Submit public comments; hearing report due June 5.           

Public comments on all code changes considered at the 2015 Group A Committee Action Hearings continue to be accepted through 11:59 p.m. PST on July 17. Public comments must be submitted through cdpACCESS. Instructions are posted on the cdpACCESS timeline. The final assembly actions will be included in the Report of the Committee Action Hearing scheduled to be posted tomorrow, June 5.

Celebrate BSM with a flash mob?           

Looking for creative ideas on how to commemorate building safety in your community? Check out how Anaheim, Calif., celebrated Building Safety Month (BSM) with a customer appreciation flash mob — complete with Smokey Bear, Inspector Detector, the fire department, and excited city of Anaheim Planning and Building Department staff — to a rewritten version of Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk".

Call for ICC/SRCC/APSP standard committee members extended to June 12.           

ICC is accepting applications for the Pool Solar Heating and Cooling Standard Consensus Committee. The new standard will establish minimum requirements for the performance, design and installation of solar thermal heating systems for heating water used within pools, spas, hot tubs, exercise spas, water parks and spray grounds. While all are invited to apply, those defined in Council Policy 7 as General Interest — government regulatory agency — are especially encouraged to apply. More information about the committee is available here.

Call for ICC Validation Committee members.           

In 2014, the ICC Board established the Validation Committee with the charge of reviewing the cdpACCESS Online Governmental Consensus Voting (OGCV) process and certifying the results from the 2014 code development cycle and the International Green Construction Code. This certification process included an evaluation of the confidentiality, completeness and accuracy of the votes reported by cdpACCESS followed by a report to the ICC Board. This year, the role and responsibilities of the Validation Committee are expanding beyond the certification of the cdpACCESS OGCV process. The Validation Committee will be re-constituted as a broad-based, balanced committee to be utilized by the ICC Board to assist in matters of the organization. At this time, ICC is receiving applications for members to serve on this committee. This committee will consist of 9-15 members in the interest categories of General, User and Producer. Applications are due July 2. Click here for more information.

ICC submits recommendations for disaster mitigation report.           

ICC recently submitted its recommendations for inclusion in the Applied Technology Council's (ATC) ATC-117-1 Project Report. In 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded ATC a five-year task order contract to provide technical guidance and support to reduce the disastrous impacts of earthquakes and other hazards. In turn, ATC initiated and supervised a building code adoption and enforcement strategy process called the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group. ATC delivered the ATC-117-1 Project Report to FEMA in March.

ICC-SRCC thermal certification programs include PV.           

To address evolving technology, the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) has expanded its OG-100 and OG-300 certification programs to include photovoltaic (PV) conversion of solar energy to thermal energy to heat water. PV manufacturers who meet certification requirements may qualify for state and federal financial incentives and ENERGY STAR program listings. Using PV for water heating provides new options for consumer residential use and might meet requirement for federal tax credits.

Prado selected for energy program.           

Eileen Prado, Executive Director of the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation, is one of 21 industry leaders selected to participate in the 2015 Executive Energy Leadership program. Energy Execs empowers executives to integrate clean energy solutions in their professional and residential communities. The five-month program is administered through the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and offers executive decision-makers an in-depth look at renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

IAS board meets in B.C., Canada.           

The International Accreditation Service (IAS) Board of Directors spring meeting was held at a venue-based event at invitation from the Building Officials' Association of British Columbia (BOABC), the association's Annual General Meeting and 60th Annual Spring Education Conference. ICC Board Vice President Alex "Cash" Olszowy joined the IAS board meeting and provided information on current and future plans of IAS' parent organization. ICC Board Member Jim Brown also was in attendance. He also serves as an IAS board member. IAS President Chuck Ramani gave a presentation on accreditation at the BOABC conference. His presentation also included information about ICC Global Services and the forthcoming Global Forum scheduled for ICC's Annual Conference in Long Beach this September. IAS board members were also able to visit QAI, an IAS-accredited testing laboratory in Vancouver, to observe large-scale fire and electrical tests. IAS board members and Olszowy were recognized at the BOABC Annual Banquet, which was a memorable gala event.

Significant changes to the 2015 IBC.           

An addition to Section 423.3 of the International Building Code (IBC) now requires the construction of complying storm shelters in critical emergency operations facilities where such facilities are located in geographical areas where the shelter design wind speed for tornadoes is at its highest. (This information is excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Building Code.)

CPSC unveils Pool Safely grants for states, jurisdictions.           

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the Pool Safely Grant Program for jurisdictions that enforce pool and spa safety requirements such as the International Swimming Pool & Spa Code. Successful applicants will be awarded one-year grants to implement enforcement and education programs to prevent the drowning and drain entrapment of children in pools and spas, as authorized under Section 1405 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

CodeNotes support PMG.           

As part of its goal to serve the needs of plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas (PMG) officials and industry professionals, the ICC PMG Official Membership Council is committed to providing informative code support documents such as CodesNotes. Topics include backflow devices and protection of water supply, gas pipe sizing based on the 2009 IFGC and IRC, and bonding of corrugated stainless steel tubing gas piping system. Click to view free copies of CodeNotes, courtesy of the ICC PMG Official Membership Council.

Nominations accepted for 2015 Educator of the Year award.           

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Educator of the Year Award that will be presented during ICC's Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif. The award is given to an individual or organization upon recommendation by the Education Committee for excellence in education and promoting professional development among ICC Members. This award is given in honor of Brent Snyder for his contributions to ICC Members to further their educational pursuits and professional development. The deadline for nominations is June 22. Click here for more information.

Educational tours on tap at this year's conference.           

Three educational tours are scheduled for ICC's 2015 Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif. Attendees can earn CEUs while touring the Queen Mary ocean liner, California State University, Disneyland, the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center and the Simpson Strong-Tie facility.

Dudley named top TN code official.           

Mark Dudley, planning director, building commissioner and floodplain administrator for Franklin County, Tenn., recently received the Tennessee Building Officials Association's (TBOA) 2015 Code Official of the Year Award. The award was presented during TBOA's annual training and education conference in Memphis. "I was shocked and honored," Dudley said, acknowledging the presentation took him by surprise.

Negligence, city code weighed in balcony fall.           

An Iowa Court of Appeals panel affirmed a lower court's decision to grant a new trial in a case involving a woman's fall from an apartment balcony, even though the three judges reviewing the case did not see eye to eye. The underlying suit involves a negligence claim against the owner of an apartment complex in the Des Moines area, where 21-year-old Shannon Potts died after falling from a second-story balcony. Potts' parents claim the owner was at fault because the balcony railing was only 32 inches high, a full 10 inches shorter than the International Building Code requires.

New study guides have arrived.           

The 2015 International Building and Mechanical Code Study Companions are now available. Each Companion contains hundreds of study questions with answer key, practical learning assignments, and applicable code text and commentary. A bonus 60-question online quiz is also included with each book.

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