ICC eNews

ICC Code Sweep in San Antonio, Includes Switch from UPC to IPC

The San Antonio City Council's vote on October 1, 2009, finalized the decision to adopt all of the International Code Council's (ICC) major codes in the nation's 7th largest city.

After months of deliberation across various factions of San Antonio's building department and other arms of its government, the decision was made to adopt the ICC's 2009 International Building Code (IBC), International Residential Code (IRC), International Existing Building Code (IEBC), International Fire Code (IFC), as well as all three Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) Codes: International Plumbing Code (IPC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), and International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC). The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) had previously been adopted.

"Our goal was to have all of the 2009 International Codes adopted since these codes correlate with each other and have already been accepted by the majority of municipalities in Texas," said Barry Archer, Assistant Director in San Antonio's Development Services Building Department Division. "We reached out to building associations and organizations regarding code review and development hearings to ensure that as many building professionals as possible were involved in the process. Twelve organizations indicated their support for the city's adoption of the 2009 IPC and IFGC in lieu of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). After 10 months of hard work, the City Council unanimously adopted each of the major 2009 I-Codes."

UPC Ousted by IPC

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that IAPMO's Uniform Plumbing Code, which has been in use there for many years, was replaced by the ICC's International Plumbing Code. Not only are ICC's codes more comprehensive, but they offer a full family of codes that are integrated which greatly facilitates adoption, adherence and enforcement.

Just as impressive and important as this sweeping adoption is the fact that the San Antonio chapters of virtually every well known and highly regarded industry organization strongly and overwhelmingly voiced their support for ICC adoption. These endorsements came from organizations that include, but are not exclusive to the Office of Environmental Policy; U.S. Green Building Council; American Institute of Architects; Building Owners & Managers Association; American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers; and the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractor Association.

"We are proud whenever ICC Codes are adopted anywhere in the U.S. or abroad," said Jay Peters, Executive Director of the ICC's PMG Group. "But we are especially honored when all three PMG codes are adopted at the same as the IBC, IRC and IFC, and in a city as prominent and dynamic as San Antonio."

Providing Comprehensive Support

These codes will become the standard which all buildings and related projects will follow effective January 1, 2010. Education and training programs are already being offered for several ICC codes with many more to follow over the next few months.

"We want to ensure that the transition process to our codes is seamless," added Peters. "Every building professional will immediately appreciate the greater quality and efficiency our superior and fully integrated codes will bring to every project."

For more information about PMG codes and related resources, contact the PMG Resource Center at 1-888-422-7233, x4PMG or pmgresourcecenter@iccsafe.org. Or visit the ICC's site at www.iccsafe.org.