The BSJ Weekly will be taking a break from publication next week for the International Code Council’s Annual Conference & Public Comment Hearings from Sept. 19–26, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We'll be back in your inboxes with the latest news on Sept. 30. In the meantime, you may want to use the break as an opportunity to catch up on any recent stories you missed.
Update on existing building inspection and safety
Following the August 17 panel discussion in West Palm Beach on ensuring the safety of existing buildings, the participants generally agreed that the International Building Code’s technical requirements, which have been incorporated in the Florida Building Code, currently provide the correct level of engineering guidance and safety for the construction of new buildings and alterations.
Following a national survey on existing building maintenance inspections, the Code Council learned that communities are seeking better guidance for inspections and feel that more accountability is necessary. For most states, a uniform statewide property maintenance standard for existing buildings, administered by local governments, would provide a ready-made solution for jurisdictions. The Code Council intends to form a consensus group to develop an Appendix C (Existing Building Inspection Guide) for the International Property Maintenance Code and transform it into a national standard to provide a non-mandatory adoptable appendix of reasonable practices to ensure buildings are safe for continued use and occupancy. Read more
With the 2021 ICC Annual Conference and Public Comment Hearings in Pittsburgh just days away, we have made updates to our COVID-19 safety plan. There are no local or state restrictions in Pittsburgh on gatherings or events to date and we will make any adjustments necessary to adhere to all local, state and federal safety guidelines for the conference and hearings. View the safety plan
2021 Group A Public Comment Hearings schedule, agenda
The 2021 Public Comment Hearings will be held in person from Sept. 21–26, 2021, in Pittsburgh following the ICC annual conference. The hearings offer code officials, architects, builders, engineers, designers, construction trade associations and other interested parties a chance to publicly review proposed code changes and provide feedback for the International Codes.
This year, there are 300-plus code changes on the agenda. Visit the 2021/2022 Code Development: Group A resources webpage to view the hearings agenda, schedule and more. View agenda and schedule
The Public Comment Hearings will be conducted in-person only and there will not be any virtual participation. A webcast will be available online for those who cannot attend the hearings in person. Visit our webcast page
An addition to Section 1110.6 (Bottle Filling Stations) of the 2021 International Building Code states that where provided, bottle filling stations must now be accessible.
Weigh in on vulnerability-based seismic assessment
The sixth public teleconference meeting of the ICC Residential Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Standard Consensus Committee (IS-RSARC) is scheduled for Nov. 2, 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. Plan to attend
Masters of code: Chris Netherton achieves top code certification
Code Council member Chris Netherton, a building official in South Carolina, 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.
High School student Andrew King starts building trades club AMES TRIBUNE
A Gilbert High School student wants to start a building trades club to give his peers new kinds of volunteer opportunities and hands-on experience learning what construction careers are all about. "The world needs more construction workers, and there’s plenty of jobs there," said Andrew King. He also wants local construction companies to come talk to students and show them what work in the industry is like, including job site visits. Read more
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) recently outlined a broad menu of policy recommendations aimed at improving the way that states prepare for and deal with natural disasters. The report focuses on steps to better assess disaster spending and budgeting practices and to boost investments in mitigation. Read more
Commercial guardrails: Specifying post mounting systems CONSTRUCTION SPECIFIER
A key factor in successful commercial guardrail application is the attachment of the posts to the substructure (substrate). Many pre-engineered post attachment methods are available to meet diverse needs of commercial projects. Read more
Strategies for retrofitting school buildings for sustainability BUILDING ENCLOSURE ONLINE
Nearly half of U.S. schools date back to between 1950 and 1969. It’s not surprising that these buildings aren’t sustainable. Administrators are choosing to retrofit their schools reducing costs and energy while still providing the intended results. Here’s a look at strategies for retrofitting school buildings for sustainability. Read more