examines how buildings can protect and promote public health, providing recommendations for President Biden and policymakers on three components of healthy buildings: indoor environmental quality, the importance of design in promoting health, and promoting knowledge transfer between building owners and public health officials. View report
Summer construction camp boosts girls' interest in the field
Thirty girls, ages 14 through 18, took part in a free construction camp created by the Iowa Department of Education designed to help girls explore multiple career opportunities in the construction industry through hands-on activities.
Report: Reducing the construction industry’s carbon footprint
Global construction accounts for 38 percent of total global emissions, with buildings equivalent to the size of Paris being built every week. Less than one percent of them are assessed to determine their carbon footprint, according to a new report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Learn more
Researchers have developed a material that they're calling "metallic wood" that has a wood-like porosity while maintaining the strength of titanium. A strip of metallic wood, about an inch long, is thinner than household aluminum foil but can support more than 50 times its own weight.
Video to share: ICC off-site construction solutions
The building industry is facing multiple challenges — workforce availability, housing affordability, job site safety, building quality and sustainability — and the expanded use of off-site construction is one approach to address these challenges.