• Alabama has now adopted its very first statewide building code—two, in fact, and both are International Codes. In mid-March, the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board voted to adopt the 2009 "International Residential Code" (IRC) and the 2009 "International Energy Conservation Code" (IECC). The new codes will take effect and begin being enforced October 1, 2012. While this is a landmark for the state of Alabama, it will still allow county and local governments to amend certain provisions within the code "as local conditions require."
• The "International Wildland/Urban Interface Code" has been put up for consideration in Austin, Texas, in another recognition of the prevalence and destructive power of wildfires and the need for strong building codes specifically designed to combat wildfires and save lives.
• Government Relation's Vice President of Federal Affairs Dave Karmol has cleared up questions for building officials regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations regarding lead-based paint use in residential structures: EPA Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention in Certain Residential Structures. While contractors are required to comply with these regulations, none of the regulations impose any responsibility for enforcement on local officials, nor are there any reporting or training requirements for local code officials. The enforcement of the regulations is by Federal action, and can include EPA, or Justice Department enforcement procedures, both civil and criminal.
• According to statistics compiled by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction employment has risen in 28 states and remained stable in two more states during the time period between January 2011 and January 2012, which are the best construction employment numbers since the recession hit. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated that Pennsylvania gained the most jobs during that period (13,000 jobs), but North Dakota showed the largest net percentage increase, with 16.1 percent. Tennessee earned second in total jobs gained and percentage increase, 12,500 and 12.0 percent, respectively.
• International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Rick Weiland, Chief Operations Officer Dominic Sims and Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes met with Robert Ivey and Paul Mendelsohn of the American Institute of Architects, where they discussed the 2012 "International Green Construction Code" (IgCC) rollout, code adoption strategies and organizing a summit in Washington, D.C., later this year or early 2013.
• Weiland and Yerkes also visited with Nicholas Majett, Director of the DC Regulatory and Consumer Affairs (DCRA) Department. Weiland was presented with the first mayoral D.C. proclamation in recognition of Building Safety Month. The DCRA staff is busy working on the adoption of the 2012 I-Codes, including the IgCC.