 In line with its customer-centric focus and the organization’s dedication to sustainability and efficiency, the International Code Council recently announced major changes to its eCodes portal to improve the customer experience. The eCodes Premium Online Subscription service offers a number of exciting upgrades that make this innovative product even more of an exceptional resource for building officials and others who use ICC’s International Codes. Now, coupled with ICC’s free smartphone application, eCodes Premium ensures that subscribers are never more than a click away from ICC’s codes and relevant standards, along with listings and reports on code-compliant products.
eCodes in a Nutshell
ICC’s earliest foray into an eCodes product line consisted of a few jurisdictional codes that were available to view online or in a PDF downloadable format. In 2005, ICC introduced eCodes Premium Online Subscriptions, which represented a major advance in the availability and mobility of ICC’s codes. As technology changed over the last decade, so, too, did ICC’s eCodes offerings. In addition to CD products, ICC members and other regulators now have several options to increase their access and understanding of the International Codes. These options include free code viewing in an onscreen HTML layout, PDF downloads direct to their computer, I-Quest brand of searchable CDs, and the ever-evolving eCodes Premium Online Subscription. The newest addition to eCodes is the free phone application where your codes are truly with you wherever you go (Internet required).
The eCodes Premium product offers codes and standards in a personalized, online subscription-based portal. A subscription to the premium service, which is based on a single- or multiple-user license, makes ICC’s eCodes available wherever users connect to the web, whether on a computer or hand-held device. Further, eCodes Premium allows customers to view, search, add notes and print ICC’s code books in real time, along with a number of pioneering features.
In 2010, ICC is launching a number of useful upgrades, which make a subscription to eCodes Premium an indispensable resource to the building professional:
Enhanced and Innovative Features
Smartphone Integration
eCodes Premium is one of the key features of ICC’s new smartphone application, which is available free for the iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows CE (available soon for Droid). The ability to access codes on a hand-held device means users always have access to the resources they need.
Document Comparison
One of the most exciting features of eCodes Premium is the ability to identify code modifications by viewing easy-to-understand comparisons of code sections to see critical changes. A user that purchases two or more codes of the same genre (e.g., two Building Codes or two Residential titles) has the option of doing a side-by-side comparison or viewing a document comparison where modifications are indicated and color-coded. This is especially helpful when comparing two different editions of the code, such as the 2007 Florida Building Code against the 2009 International Building Code. What has typically taken additional time and resources is now available at the click of a button.
User-Generated Online Libraries
Users operating with a multiple-user license can share notation across the user network, thus customizing an entire database of related information to suit their needs. Sharing notes and hyperlinks, and attaching PDFs and related documents and spreadsheets can help build an integrated resource to be used over time by entire departments.
Connect Directly to ICC-ES Evaluation Reports and PMG Listings
ICC-ES Evaluation Reports and Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas (PMG) Listings are now directly linked in eCodes Premium, directly connecting chapters and specific code sections to related product reports or listings. This allows regulators to find code-compliant products and determine acceptability of evaluated products.
The eCodes Premium product was designed with the user in mind. Additional user-friendly features include:
• Hyperlinks to related standards*, which will help users expand their online library.
• Ability to easily and conveniently purchase related references and standards online.
• Automatic updates to keep up with modifications or errata.
• Powerful search and print capabilities.
For more information on eCodes Premium or related products, contact the ICC Electronic Media Support Group by e-mail at support@ecodes.biz or by phone at 1-888-422-7233 x33822. To purchase additional products, please visit http://www.iccsafe.org/Store/Pages/eCodes.aspx.
*Access to standards may incur a fee not included in the cost of eCodes Premium Online Subscriptions.
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