In 2009, the Code Council Board of Directors presented a plan to streamline the ICC Code Development Process, starting with the 2009/2010 schedule that transitioned the process from two, 18-month cycles to a 12-month cycle. The 2012/2013 schedule will be the first to fully implement the change where the International Codes are distributed into two, 12-month cycles: Group A Codes in 2012 and Group B Codes in 2013.

The 2012/2013 Cycle will begin with the Group A code change deadline of January 3, 2012. While Group A Codes are identified as the International Building (IBC), Fuel Gas (IFGC), Mechanical (IMC), Plumbing (IPC) and the Private Sewage Disposal (IPSDC) Codes on the schedule (Group B Codes are the remaining I-Codes), it is very important to note that there is crossover between the code groups due to code committee maintenance responsibilities that impact the applicable cycle for which a code change must be submitted.

For example, the IBC is a Group A Code but the majority of the provisions in Chapter 9 Fire Protection Systems fall under the maintenance responsibility of the International Fire Code Development Committee as denoted by the [F] in the IBC. Since the IFC is a Group B Code, changes to IBC sections maintained by the IFC Code Committee are not due until January 3, 2013.

The converse is true, as well. The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) is a Group B Code; however, the structural provisions in the IEBC are maintained by the IBC - Structural Code Development Committee ([B] in the IEBC) which is part of Group A. As such, proposed changes to the IEBC structural provisions must be submitted by the 2012 code change deadline of January 3, 2012.

In this latter example, code change proponents must be aware that if a structural related code change is incorrectly submitted with the IEBC deadline of January 3, 2013, the proponent will be notified that the code change submittal will be held until the 2015/2016 Cycle. This holds true for any code change submittal that must be submitted with Group A but is incorrectly submitted to Group B.

A comprehensive matrix of crossover items also can be found in the posted document “Group A and Group B Code Development Committee Responsibilities.” In an effort to make this document readily available, it is also linked from several sections of the ICC website. If you have any questions, please contact the ICC Code Development Committee Secretary listed in this document.

For the upcoming 2012 Cycle, this matrix also notes that proposed changes to Chapter 1 of the IBC, IFGC, IMC, IPC and IPSDC as well as proposed updates to currently referenced standards are processed by the Administrative Code development Committee [A] which is indicated in the 2012/2013 schedule as “Admin” as a Group B Code.

Be sure to review this document as you prepare to submit code changes for the 2012/2013 Cycle.