The 2013 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, include the following parts:

• 2013 California Administrative Code, Title 24 Part 1
• 2013 California Building Code, Title 24 Part 2 (Includes the California Historical Building Code, Part 8 and California Existing Building Code, Part 10)
• 2013 California Residential Code, Title 24 Part 2.5
• 2013 California Electrical Code, Title 24 Part 3*
• 2013 California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4**
• 2013 California Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5**
• 2013 California Energy Code, Title 24 Part 6
• 2013 California Fire Code, Title 24 Part 9
• 2013 California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24 Part 11 (CALGreen)
• 2013 California Referenced Standards Code, Title 24 Part 12

Key Changes for Energy Conservation Discussed in New Full-Color Guide

Early bird discount offered through July 31

In Significant Changes to the 2012 IECC and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2010, expert authors explore commercial and residential energy conservation through efficiency in envelope design, mechanical systems, power and lighting systems, and new materials and techniques. This joint publication from ICC, ASHRAE and Cengage Learning features a unique layout allows you to quickly and easily identify the most important of the extensive changes in the newest editions of the code and standard. Expert discussion and detailed illustrations are included for each change to provide a valuable tool that will assist with planning, designing, building or inspection. Receive the Early Bird price when you order by July 31.

SFPE and ICC Publish Guide for Fire Safety in Very Tall Buildings

Designers, builders and all engineering professionals will find Engineering Guide: Fire Safety for Very Tall Buildings to be a valuable tool for understanding fire protection issues in very tall buildings. The focus is on fire and how related events affect life safety and fire fighter safety. Topics include: risks, unique challenges, egress, smoke management, fire fighter needs, structural fire resistance design, site infrastructure, commissioning, inspection, maintenance, and change of occupancy/use.

Training & Education Upcoming Events

The International Code Council Training and Education Department offers a comprehensive educational experience for the Building Code Professional community. ICC Training & Education focuses on the I-Codes and provides an opportunity for participants to earn much needed Continuing Education Units. Participants learn technical code competence by acquiring basic skills and best practices from leading experts in the field. The following highlights upcoming events from the ICC Training & Education department.

ICC Certifications Prove Valuable to Members and Certificants

According to a recent survey, ICC certifications are widely held and considered valuable to a majority of certificants. More than 2,400 Members and certificants provided feedback on ICC's certification program. The value of ICC certifications are equal to or greater than the cost, according to 83 percent of survey respondents. Forty-five percent of respondents said they were likely to pursue certification even if it were not required for their job. Typically certifications follow a progression, depending on the number of certifications held. Among survey respondents, nearly half (48 percent) hold up to three certifications. And the most commonly held certification is the Residential Building Inspector. The survey was conducted in early 2013 to understand ICC Members' certification needs. Learn more about ICC's certification program.

ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria Now Available in the ICC Online Store

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) acceptance criteria (ACs) are now available for purchase. In the spirit of continued transparency, ICC-ES and the International Code Council (ICC) have included all approved ICC-ES ACs in the selection of publications available in the ICC online store. This allows ICC-ES to protect its intellectual property and preserve the integrity of its AC development process, which ultimately results in maintaining the highest quality evaluation reports in the industry. Customers who purchase an AC or compendium of ACs will receive four complimentary updates if the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee, comprised of code officials from jurisdictions across the U.S., revises an AC. Pricing includes a discount for ICC Members.

“We are the only trusted source of acceptance criteria due to our unparalleled development process,” said ICC-ES President Shahin Moinian. “That is just one reason our competitors say ‘acceptance criteria for any given subject should continue to be developed and maintained by a single agency.’ ICC-ES is that agency — the one with the most expertise and experience in the industry.”

ICC-ES develops acceptance criteria for new and innovative products because the International Codes do not have any specific provisions for such products, due to the lag time that exists between product innovation and new product recognition in the code. In addition, even if a product is mentioned in the code, the code requirements may be so vague that an acceptance criteria is still needed.

Evaluation Committee meetings take place three times a year. Although an alternative process exists for certain situations where a hearing is determined to be unnecessary, the Evaluation Committee must adopt any criteria before it becomes effective.

What makes ICC-ES acceptance criteria so widely accepted is the fact that all interested parties have an opportunity to participate in the criteria development process. This participation also brings quality to the acceptance criteria, which leads to even greater acceptance of ICC-ES evaluation reports. Continue reading story

Certification & Testing — What You Need to Know for July

ICC Certification and Testing continues to work toward providing the exams Members and customers need in the format they have asked for. Here's a quick look at what's upcoming:

• All candidates registering through Pearson VUE for any exam (certification or contractor/trades), or North Carolina Certification computer-based exams, must have a valid e-mail address. Providing an e-mail address is mandatory.

• For exams taken on computer July 1 or after, score reports will no longer be printed on security paper at the test sites. Score reports will still show the word "PASS" or a score and content area diagnostics if not successful. Also included will be instructions on validating pass/fail statuses at the bottom of the score report.

• Exam changes effective July 1:

The Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner (exam ID 21) exam will be revised from a 60-question, 1½ hour exam to 80 questions and 2½ hours in length.
The California UST System Operator and UST Inspector will have a reference policy change. Candidates will no longer be provided the California UST Examination References at the test site, but will need to bring their own copy. See the UST Examination Information Bulletin for more information.

• Code year basis of exams in 2013:

2006: National Certification exams based on the 2006 editions of the International Codes will be offered via paper-and-pencil only in specific states and under certain conditions. The states in which these exams will be offered are Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Please email us at certexam@iccsafe.org or call us at 1-888-ICC-SAFE (1-888-422-7233), ext. 5524 to find out if you can test on the 2006 codes.
2009: National Certification exams based on the 2009 editions of the International Codes will continue to be offered via computer-based testing through December 2013, with exceptions noted in the Examination Information Bulletin. 2009-based exams will also be available via paper-and-pencil testing throughout 2013.
2012: National Certification exams based on the 2012 editions of the International Codes will continue to be offered via paper-and-pencil testing throughout 2013. 2012 International Code-based National Certification exams will also be available via computer-based testing starting July 1, 2013.

Free Online Tornado, Hurricane Safety Course Available

The Code Council is offering a free online course in the ICC Online Campus to provide consumers with the information necessary to make an informed decision about installing a storm shelter in their homes. The course provides additional information on the weather hazards which affect life safety and how a storm shelter mitigates these risks. View the free online course today.