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ICC eNews

Public Safety Knows No Borders

Demonstrating their commitment to building safety‚ international members‚ representing seven nations‚ traveled thousands of miles to attend the Code Council’s 2008 Annual Conference and International Forum. Representatives included Australia (Australian Institute of Building Surveyors), New Zealand (Building Officials Institute of New Zealand), Japan (Japan Conference of Building Administration), Mexico (Mexico’s National Housing Commission-CONAVI), Caribbean (Caribbean Community-CARICOM/CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality), Canada (Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Association) and Jordan (World Federation of Building Officials). The global collaboration during the International Forum detailed many common areas of building design methodologies‚ and allowed attendees to learn from each other to improve codes.

"I know many of you traveled thousands of miles to attend this conference," said International Code Council outgoing Board President Steve Shapiro. "That speaks volumes about your commitment to building safety. While I think we are fortunate in America to have the type of code development, adoption and enforcement system we do, I believe there is a lot of value in exchanging information and ideas with other nations. That’s why you’re here today. Regardless of what corner of the globe you hail from, you all have a passion for building safety. The International Code Council is committed to sharing with you the information and ideas to make your nations as safe as possible."

Code Council CEO Rick Weiland spoke on the importance of international collaboration as well. "The Code Council has hundreds of International members, representing nearly 50 nations," said Weiland. "I encourage you to become International Code Council members or to form an International Chapter of ICC so we can continue to work as partners for the advancement of building safety everywhere. We cooperate and collaborate with many countries on specific code issues and topics as well as in how we administer and enforce our codes. Through this collaboration, we find many common areas of building design methodologies and where there are differences, we learn from each other to improve our codes. Public safety knows no borders. You are all First Preventers who have made it your life’s work to protect the public and enhance their safety."

Demonstrating a committment to work as partners with the Code Council on the advancement of building safety in the international arena, Kevin Skauge and Geoff Mitchell from the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors accepted induction as an ICC International Chapter, and were presented with a plaque and banner. The Australian Institute of Building Surveyors is the peak professional body representing building surveyors and building inspectors locally, nationally and internationally.

International presentations included:

“The Australian Building Approvals System” presented by Geoffrey Mitchell, AIBS Board Member, Australian Institute of Building Surveyors (AIBS), Hornsby NSW, Australia
“Building Offi cials Institute of New Zealand” presented by Lennard Clapham, Chief Executive, Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ), Wellington, New Zealand
“Residential Building Code and the Sustainable Housing Development Program in Mexico” presented by Evangelina Hirata, Managing Director of the Housing Sector at Mexico’s National Housing Commission (CONAVI), Mexico City, Mexico
“The Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ International Outreach Programs” presented by Morgan Hurley, P.E., Technical Director, Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
“Various Topics on Japanese Building Standards” presented by Kimihiro Hashimoto, Director, Urban Building Division, Housing Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Tokyo, Japan
“An Overview of the Caribbean Regional Building Standard Project” presented by Jonathan Platt, former Project Coordinator, CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality, CROSQ/CDB RBS Project, St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies
“The Use of Appropriate Construction Materials and Technology for Livelihood Support in Disaster Response Projects” presented by Mario C. Flores, Director, Disaster Response Field Operations, Habitat for Humanity International, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
“Canada’s National Certifi cation Program Now Implemented and its Success” presented by Mannie Withrow, Building Inspector & President, Alliance of Canadian Building Offi cials’ Associations (ACBOA), Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
“Effect of Accreditation on International Trade” presented by Chuck Ramani, P.E., CBO, President of the International Accreditation Service, Inc., Whittier, California, USA

International delegates pose during a recess from the Code Council’s International Forum event.

Kevin Skauge and Geoff Mitchell from the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors are welcomed as an international chapter and accept an International Code Council plaque and banner from Code Council CEO Rick Weiland (right), outgoing Board President Steve Shapiro (second from right) and Deputy Vice President of International Services and Business Development Rick Okawa (left).

International delegates listen to presentations detailing common areas of building design methodologies during the International Forum.

For more photos of International delegates, click here.