Your new ICC eNews: modern, clean and easier to read.       

To best serve ICC Members and all ICC eNews readers, we combined ICC eNews and Codes & Standards News into a single, weekly digital newsletter. This allows us to focus ICC eNews content on what is most useful to our readers: codes, standards and other technical-related news; career advancement, support for training, education and certification; technical support (significant code changes, new products, etc.) and industry news. Special coverage of events such as Building Safety Month, disaster mitigation, resilience, hurricanes, fire prevention, and ICC's 2015 Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., are also planned. The changes also make ICC eNews more reader-friendly on tablets and phones. We always look forward to your feedback. Please send your comments to enewsletter@iccsafe.org. Thank you for being an ICC eNews reader!

Code change submittals due Monday.       

The International Code Council will accept proposed changes to the Group A I-Codes through midnight Pacific on Monday (Jan. 12). All proposals are being submitted online through cdpACCESS at cdpACCESS.com. It is the first full cycle to use cdpACCESS to develop the Group A Codes. Webinars are available to support cdpACCESS users. A change to Code Council Policy 28 in this cycle addresses cost impacts of code change proposals and requires the proponent to substantiate the cost impact. Click for more.

ICC-ES reports ensure structural integrity of solar installations.       

With the rapid growth of the installation of solar panels in commercial and residential properties across the country, it is important to know what products you are approving. For instance, ICC-ES recently issued ESR-3744 to Quick Mount PV Roof Mounts for roof mounts QMSE, QMSE-LAG, QMSC-LAG and QMLC-LAG. These are mounting brackets used to attach solar panel mounting systems to the wood framing of roofs with asphalt shingle or wood shake roof coverings. The products were evaluated for their structural and waterproof properties to the 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Building Code and International Residential Code.

More ICC-ES building product listings issued.       

The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) Building Product Listing Program continues to grow. Insulation Solutions recently received ESL-1009 for NuAge Films™6+. This listing conforms to ASTM D4397-10, Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial, and Agricultural Application. The product is plastic sheeting that can be used in a wide range of construction, industrial and agricultural applications. NuAge Films are designed and manufactured utilizing prime grade virgin resin and are available in widths ranging from 8 ft. to 20 ft.

Vermont energy standards based on 2015 IECC.       

Last month, Vermont adopted a new energy code based on the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for both residential and commercial buildings. It is the first state in the country to adopt a 2015 IECC-based energy code. The 2015 Vermont Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards (RBES and CBES) will become effective on March 1, 2015. In addition to the RBES and CBES upgrades, Vermont also passed the newly developed Residential Stretch Code. The Stretch Code will become effective on December 1, 2015. The Public Service Department (PSD) is currently in the process of finalizing the Commercial Stretch Code. The energy code books, handbooks and code training schedule will be available soon on the PSD website.

Selso Mata named BOAT
Building Official of the Year.       

The Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) honored Plano Chief Building Official Selso Mata with its Building Official of the Year award. Mata was hired by the city of Plano 19 years ago. In 2004, he was promoted to his current position as chief building official. Mata currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Accreditation Service, a subsidiary of the Code Council.

Begin prepping for Building Safety Month.       

Now is the time to begin thinking about what you can do to celebrate Building Safety Month in your community during the month of May. Whether you are a one-person building department or an ICC Chapter, there are lots of ways you can join together with thousands of communities across the U.S. to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create and sustain safe and sustainable structures.

ICC's Cosgrove named life member of North Alabama Chapter.       

While attending the North Alabama Code Official Chapter's Annual Meeting last month, Mel Cosgrove, Senior Regional Manager for ICC's Government Relations division, was presented a plaque in appreciation of his service and was then approved as a Life Member of the Chapter. The plaque reads: "As a token of our appreciation for dedicated service to our association and its members. Mel's contributions are a credit to the ICC and its staff. We offer thanks to Mel for being a friend to our members and wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement."

ICC updates standard
for high-wind regions.       

ICC 600-2014: Standard for Residential Construction in High-Wind Regions specifies prescriptive methods to provide wind-resistant designs and construction details for residential buildings of masonry, concrete, wood-framed or cold-formed steel-framed construction sited in high-wind regions where design wind speeds are 120-180 mph. This new edition is referenced in the 2015 IBC and IRC.

First two volumes released from the
2015 Code and Commentary series.       

2015 Code and Commentary to the IPC or IMC are now available in print or PDF download. Each book contains the full text of the code, including tables and figures, followed by corresponding commentary at the end of each section in a single document. All other volumes will be released during this winter and spring, and are currently available for pre-order.

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