ICC announces details on Group A voting.

On Nov. 3, ICC announced the procedures to address the 2015 Group A Public Comment Hearing (PCH) voting problems with the electronic voting devices. The two-step electronic voting process is intended to closely mirror the process used to conduct the in-person PCH, resulting in accurate and transparent PCH results to be used to conduct the Online Governmental Consensus Vote. As noted in the announcement, eligible voting members will be limited to those who were issued an electronic voting device during the PCH in Long Beach, Calif. cdpACCESS will transfer the recorded voting results for those who voted in Long Beach. The voter is not permitted to change their vote. For eligible voters who may have voted, and the vote was not recorded by the voting system, or for those who did not vote, they will be permitted to vote online. Read more.

ICC Board approves ad hoc committee shaped by stakeholder input to examine the science of tall wood buildings.

The Code Council Board of Directors approved the establishment of an ad hoc committee for tall wood buildings at its December meeting. Tall wood is a term used by the industry to identify wood construction which utilizes Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in buildings of heights greater than 6 stories. CLT buildings with heights varying from seven to 12 stories are in the planning stages in Portland, New York City and Minneapolis. Read more.

2015 Year in Review.

In every aspect of its business in 2015, the International Code Council found ways to improve service to Members, increase its participation and relevance in the industry, and substantially increase the financial performance of the association and its subsidiaries. This success has allowed ICC to transform as an information and knowledge organization that stays true to its core principles while creating new and relevant activities that are valuable to its Members and stakeholders. Read more about ICC's 2015 Year in Review.

ICC-ES continues substantial growth for third year in a row.

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), the experts in building product evaluation and certification, reports 2015 was another year of substantial growth. The growth is attributed to focusing on enhanced customer service, fast application turn-around time, and continued high-quality evaluation reports that code officials look for and manufacturers demand. MiTek-USA Senior Vice President of Engineering Ray Yu, P.E., S.E. said, "Mitek-USA has been a long-term client of ICC-ES and we rely on their expertise, reputation and ability to evaluate innovative building products like ours." Read more.

University experts to perform ICC-ES testing on rebar product.

CarbonOne Technologies has engaged North Carolina State University, under the supervision of Dr. Sami Rizkalla, and the University of Miami, under the supervision of Dr. Antonio Nanni, to perform independent ICC-ES Evaluation Service testing on its new rebar product. For decades, ICC-ES has been the industry leader in performing technical evaluations for code compliance, providing regulators and construction professionals with clear evidence that products comply with codes and standards. Read more.

ICC, ASTM International representatives promote sustainable construction in the Gulf region.

Representatives from the Code Council and ASTM International participated in the 2015 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Washington, D.C., to promote the use of codes and standards in sustainable construction in the Middle East. ICC and ASTM International have entered into a partnership through the Market Development Cooperator Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration to enhance the Gulf region's efforts in energy efficiency, water conservation, materials management, building safety, and overall economic growth. Pictured during the Greenbuild expo are ICC CEO Dominic Sims and ASTM International Executive Vice President Kathy Morgan.

ICC, Saudi officials discuss green collaboration.

The Code Council hosted a reception for representatives of the Saudi Green Building Forum (SGBF) at ICC's Governmental Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. The event was held for ICC and SGBF representatives to discuss collaboration to enhance sustainable construction in the Middle East.

Industry leaders spearhead development of Disaster Recovery Construction Specialist Certification.

Construction industry representatives during a three-day forum developed the scope, parameters and provisions for a Disaster Recovery Construction Specialist (DRCS) certification. Stressing the need for qualified personnel to be involved in rebuilding efforts following a disaster, the forum was convened by the Code Council, Green Advantage, Inc., and the Antioch University New England Center for Academic Innovation at the American Institute of Architects headquarters in Washington, D.C., to outline the certification. Participating stakeholders from the design and construction industry, academia, and policy applauded the initiative. Read more.

Significant changes to the 2015 IPC.

A modification to Section 202 (Backflow Preventer Definition) has been made to the 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC). This definition has been made more specific about what constitutes a backflow preventer: a backflow prevention assembly, a backflow prevention device or other means or methods. (This information is excerpted from the Significant Changes to the 2015 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes.)

Register now for one of ICC's most popular training institutes.

One of ICC's most popular institutes is heading to Austin, Texas. Make your plans now for the Residential Inspection Institute, Feb. 29-March 4. Based for the first time on the 2015 International Codes, the Residential Inspection Institute will enhance your residential inspection knowledge through discussion and case study analysis. Instructors Jerry Flanik, MCP, and John Gibson, MCP and CFM, bring decades of industry experience to the classroom. Learn more and register.

FLASH announces call for 2016 National Weatherperson of the Year nominations.

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) announced a call for nominations for the 2016 National Weatherperson of the Year Award, an annual honor recognizing an outstanding weatherperson for leadership in promoting disaster safety and resilience. The 2016 award will be presented at the FLASH Annual Conference during a luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 28, in advance of National Weatherperson's Day on Feb. 5. Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel and former National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield won the award in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Click here for more information.

ICC's Ochoa named Vice Chair of HPBCC Policy Committee.

ICC's Vice President of Government Relations for Federal Activities Christopher E. Ochoa Esq., was named Vice Chair of the 2016 High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition Policy Committee, which is a private-sector coalition of building community stakeholders working to educate federal policymakers on the importance of high-performance buildings and advocating policies to achieve enhanced building performance. It provides guidance and support to the High-Performance Buildings Caucus of the U.S. Congress to promote and showcase best practices in building design and focus on issues reflecting all aspects of high-performance buildings.

GR Profile: Sean Wallace.

If you visit ICC's Washington, D.C., office, odds are at some point during the day you will hear a woman's voice call out, "Sean?" That would be the voice of Government Relations Senior Vice President Sara Yerkes, and the man she's calling for is two offices down, hard at work keeping the whole department running smoothly. She more than likely needs some important information right away, and if you ever need to know something about the Government Relations department, your best bet is to call Sean Wallace. Read more.

NWGIA elects new officers.

ICC Government Relations Regional Manager Tom Allen attended the Northwest Georgia Inspectors Association (NWGIA) Annual Meeting in Kennesaw, Ga., and inducted the new Chapter officers. He is pictured with incoming President David Collins of the city of Marietta. Allen also presented a plaque to Immediate Past President Jerry Lanham of Cobb County in recognition of his service to the Chapter. More than 50 Chapter Members attended the event.

COCM conducts fall conference, elects officers.

The Code Officials Conference of Michigan (COCM) held its Fall Conference at the Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire, Mich. The conference included four days of education, vendor exhibits, a scholarship golf outing and annual banquet. Mike Winkler of Holland Charter Township was elected President of COCM for 2015-2016. ICC Government Relations Senior Regional Manager Corey M. Roblee was in attendance and installed the newly elected board: Winkler, Jerry Jones, Paul Featherston, Bob Grostick, Tim Gardner, Steven Sheldon, Matt Leach and Steven Taglauer.

Capital District Chapter of the NYSBOC swears in new officers.

The Capital District Chapter of the New York State Building Officials Conference (NYSBOC) swore in new officers during its December meeting. They are: President Robert Cordell, 1st Vice President Mark Platel, 2nd Vice President Daniel Sherman, Secretary Jackie Suidy, Treasurer James Light, and Delegates Sam Ricotta, Richard Theriault, and Roger Griffiths.

ICC Global Membership Council Profile: Nicholas W. Hill.

Nick Hill is the current Chief Executive of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ), the peak body representing the building surveying and building controls sectors in New Zealand and a group that is dedicated to improving the professionalism and ongoing skill sets of its members and the building and construction sector. Over the last four years, Hill and his team have transformed BOINZ from technical insolvency to a financially successful and internationally respected organization. He has championed the qualification requirements for building surveyors and ensured that the Institute is at the forefront of the development of qualification course material. Read more.

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