Code Council Plans to Update
Blueprint to the Future for 2023

Blueprint to the Future is the International Code Council's long-term business plan that establishes the association's vision, mission and values, and sets clear goals and objectives for the association. The Blueprint was originally drafted in ICC's first year of operation as a consolidated association. It has been updated regularly. Currently, plans are underway to update the Blueprint to look forward to the year 2023.

The ICC Board of Directors during its September 2013 meeting reviewed and discussed the Phase I Final Report from the Vision 2023 Committee. The Board assigned the ICC CEO and staff to review the report and develop a perspective to keep the Blueprint up to date and moving forward to strengthen the association and sustain it for the next 10 years.

The goal is to implement changes to the association's business model, increase the value of ICC membership, increase productivity, protect and strengthen ICC's core functions, and support sustainable growth of the organization. The process includes Membership input and engagement; ICC staff engagement; staff analysis; and development of work plans to address initiatives.

FEMA Recommends I-Codes for
National Flood Insurance Program

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood plain management report says current model building codes, such as the International Codes (I-Codes), have flood provisions that are consistent with NFIP requirements for buildings and structures. The I-Codes, developed by the U.S.-based International Code Council, streamline building safety compliance and facilitate trade around world. They are a complete set of consistent and coordinated codes. The I-Codes are applied in all 50 states at the state or local level. Federal agencies including the Department of Defense, Department of State and the U.S. Forest Service also rely on the I-Codes for safe and affordable building regulations.

The NFIP report states that model codes are effective in reducing flood-related damages because of specific mitigation provisions required for compliance. This resource will help floodplain managers and code officials understand impacts of the new statutory potential future affiliation between building codes and the NFIP, according to FEMA. The document provides findings of regulatory, financial and economic impacts that would likely occur to homeowners and government entities if adopted, and the feasibility and effectiveness in reducing future flood damage.

"ICC Members, and all who participate in our code development process, can take pride in the acknowledgment that this national report confirms the ability of the I-Codes to reduce property losses and provide public safety," said ICC Board of Directors President Stephen Jones, CBO. Continue reading story

International Code Council Board Director Dwayne Garriss, Georgia State Fire Marshal, attended the October WSS&CS Workshop in Hiwassee, Ga., and presented an overview of how the State of Georgia was adopting the 2012 IWUI on January 1, 2014.

Two trends involving fire damages are at work in the United States these days. The rate of all fires in the nation is on the decline. But the number of wildfires and wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires is rising steadily, a startling fact to many property owners and community leaders throughout the nation.

The second trend is what a nearly-completed series of workshops involving local conservation and development volunteers with national fire and building code officials has been trying to resolve. First, here are some provocative statistics:

•  Since 1960, there has been a 380 percent increase in the number of Americans living wildland-interface areas of the United States.
•  Since 1960, there has been a 1,300 percent increase in the number of homes burned in WUI areas.
•  Annually, about 100,000 fires burn over 7 million acres (2,832,799 ha). But a rarely discussed fact is that 97,000 of these fires are extinguished after burning less than 10 acres (4.5 ha).
•  The remaining 3,000 fires (or three percent of the annual average) account for the lion's share of today's wildfire acreages.

This three percent of the total wildfires in the United States is where the majority of civilian and firefighter fatalities occur. It's where the largest percentage of home losses takes place with the highest insurance claims. It's also where skyrocketing costs are found that sharply impact federal and state budgets.

As a result of this escalating crisis, an innovative International Code Council joint initiative called "Wildfire Safe, Sound and Code Smart," began in the fall of 2012, funded by a Department of Homeland Security-U.S. Fire Administration Fire Prevention and Safety Grant. Continue reading story

ICC Dedicates IBC Handbook in Memory of ICBO's Former CEO James Bihr

ICC, ICC Evaluation Service and International Accreditation Service staff, past and present, gathered on September 6 at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier, Calif., to honor the family of the late James (Jim) Bihr, P.E.—a much revered past President and CEO of the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), a predecessor of ICC.

At a celebratory luncheon with the family, IAS dedicated the 2013 version of the IBC Handbook in memory of the former CEO. A commemorative framed edition of the handbook was presented to Bihr's loving wife of more than 60 years, Betty, sons Jim Jr., Tom and Bob, and daughter Kathy.

Bihr was born in Buffalo, N.Y. A World War II veteran, Jim earned an engineering degree from Syracuse University on the G.I. Bill before marrying Betty, his childhood sweetheart in 1951. The family moved to Los Angeles and he worked for the city of Los Angeles before joining the Pacific Coast Building Officials Conference (the organization that would later become ICBO). Jim, a voice for the model code movement, was promoted to Executive Director in 1979 and led ICBO until his retirement in 1993. Jim is remembered for being one of the driving forces behind the eventual consolidation to form ICC and for his remarkable vision and leadership.

Code Council Teams Up with NAHB and NKBA for Design and Construction Week

The Code Council is a supporting organization of the first ever "Design and Construction Week," Feb. 4–6 in Las Vegas. Created by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) to improve industry professionalism through education, networking and product knowledge, the event promises to be the largest-ever residential construction expo in the nation in 2014.

University of Florida Team Assesses Nov. 17 Tornadoes

According to the university’s wind hazard damage assessment team several houses were swept off their foundations, despite having anchor bolts with washers that fastened wood sill plates to the concrete slabs. Click here to read the report about the 45 reported tornadoes that caused significant damage in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

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.

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ICC-ES Inspection Program Enhancement Will Benefit ICC-ES Report Holders, Manufacturers

ICC Evaluation Services (ICC-ES), the global leader in product evaluation, is proud to provide the highest quality reports with the widest acceptance in the industry, while offering its valued customers the best service in the industry. With a renewed focus on increasing the speed and flexibility of its services, ICC-ES has set new benchmarks that other entities must try to meet. Now, ICC-ES has yet another way to show its distinctiveness by providing manufacturers with the most thorough, convenient and complete compliance available. This new program will result in increased quality, timeliness, and cost savings for many manufacturers. Continue reading story

ICC-ES Evaluation Reports, Building Product
and PMG Listings Lead the Industry

ICC-ES evaluation reports, building product listings and PMG listings are the leading building industry resource to verify that innovative building products, systems and materials are up to code. Having completed hundreds of evaluations of building products, components, methods, and materials, ICC-ES has a proven track record of excellence in product evaluations. View recently published ICC-ES evaluation reports and listings.

New 2014 Dates Available for the ICC-ES Webinar

The ICC-ES webinar, "Approving or Selecting Building Products with Confidence", was designed to help building professionals (building officials, specifiers, designers and others) to better understand the process that goes into developing an ICC-ES Evaluation Report and Building Products Listing, so that they can have confidence when approving or specifying a building product for installation. Register for the complimentary ICC-ES webinar to learn why ICC-ES is the most preferred when it comes to technical evaluations among building officials. CEUs provided.

ICC-ES Evaluated SMART VENT Protects
Property, Money and Lives

Only a few months before Hurricane Sandy devastated the northeastern United States, the U.S. Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act (BW-12) in July 2012. Jurisdictions across the country are now asking what more can be done to protect properties that might be caught in the path of such natural disasters. The second-costliest hurricane in United States history, Sandy's effects were felt in 24 states, with the most significant and tragic losses occurring in New Jersey and New York. Continue reading story

IAS Accreditation Committee Meeting Scheduled for February 10 in Los Angeles

The International Accreditation Service (IAS) Accreditation Committee meetings offer opportunities for stakeholders, accredited organizations, building officials and other interested parties to provide input on IAS' accreditation programs. The next committee meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2014, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel Los Angeles. The Accreditation Committee meets annually or more often as the need arises, in open, public hearings to consider new criteria and proposed revisions to IAS accreditation criteria. All new and proposed revisions to criteria are posted to the IAS website approximately 60 days before Committee meetings. Interested parties are invited to submit written comments by the designated due date and to make verbal presentations during the meeting. For more information, please contact IAS at (562) 364-8201 or visit the IAS website.

Pictured above, Deputy Commissioner for Development Michael E. Fink (second from right) and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Mike Maenner (second from left) receive a plaque from IAS President Chuck Ramani (far left) and IAS Program Manager Preet Bassi (far right), in recognition of IAS Accreditation.

IAS recognized building departments for achieving accreditation during 2013 during the ICC Annual Conference Awards Luncheon, in Atlantic City, N.J. IAS awarded commemorative plaques to representatives from the town of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; the city of Philadelphia, Pa.; the city of Jacksonville, Fla.; and Arlington County, Va.

Arlington Is First Virginia County to Earn IAS BDA
Jacksonville Earns IAS BDA
Mount Pleasant Commitment to Quality Leads to IAS BDA
Philadelphia Is Largest City in U.S. to Achieve IAS BDA