Steve Shapiro (right) of Hampton, Va., moderates the International Energy Conservation Code Committee Action Hearing in Dallas. View the 2013 Report of the Group B Hearings.

2013 GROUP B PUBLIC COMMENT HEARINGS

cdpACCESS Preview and Online Voting Test Anticipated as part of Group B Hearings
Following Group B Public Comment Hearings Oct. 2-10 in Atlantic City, N.J., the Code Council expects to conduct tests of the online voting process for a handful of proposed changes to the 2015 International Codes. The test is part of the advancement of cdpACCESS, ICC's initiative to create the code development process of the future. Eligible Voting Members who attend the hearings will vote in person, as per usual, when the moderator calls for a vote. This vote will determine the final outcome. Following the hearings, eligible voters can cast their votes on the selected code changes online about 10 days after the hearings. Read more.

Register or Revalidate Voters Online Today
The Code Council requires that all Governmental Member Voting Representatives are registered and validated to be eligible to vote on code changes. All Primary Member Representatives need to designate or revalidate their Governmental Member Voting Representatives (GMVR) online by August 30, 2013, to be eligible to vote at the 2013 Annual Business Meeting and/or Group B Public Comment Hearings in Atlantic City. Check your GMVRs' status online today.

July 15 is the Deadline for Public Comments
The Code Council prefers to receive all submittals of Public Comments to the Group B Codes as a document(s) attached to an email. Each Public Comment should be saved as a separate document. Attach your separate Public Comment to an email, and send it to the ICC District Office as shown on the back page of the Public Comment Form. Click here for more information.

Join Us in Atlantic City
As a building safety professional, this is your opportunity to have a voice in the code development process. Your participation in the Group B Public Comment Hearings, October 2-10, in Atlantic City, N.J., will help lead to safer construction, saved lives and reduced property losses. Click here for more information on the Code Council's 2013 Annual Conference and the Group B Public Comment Hearings.


STANDARDS UPDATES

Draft of ICC 500-2014 Available for Review
The Public Comment Draft of ICC 500-2014 Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters is available on the Code Council website for review. ICC 500 provides minimum design and construction requirements for shelters that provide a safe refuge from storms that produce high winds, hurricanes and tornadoes. The ICC Consensus Committee on Storm Shelters (IS-STM) has held five public meetings to consider public proposals. ICC 500-2014 is intended to be completed for reference in the 2015 International Codes. The 2015 International Building Code, developed by ICC Members, will require storm shelters in newly built schools.

IS-RHW Committee Considers Ballot Comments
The ICC Consensus Committee on Residential High Wind Construction (IS-RHW) met earlier this month to consider comments from the ballot of the Committee Actions Report on proposals submitted to ICC 600-2008 Standard for Residential Construction in High-Wind Regions, and comments submitted on the first Public Comments Draft for the development of ICC 600-2013. Read the meeting notice and agenda.

A117.1 Committee Meeting Scheduled Next Month
The ICC (ASC) A117.1 Consensus Committee on Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities will meet July 15-19 at the U.S. Access Board office in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this meeting is for the committee to consider proponents and committee ballot comments on the committee’s actions taken on public and committee proposals submitted to the 2009 edition of ICC A117.1. Click here to read the meeting notice.


PLAN REVIEW SERVICES

Hello, Long-Time Friends
ICC Plan Review Services has a Long Relationship with Cedar Park, Texas
The Code Council provided its first plan review for the Cedar Park, Texas, Building Inspection Department staff (pictured) in August 2000. Since then, ICC has reviewed more than 320 projects for the jurisdiction with fees starting at $240. The projects have included all of the occupancies in the I-Codes except for high-hazard and utility/ miscellaneous. Need assistance in your jurisdiction? Learn more about how ICC's code experts can provide you with the highest quality plan reviews.

Paarlberg honored by National ADA Symposium. ICC Senior Staff Architect Kim Paarlberg (pictured) was honored by the National ADA Symposium during the annual event last month in Denver. Paarlberg was recognized for her outstanding commitment and contributions to the symposium since 2009. She has conducted training sessions on various topics over the years, including the coordination between the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (ADAAG) and the International Building Code (IBC); and accessibile means of egress where the IBC is referenced in the 2010 ADAAG. This year's ADA Symposium was the second largest on record with 544 attendees.

The American Lumber Supply Committee is alerting code officials about a non-ALS stamp found on wood in North Carolina. Examples of accredited ALS stamps are available online. Section R502.1, Indentification, of the 2012 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings states: "Load-bearing dimension lumber for joists, beams and girders shall be identified by a grade mark of a lumber grading or inspection agency that has been approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC PS 20. In lieu of a grade mark, a certificate of inspection issued by a lumber grading or inspection agency meeting the requirements of this section shall be accepted."

Task Force makes 33 proposals for creating safer and more resilient NYC buildings, including the adoption of the IEBC. The New York City Building Resiliency Task Force was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to make recommendations for creating safer and more storm resistant structures. The Code Council's Dorothy Harris served as an expert on the task force that, among the proposals, recommended the adoption of the International Existing Building Code. Read a summary of the report.

CAC joint meeting concludes today. The ICC Building, Fire and Sustainability, Energy & High Performance Code Action Committees are concluding a joint meeting today in Schiller Park, Ill. The purpose of the meeting was for committee members to review the results of the Group B Committee Action Hearings in Dallas and to prepare Public Comments that are due July 15. The ICC Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code Action Committee is developing public comments via teleconference.

Ad Hoc Committee on Healthcare meets July 9-10. The ICC Ad Hoc Committee on Healthcare will meet July 9-10 in Schiller Park, Ill., to review the results of the Group B Committee Action Hearings in Dallas and to prepare Public Comments that are due July 15. Read the meeting notice.