Deadline nears to
validate memberships.       

To participate in this year's code development cycle, which includes the 2015 Committee Action Hearings in Memphis, Tenn., the Public Comment Hearings in Long Beach, Calif., and the Online Governmental Consensus Votes that follow the hearings, ICC Governmental Memberships must be validated by March 20, 2015. Click here for more information. Registration remains open for the Committee Action Hearings April 19-28 in Memphis. Download the hearing schedule.

Important industry stakeholders urge adoption of the 2015
I-Codes to keep the current building recovery going strong.       

For the first time, the National Multifamily Housing Council, National Apartment Association, National Association of Home Builders and BOMA International have compiled the "2015 ICC Model Codes Summary of Important Changes" that summarizes the significant changes made between the 2012 and 2015 International Codes that affect apartments and commercial occupancies. In doing so, the associations are encouraging states and jurisdictions to consider adopting the 2015 I-Codes when updating their state or local codes. Click here to view the summary.

NAHB is a presenting sponsor
for Building Safety Month 2015.       

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is a Presenting Sponsor for Building Safety Month 2015. Since 1942, NAHB has served as a trade association that promotes policies that make housing a national priority and is a Strategic Partner of the Code Council. Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign offered each year to help individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create and sustain safe and sustainable structures.

IMT now accepting submissions for
the 2015 Standard Bearers Award.       

Presented by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the International Code Council, this national award program recognizes state and local jurisdictions and individuals that have raised compliance with building energy codes and achieved energy reductions in buildings using smart, innovative, and cost-effective strategies. Interested participants should visit the Standard Bearers webpage to download an application.

Joplin tornado spurs explosion
of school safe room projects.       

Many Missouri school districts have spent the past three and a half years working to add safe rooms to their schools. Officials say it's largely a result of the destruction of the May 2011 tornado which killed 161 people in Joplin and Duquesne and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, dozens of churches and nearly a dozen school buildings. Even districts that were already planning to build safe rooms at the time the tornado hit said the storm served as a catalyst for putting their plans into motion to try to prevent another devastating catastrophe. Read more.

Significant changes to the 2015 IBC.       

Certain buildings have traditionally been exempted from compliance with the high-rise provisions, among them buildings that contain a Group H-1, H-2 or H-3 occupancy. Clarified code text to Section 403.1 of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) now indicates that Group H-1 occupancies, as well as several specified types of Group H-2 and H-3 occupancies, are not required to comply with the high-rise provisions. (This information is excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Building Code.)

Conference session focuses on home energy raters
expanding services to include energy code inspections.       

ICC CEO Dominic Sims, CBO, and Residential Energy Services Network Executive Director Steve Baden co-presented a session on opportunities for Home Energy Rating System (HERS) raters to expand services to include energy code inspections during the RESNET Building Performance Conference in San Diego. A partnership between the Code Council and RESNET benefits members of both associations by supporting adoptions and usage of the International Energy Conservation Code and increasing recognition of HERS in the building safety community. Read more.

Triangle Shirtwaist fire led to
changes in worker, factory safety.       

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City burned, killing 145 workers. It is remembered as one of the most infamous incidents in American industrial history, as the deaths were largely preventable — most of the victims died as a result of neglected safety features and locked doors within the factory building. The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous sweatshop conditions of factories, and led to the development of a series of laws and regulations that better protected the safety of workers. Read more on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

NIST awards $20 million for research center to
help communities increase disaster resilience.       

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a $20 million cooperative agreement to Colorado State University to establish the Community Resilience Center of Excellence. Working with NIST researchers and partners from 10 other universities, the center will develop computer tools to help local governments decide how each can best invest resources intended to lessen the impact of extreme weather and other hazards on buildings and infrastructure and to recover rapidly in their aftermath. Read more.

After fires, Minnesota town rethinks prevention cuts.       

A trio of fires in Winona's historic downtown has worried some business owners and city officials who wonder whether the Fire Department ought to bring back its inspector. Over the past 18 months, three big blazes have erupted downtown. "It certainly concerns me," said Mayor Mark Peterson. "We don't know the cause of the two fires, yet. We don't know if we had more fire inspectors whether that would have prevented these fires." Read more.

Three military bases partner with
DOE to train veterans for solar jobs.       

The first class of Marine trainees at Camp Pendleton have graduated from the Energy Department's solar job training pilot program, which is aimed at preparing service members for careers in the solar industry as solar photovoltaic system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related opportunities. Camp Pendleton is one of three military bases partnering with the Department's SunShot Initiative to train 200 transitioning military service members during the pilot period for employment opportunities in the rapidly growing U.S. solar energy industry. Training courses will also begin at Fort Carson and Naval Station Norfolk this spring. Read more.

DOE launches emergency
response hydrogen training resource.       

The Energy Department's Fuel Cell Technologies Office has launched a new, free, online national hydrogen safety training resource for emergency responders. Developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the resource provides a single repository of credible and reliable information related to hydrogen and fuel cells that is current and accurate and eliminates duplicative efforts among various training programs. This approach will enable government and private training organizations nationwide to develop their own training programs with consistent hydrogen and fuel cells content and standards. Read more.

Mulvey sworn in as USCG Division Vice Commander.       

Matthias J. Mulvey, CBO, CET was recently sworn in as Division Vice Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's District 1, Northern Region. The auxiliary's area of operation stretches from Boston Harbor to Kingston, Mass., where the auxiliary is responsible for boating safety education, vessel examinations, air and sea patrols, etc.

Azodi named N.H. Engineer of the Year.       

Alex Azodi of Omega Structural Engineers was selected by a jury of his peers from New Hampshire's Joint Engineering Societies as the 2015 Engineer of the Year. The award was presented as part of the state's recognition and celebration of National Engineers Week. The Structural Engineers of New Hampshire nominated Azodi based on his long record of service to the profession and community. Read more.

Resources

Training & education opportunities

Upcoming shows & events