Obama and Christie Praise New Jersey Rebuilding Efforts; Atlantic City Convention Center Awaits the ICC
Free Online Course Offers Information on Storm Shelter Installation
Promote Building Safety Month throughout the Year
10 Reasons to Use ICC Training for Your Chapter Education
 
New Officers, Directors Sworn in for Building Officials Association of South Carolina
AAPGMI Celebrates 50th Anniversary at a Familiar Location
COAA and Smart Home America Host Annual Conference and Expo
ICC Presents at Southern California Tri-Chapter Meeting
Building on a Relationship of Innovations
Visit ICC-ES at the AIA National Convention and Design Exposition
Learn More about the ICC-ES Building Product Listing Program
 
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Obama and Christie Praise New Jersey Rebuilding Efforts;
Atlantic City Convention Center Awaits the ICC

Although they weren’t just a couple of guys on a boardwalk in New Jersey, President Obama and Governor Chris Christie recently toured shops and arcades that have been rebuilt in the seven months after Superstorm Sandy tore through the state's coastline. "The Jersey Shore is back and it is open for business," Obama also told residents in Asbury Park, adding, "We all understand there's still a lot of work to be done."

Christie told constituents he's "thrilled" with the progress that's been made since Sandy, but added that he reminded Obama that many homes and businesses have not been rebuilt. For his part, Obama said that "we're going to keep on going until we finish," and he doesn't want people thinking "that somehow we've checked a box and we've moved on." Read more from USA Today

Atlantic City casinos were forced to shut their doors on Oct. 28, 2012, during Hurricane Sandy, but protected by the dunes, the infrastructure of Atlantic City's tourist district was barely harmed by Sandy, and the casinos reopened within a week. The Atlantic City Convention Center, site of the Code Council's 2013 Annual Conference and Group B Public Comment Hearings and Expo, will host plenty of events from September 29–October 2 when the Code Council conducts its Annual Conference, including the Annual Business Meeting, comprehensive education sessions, awards presentations and a special tribute to ICC's 10th Anniversary celebration this year. Registration is open for the conference. Make plans now to join the ICC in Atlantic City!

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Free Online Course Offers Information on Storm Shelter Installation

The Code Council is offering a free online course in the ICC Online Campus to provide consumers with the information necessary to make informed decisions about installing storm shelters, which also are called safe rooms. The course provides additional information on the weather hazards which affect life safety and how storm shelters mitigate these risks. Also covered is a review of the significant features of storm shelters, including the initial investments for their installation.

Tornado storm shelters are required to house people for two hours and include minimum requirements for ventilation, sanitation facilities, a fire extinguisher, lighting and other minimal power needs. A storm shelter does not need to be a separate space or structure. A shelter can be a “hardened” room inside a building that is used normally for other purposes. For instance, schools often use a classroom or group of classrooms, a gymnasium, or library as a shelter. The walls, doors, ceilings and windows are then designed to withstand the higher wind loads and flying debris.

The 2015 International Building Code will require storm shelters in newly built schools. Additional resources for safe rooms include the ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, High Wind Safe Rooms and a Tale of Two Homes.

View the free online course today.
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Promote Building Safety Month throughout the Year

Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign offered each year to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. The campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.

This year's theme was Building Safety Month: Code Officials Keep You Safe. Each week of Building Safety Month spotlighted a specific area of building safety:

Week four BSM: Demand Rises for Sustainable and Safe Structures
Week three BSM: Building Safety Month Raises Awareness of Backyard Safety
Week two BSM: Code Officials Keep You Safe Where You Live, Work and Play
Week one BSM: ICC Commemorates Milestone in Construction Codes

Although Building Safety Month is observed in May, supporters are encouraged to promote safe and sustainable structures throughout the year. Consider these tips to promote Building Safety Month in your community:

• Promote BSM through your Chapter activities.
• Set up an information booth at city hall or a local hardware store.
• Visit a school and give a presentation about building safety.
• Post local information on your website.
• Send a news release to newspapers, and radio and television stations.
• Encourage local media to cover Building Safety Month activities and send public service announcements to local radio and television stations.
• Public information officers, city managers, or mayors could also arrange to appear on a talk/community information show through your local television or radio stations.
• Include a call-in, question-and-answer session as part of the program to generate even more interest.
• Be sure to also invite your local media to any scheduled events you plan during the month and post on your social media websites.

Click here for more information on Building Safety Month 2013.
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10 Reasons to Use ICC Training for Your Chapter Education

What do the Idaho Association of Building Officials have in common with the Code Administrators of Kentucky? Both use ICC Training for their chapter education.

Both Frank Wallace, Education Chair of the Code Administrators of Kentucky, and Bob Ankersmit, Education Committee Chair for the Idaho Association of Building Officials state chapter, spoke highly of ICC’s Training & Education classes, specifically the contract courses offered through the Hire ICC to Teach program.

Top 10 things the Idaho Association of Building Officials and the Code Administrators of Kentucky have in common:

1. They’ve hired ICC to teach chapter training since I-Codes were adopted in their jurisdictions
2. Both regularly contract with ICC Training’s Hire ICC to Teach
3. They find the course workbooks full of valuable information; and attendees can keep them for ongoing reference
4. Both think ICC’s instructors are “top-notch” and help members better understand the intent of the codes
5. They book their ICC training early (up to a year in advance)
6. Favorite courses include Accessibility, Means of Egress, and “anything related to safety in the IBC”
7. Both would “absolutely” recommend ICC Training to colleagues
8. They like that ICC Training helps members maintain credentialing
9. Both think that Hire ICC to Teach courses provide participants with correct interpretations of the codes
10. Both feel that ICC knows the codes best, since they wrote the books

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New Officers, Directors Sworn in for Building
Officials Association of South Carolina




The Building Officials Association of South Carolina (BOASC) recently held its 62nd Annual Educational Conference in North Myrtle Beach. Events included the BOASC Scholarship Golf Tournament and Auction, the 3rd Annual Wiley Causey Fishing Tournament, training sessions, expo and much more. Dwayne Garriss of the Code Council Board of Directors swore in the new Chapter officers and directors. They are (left to right): Garriss, Eddie Altman, Patrick Brown, Bob Klein, Tommy Holcombe, Past President John Wasson, Secretary Buddy Skinner, Treasurer Chris Lee, Vice President Mike Smith, President Michelle Hawkins, Denise Fincher, Rick Hallman and Chris Stover.
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AAPGMI Celebrates 50th Anniversary at a Familiar Location

On October 11, 1963, a diverse group of building professionals gathered on the campus of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, to hold the first School of Instruction and Educational Conference. On April 4, 2013, the officers, members, manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, special guests and friends of the Alabama Association of Plumbing, Gas and Mechanical Inspectors (AAPGMI) gathered at the campus again—as they have done annually since 1963—to hold the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary Educational Conference and honor the individuals who had a vision to form an organization dedicated to providing training opportunities to all building professionals in the state. Code Council CEO Dominic Sims delivered the keynote address and, pictured, presented a plaque and banner to AAPGMI President Randy Lee commemorating the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary. The conference included education sessions on the International Fuel Gas and Plumbing Codes, minimum standards for HVAC/HACR, energy code law updates, cross connection prevention and the National Lead Free Initiative.
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COAA and Smart Home America Host Annual Conference and Expo

The Code Officials Association of Alabama (COAA) teamed up with Smart Home America to host its 2013 Education Conference and Vendors Expo at the Wharf Events Center in Orange Beach, Alabama. Education sessions included Significant Changes to the 2012 International Residential Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and wall bracing and flood proofing options. Pictured at the awards dinner, Code Council Board of Directors member Bob Boyer places the Chapter President’s Pin on newly-elected COAA President Lindsey Carter of Shelby County. The other 2013-14 COAA Officers are Vice President David Hill of Tuscaloosa, Treasurer Tana Bryant of Anniston, and Secretary Al McNab of Mobile.
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ICC Presents at Southern California Tri-Chapter Meeting

Jay Elbettar, ICC Board Member and Mark Johnson, ICC Executive Vice President and Director of Business Development gave presentations about the status of ICC, ICC-ES and IAS at the tri-chapter meeting (Los Angeles Basin Chapter, Orange Empire Chapter, Ventura Chapter) on May 9, at the Rio Hondo Events Center, Downey, Calif.
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Share Your Chapter News with Us

Have a recent meeting you'd like to share with your fellow Chapters? Did you start a new program, elect new officers, have a successful training session or recognize a fellow Chapter member? Let's show our Chapter pride by sharing all the great things chapters do throughout the year in the name of public safety. Send your photos, captions and Chapter news items to chapters@iccsafe.org. We'll see that they are published in an upcoming edition of ICC eNews.

Don't get eNews? You don't have to be an ICC Member to receive it. Subscribe today.

 
For decades, the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has been the industry leader in performing technical evaluations for code compliance, providing regulators and construction professionals with clear evidence that products comply with codes and standards. Having completed hundreds of evaluations of building products, components, methods and materials, ICC-ES has a proven track record of excellence in product evaluations. This record extends to reports regarding sustainability under standards such as the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) and other green rating systems.

Building on a Relationship of Innovations

ICC-ES and Washington state-based Weyerhaeuser Company have built a strong relationship over three decades based on technical excellence shared between the two organizations. With an emphasis on quality and innovation, Weyerhaeuser relies on ICC-ES evaluation reports produced by knowledgeable engineers to introduce innovative products to the construction industry.

“As we continue to develop products, we are always thinking of what will benefit the builder, owner, industry, and whether these products remain with Weyerhaeuser or are better suited with other companies,” said Glen Robak, P.E., Weyerhaeuser Senior Engineering. “We will continue to look to ICC-ES for evaluations. This will further benefit the industry, as ICC-ES reviews and helps ensure the reliability and safety of our products.” Continue reading story

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In Other ICC-ES News
Visit ICC-ES at the AIA National Convention and Design Exposition
Learn More about the ICC-ES Building Product Listing Program
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