AIA, ICC, ink five-year collaborative agreement.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the International Code Council (ICC) announced an agreement to collaborate across a wide range of initiatives ranging from code development and compliance to sustainability and energy conservation to increasing building code knowledge among architects. "Building safety and performance requires a team of professionals to address the challenges we face in today's built environment," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "Design professionals and code officials, working in collaboration with other industry partners represent the best approach for achieving the public good and advancing building science through regulatory tools like the I-Codes."

Former Navy SEAL Gleeson will headline conference networking luncheon.

Brent Gleeson, a Navy SEAL combat veteran with multiple tours to Iraq and Africa, will serve as the guest speaker during the network luncheon at ICC's 2015 Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif. Upon leaving SEAL Team 5, Gleeson turned his discipline and battlefield lessons to the world of business and has become an accomplished entrepreneur, writer, and acclaimed speaker on topics ranging from leadership to entrepreneurship and marketing. Learn more.

Significant changes to the 2015 IRC.

A modification to Section R301.2.4 of the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) states that buildings located in a flood hazard area must comply with the provisions for the most restrictive flood hazard area and may use ASCE 24 for design.

(This information is excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Residential Code.)

CTC, AHC to review public comments, develop Group B changes.

ICC's Code Technology Committee (CTC) and the Ad Hoc Committee on Healthcare (AHC) will hold separate meetings Sept. 14-15 in Schiller Park, Ill., to review public comments submitted for the 2015 Public Comment Hearings and develop proposed changes for the Group B code development cycle. The CTC meeting will look at changes pertaining to care facilities and elevators/elevator lobbies. The AHC meeting will review changes pertaining to hospitals. CTC and AHC will meet jointly to discuss the correlation of care facility and hospital related public comments and the development of Group B changes related to hospitals and care facilities.

ICC and Hanley Wood form communications partnership.

The International Code Council and Hanley Wood announced a joint communications initiative to connect building product manufacturers and trade associations to the code community and support skilled trade education. The initiative will begin with a pilot newsletter program called Code Counts — to inform and educate the code community about product and practice innovations — with a portion of the revenue collected from newsletter sponsors going to the ICC's High School Technical Training Program.

2015 checklists assist with plan review.

The 2015 International Code Plan Review Records have arrived. Each Record contains a thorough checklist of applicable code sections from the 2015 I-Codes and references to applicable standards to help reviewers conduct detailed, consistent plan reviews. Available in affordable packs of 25, Records are available for the IBC, IRC, IFC Sprinkler, IPC, IMC/IFGC, IECC, A117.1-2009 (as referenced in the 2015 IBC) and 2014 NEC.

ICC and Cengage Learning expand partnership, offer 2015 IBC Training.

ICC and Cengage Learning have expanded their partnership and developed training on the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Building Code (IBC). The online training offered through the ICC Campus Online addresses the most significant changes from the 2012 IBC to 2015 IBC. It includes graphics, animations and other learning features to best communicate the changes and help the learner retain the information. Each change can be followed through the graphics and text and/or the audio explaining the type of change (Addition, Modification, etc.), the change language and why the change is important. The online training consists of seven parts and a final quiz to test users' knowledge of the material covered. The course also is approved for ICC CEUs and AIA Continuing Professional Education. To begin your 2015 IBC significant changes training go to the ICC Campus Online, scroll down to the ICC-Cengage course and register today.

ICC-ES issues evaluation report for wedge expansion anchors.

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) commitment to customer service and rapid turnaround of its industry-leading evaluation reports resulted in the quick update to Powers Fasteners ESR-2502 to include recognition of its new wedge expansion anchors: Powers Power-Stud+ SD2 Carbon Steel Anchors, Power-Stud+ SD4 Stainless Steel Anchors, and Power-Stud+ SD6 Stainless Steel Anchors in Cracked and Uncracked Concrete. DEWALT (Stanley Black & Decker) is an additional listee on this report that confirms structural compliance with 2015, 2012, 2009 and 2006 International Codes, Abu Dhabi International Building Code and Florida Building Codes and provides design and construction professionals with new options for building safe and code compliant structures. Read more.

Wildfires prompt Gov. Brown to declare state of emergency in Calif.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for all of California in the wake of at least 18 wildfires that killed one firefighter and drove hundreds of people from their homes. The emergency declaration, which included the activation of the California National Guard, will speed up help for thousands of firefighters.

Deadly Berkeley balcony collapse prompts code changes.

The city of Berkeley, Calif., has implemented a host of new construction ordinances intended to prevent future balcony collapses like the fatal one in June. From a code development perspective, looking forward is the key to prevent future tragedies by learning from what happened and applying those lessons whether it is Berkley's codes or ICC codes. ICC has offered its support to the California Building Officials, American Institute of Architects and Structural Engineers Association of California task force that is examining dry rot and other issues that are the focus of investigations into the collapses of a Berkeley balcony and Folsom, Calif., stairwell. Read more.

MBCIA golf tournament raises funds for scholarship program.

The Massachusetts Building Commissioners and Inspectors Association (MCBIA) held its 23rd annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover. MCBIA's scholarship program supports children and grandchildren of Chapter members, vocational school students, and special needs students. To date, the program has awarded more than $215,000 in scholarships. Pictured at the event are MCBIA Treasurer John Clancy (left) and President Dan Sullivan.

NCGBS call for members.

To those people who have wanted to serve on the National Institute of Building Sciences National Council of Governments on Building Codes and Standards (NCGBCS) Board of Direction but are not government representatives, now is the time to get involved. NCGBCS, otherwise known as the Council of Governments, has changed its charter to allow expanded participation from non-governmental members, including openings on the NCGBCS Board itself. Read more.

Longtime Florida code official Moses passes away.

Thomas (Tom) M. Moses, whose life story is a picture of an individual destined to become a leader in developing and enforcing effective building codes that would lead to safe buildings and communities, passed away June 21. Educated as an architect, his career path spanned from Winter Park, Fla., to ICC legacy organization Southern Building Code Congress International, to 30 years as a building official at Walt Disney World. Read more.

ICC affiliate sponsors

Training & education opportunities

Upcoming shows & events

Resources