March 20 is deadline to join as an ICC Member and
designate GMVRs for 2015 Online Assembly Floor Motion vote.       

March 20 is the deadline to join as a new ICC Member or reinstate an expired ICC Membership in order to participate as a Member in this year's code development cycle. This deadline applies to all categories of Membership, including Governmental Members. March 20 also is the deadline for Primary Representatives to designate Governmental Member Voting Representatives (GMVR) for participation in the Online Assembly Floor Motion vote that will follow the 2015 Group A Committee Action Hearings in Memphis, Tenn.

The voting opportunities for Governmental Members with properly designated GMVRs in 2015 include the Online Assembly Floor Motion vote, in person voting at the Public Comment Hearings in Long Beach, Calif., the Online Governmental Consensus Vote that follows the Public Comment Hearings, and the 2015 Annual Business Meeting. Click here for more information.

Registration remains open for the Committee Action Hearings in Memphis. Download the hearing schedule.

Proposed changes to the 2015
Group A Codes available for review.       

Click here to view the monograph of changes that was posted on March 13 to assist in locating all of the proposed code changes to be considered at the Committee Action Hearings April 19-28 at the Memphis, Tenn., Cook Convention Center.

ICC and ASTM partner to support
sustainable building in the Gulf.       

The Code Council and ASTM International are partnering to support the use of codes and standards in sustainable construction in the Middle East. The work is part of The Standards and Codes for Sustainable Construction project and is intended to enhance the Gulf region's efforts in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, materials management, building safety and overall economic growth.

Significant changes to the 2015 IFC.       

An addition to Section 903.3.1.1.2 of the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) provides criteria for not installing sprinklers in bathrooms of specific Group R occupancies, if they do not exceed 55 square feet in area, are located within individual dwelling/sleeping units, and have walls and ceilings of non-combustible or limited-combustible materials with a 15-minute thermal barrier rating. (This information is excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Fire Code.)

New partnership will enhance the Conference experience.       

Although September is still a few months away, the Code Council has a new partner that will help make sure those attending the ICC's 2015 Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., get checked in and on to important business more quickly.

Call for presentations at Building Safety & Design Expo.       

The Building Safety & Design Expo is seeking proposals for presentations during its Education Pavilion Sessions Sept. 27-28 in Long Beach, Calif. The expo, held in conjunction with ICC's 2015 Annual Conference and Group A Public Comment Hearings, is an educational event and product showcase for all professionals involved in the building design and construction industry. The deadline for applications is April 10.

Institute provides resources to
communities after natural disasters.       

Did you know that from the time a disaster is declared, a community has only 72 hours to assess the damage and report it to the federal government to receive direct financial assistance? The When Disaster Strikes Institute will help you be prepared when you're called upon to help.

Go in-depth into IBC with newest Feature Topic Webinar.       

Register now for ICC's newest Feature Topic Webinar: Firestopping, Joint Systems and Dampers, March 31, at 1 p.m. CDT, and enhance your understanding of the technical requirements and code standards for each system.

The Race to 7-Day Solar is on.       

Across the U.S., Americans are choosing solar to power their daily lives, but long delays to connect the systems to the grid decrease the value for consumers, businesses and utilities. So while no one organization can single-handedly reduce the permit-to-plug-in time, the Race to 7-Day Solar competition aims to create collaboration between local governments, businesses, solar companies, nonprofits, utilities and communities to create certainty and efficiency in the process.

University of Miami simulator to study hurricanes from indoors.       

A new wave and wind simulator at the University of Miami hopes to study the ferocity of a hurricane from the safety of the indoors. The SUrge-STructure-Atmosphere INteraction facility, or SUSTAIN, will help scientists at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science better understand the complex interactions between a hurricane and the ocean below it, as well as the coastlines it may affect.

Competition encourages creativity in home design criteria.       

The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development announced a competition to design a home that meets affordability, energy and accessibility criteria as part of the 2015 Virginia Governor's Housing Conference. The competition is open to all, and participants are encouraged to use their creativity and ingenuity to design a home that incorporates these essential characteristics which will facilitate the occupants to "age in place."

Will zoning laws kill San Francisco's tiny house movement?       

While enthusiasm for the tiny house movement runs high in the Bay Area and nationally, such communities often run into hurdles even after land is secured and houses are built. One major snag the tiny, would-be utopias run into is zoning restrictions that essentially outlaw micro-dwellings.

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