ICC News & Events
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Groups to Streamline Green Building Coordination and Development ICC Member, ICC-ES Accept WSSPC Awards
ICC Panel to Discuss Report on U.S. Lack of Indoor Plumbing Update Your ICC-ES Foam Product Evaluation Reports
Recent Code Adoption to Mitigate Earthquake Damage Encouraged

Update Your ICC-ES Precast Stone Veneer Evaluation Report
Putting Resiliency Front and Center Findings/Recommendations from the NIBS Consultative Council
New ICC Western Regional Office Opens Its Doors September 2  
 
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Groups Agree to Streamline Green Building Tool Coordination and Development

The International Code Council, ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America and the U.S. Green Building Council announce the signing of a memorandum to collaborate on the development of Standard 189.1, the International Green Construction Code and the LEED green building program. The unprecedented cooperation aims to create a comprehensive framework for jurisdictions looking to implement and adopt green building regulations and codes and/or provide incentives for voluntary leadership programs such as LEED.
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ICC Panel to Discuss Report Showing 1.6M Americans Lack Indoor Plumbing

Aug. 25 | 1 p.m. Eastern

The teleconference at 1 p.m. Eastern on Aug. 25 will discuss the lack of basic sanitation needs of the reported 1.6 million that do not have indoor plumbing. The data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that a high number of those without indoor plumbing reside on Native American tribal lands, and in Alabama, Alaska, Kentucky, South Dakota and West Virginia. Barbara Higgens, CEO/Executive Director of the Plumbing Manufacturers International, will chair the panel.
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Adoption of Most Recent Codes to Mitigate Earthquake Damage Encouraged during Congressional Subcommittee on Research and Technology Hearing

Several expert panelists at the hearing advocated for the use of building codes to save lives and reduce property damage from earthquakes. The first significant lesson is that mitigation efforts, through such measures as improved building codes, make a significant difference in life safety, according to Dr. John R. Hayes, Jr., Director of NIST's National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. Read the hearing testimony.
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ENR: Putting Resiliency Front and Center

A post on the Engineering News-Record (ENR.com) blog entitled, "Putting Resiliency Front and Center" recaps the recent efforts by federal and local agencies, corporations, utilities, research entities and design firms to discover solutions to help make communities more resilient to the effects of climate change and other natural disasters. In particular, it discusses how a group of the leaders (of which the International Code Council was a part) signed a joint statement at the National Building Museum that acknowledges that natural and man-made hazards pose an increasing threat to public safety and the nation's economic health, and that the building community can play a big role in helping communities become more resilient to these threats.

The Museum is currently featuring a major exhibition highlighting how disasters associated with climate change and other natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, can wreak havoc on buildings, infrastructure and people's homes. A "Wall of Wind" by Florida International University allows visitors to test various roof shapes against hurricane-force winds to see which shape performs best. A simulation of a button-activated set of moving stairs show how the expansion joints within the seating bowl at the University of California, Berkeley, Memorial Stadium would actually perform if an earthquake were to occur. A partially deconstructed, FEMA-specified "safe room" that can be built into any building illustrates how inhabitants can be protected from tornado-force winds and flying objects. The exhibition brings home an important message (not only to designers and builders, but to the public at large) that everyone can do something to prepare for the increasing likelihood that hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, sea level rise, and even earthquakes, will be affecting them or someone they care about sometime during their lifetime. The National Building Museum exhibit, "Designer for Disasters" will be on display through August 2, 2015.
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New ICC Western Regional Office Opens Its Doors September 2

Now just days away, the ICC Western Regional Office will open its doors at its new location in in Brea, Calif. The facility will house ICC, ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) and International Accreditation Service (IAS) staff. The relocation of the office will be complete by the end of August and will be open to the public beginning Sept. 2.

The Western Regional Office will move from its current Whittier location to 3060 Saturn St., Suite 100, in Brea. The new, state-of-the-art facility will enable ICC to better serve Members and customers with codes, standards, products and services to help building safety professionals create better buildings and more resilient communities.

"ICC is committed to serving as a catalyst for innovations that build a safer world," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "Our new Western Regional Office location is the perfect place for us to further our mission that all concerned with the safety and performance of the built environment have access to resources and tools that help ensure safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient communities."

At its new office, ICC is investing in an environment conducive to continual growth and improved efficiencies that will provide clients and ICC Members with expanded services. The new office will enable ICC to continue to lead the industry in accreditation and product certification services and act as the global gateway for ICC-ES and IAS subsidiaries.

The new Western Regional Office will be easily accessible for clients, Members, employees and partners, and has close access to essential business amenities, such as restaurants and hotels. The facility will feature the newest technology and infrastructure to enable ICC's clients and Members to interact seamlessly with each other and with ICC, ICC-ES and IAS technical staff. Features of the new office include a state-of-the-art training center that will be used to host industry meetings and events to help build and expand the ability of ICC to serve its Members' needs. Consistent with the ICC's commitment to efficiency and environmental excellence, the new facility will meet or exceed CALGreen standards.
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ICC Member, ICC-ES Accept WSSPC Awards

Ron Lynn, Director/Building Official for the Clark County, Nev., Department of Development Services and a past International Code Council Board of Directors President and ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) President Shahin Moinian, PE, attended the Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Awards Luncheon held July 21 in Anchorage, Alaska, where they were honored as award recipients. Lynn received one of only two WSSPC 2014 Lifetime Achievement Awards in Earthquake Risk Reduction. Moinian accepted the WSSPC 2014 Non-Profit Agency Efforts Award in Excellence for recognition of the ICC-ES Evaluation Report Program.

"Our association's primary focus is public safety in the built environment," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "These awards reinforce the level of dedication, ICC members, ICC-ES customers, building professionals and ICC staff have. As a team we are all working to mitigate seismic events and create more resilient construction practices."
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Update Your ICC-ES Foam Product Evaluation Reports to the New ICC-ES AC452

Now is the time to update your ICC-ES foam product Evaluation Reports to the new ICC-ES AC452: Rigid Cellular Polystyrene (RCPS) Geofoam Used in Interior Floor Applications. Reports will include recognition for use as a lightweight structural fill in interior floor cavities. Apply today for an evaluation report to this new criteria to show code compliance and acceptance of your product.
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Update Your ICC-ES Precast Stone Veneer Evaluation Report

Update Your ICC-ES Precast Stone Veneer Evaluation Report to the recently revised ICC-ES AC51. Revisions will include recognition for the use of your product over reinforced cementitious sheets. Apply today to update your evaluation report to maintain code compliance and acceptance of your product.
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Moving Forward: Findings and Recommendations from the NIBS Consultative Council
2013 Briefing Paper

The U.S. building industry has come together under the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Consultative Council to address challenges, identify findings, make recommendations and seize opportunities to improve the nation’s buildings and related infrastructure. The Consultative Council has issued a number of reports highlighting the industry’s annual priorities. In 2013, the Council focused on a several key areas, providing clear recommendations for action.

The Building Workforce
Concern is growing about the dearth of new entrants to the buildings-related workforce, particularly in the skilled trades. Despite significant advancements in the utilization of technology and the ability to earn a quality living, young people (and their parents and other influencers) have not focused on buildings-related career options. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs are expanding, but few specifically highlight the building sciences. The shuttering of industrial arts or "shop" classes has limited the opportunities to expose large numbers of students to the buildings trades. The focus of parents, guidance counselors and federal, state and local departments of education on promoting two- or four-year college degrees in lieu of a trade school has proved detrimental. To help counteract these shifts, all building industry participants should prioritize recruiting and mentoring young entrants into the building professions, skilled trades and related fields.

The Energy/Water Nexus
The energy/water nexus describes the interdependencies between water and energy resources. Huge volumes of water are consumed in the generation of electricity and extraction and processing of natural gas and other fuels. The pumping, treating, heating and delivery of water require significant amounts of energy. Detailed evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V) protocols already exist for analyzing energy-efficiency performance, but these protocols should be revised to incorporate the embedded energy savings from water conservation and management. The protocols must document the contributions water savings have to energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Use of Non-Potable Water
Many states lack clear guidelines on the suitability of non-potable water for non-drinking purposes. Nor have national criteria yet been established to address the minimum microbiological and chemical properties required of water for various end uses. The Consultative Council recommends the U.S. Congress grant the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to set uniform national water quality criteria for all appropriate end uses of non-potable water much like it does for potable water under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The agency should also establish appropriate monitoring and assessment criteria and techniques. Such action will enable rapid increases in the use of non-potable water, reducing demand for potable water and the associated energy use.

State and Local Regulatory Infrastructure
State and local governments serve an important function in keeping communities safe. Unfortunately, many jurisdictions have undergone significant reductions in budgets and do not have the resources to fully support their building safety departments. Federal government assistance, such as education and training, technical assistance, grants and incentives would help local communities while advancing national priorities for resilient, efficient, high-performing buildings. Establishing code departments as independent enterprise functions that can support themselves and assist local residents and businesses (no matter the jurisdiction’s budget challenges) may be an opportunity to circumvent the cyclical impacts caused by economic conditions. Many departments are seen as an adversary to development, when instead, they have the opportunity to serve as advisors to designers, contractors and owners. Up-to-date building codes and strong code compliance can impact a community's resilience to hazard events. Jurisdictions need to communicate these merits to their citizens.

Private Sector Mitigation Investments
With the growing incidence of hazard events and associated costs from recovery and reconstruction, there is growing interest and support from all levels of government and the insurance industry for investing in mitigation. The Institute's Multihazard Mitigation Council conducted a study in 2005, Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities that identified the value of federal investment in mitigation; every federal dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of four dollars. However, the value of the private sector investing in mitigation activities has only been identified anecdotally. Savings from mitigation accrue not just to the federal government, but to state and local governments and the local economy. The Institute should revisit the Mitigation Saves report to examine and explain the decision-making process for individual investments, the resultant savings made at the building level and how individual investments can benefit communities as a whole.

Conclusion
Development of the 2014 Consultative Council report is underway. View the full 2013 Consultative Council report, including all of the recommendations.
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