This is an advance copy of ICC eNews. The browser-view online version will not be available until tomorrow when ICC eNews goes public.

Pictured (left-right): William Gould, vice president, ICC-ES External Relations & Client Services; Shahin Moinian, president, ICC-ES; Karsten Kathage, vice president, DIBt; Gerhard Lange, stairs engineer, Fastening & Reinforcing Techniques, DIBt; Doris Kirchner, Corporate Communications, DIBt; Andra Hoermann-Gast, staff engineer, ICC-ES.

ICC-ES visits Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik in Berlin.

ICC-ES President Shahin Moinian and ICC-ES Vice-President of External Relations and Client Services William Gould visited the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt), an authority of the German Länder Governments for a uniform fulfilment of technical tasks in the field of public law. Both organizations discussed their ongoing collaboration including the development of acceptance criteria (AC) harmonized with various European Assessment Documents and the great benefits to product manufacturers. Harmonized AC and standards will be able to help streamline the evaluation of process for product manufacturers working in the U.S. and Europe. ICC-ES and DIBt have a Memorandum of Understanding in place, and both organizations are members of the World Federation of Technical Assessment Organizations.

Follow the Group B Committee Action Hearings online.

The 2016 Group B Committee Action Hearings are underway in Louisville, Ky. View the schedule and follow the results online. The hearings are being webcast live on the ICC website, as well, and are scheduled to continue through April 27.

And the water goes where?

Attendees of all ages checked out ICC's display on the importance of safe drinking water during the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. Designed by ICC Member Carroll "Chip" Matthews, founder of Integrated Cross Connection Partners, LLC, the system visually detailed how backflow and back-siphonage occurs. "It went amazing!" Matthews said of the festival. "I can easily say that not a minute passed without someone inquiring about what we had to share."

BSM sponsors make building safety a priority.

ICC is grateful for the companies and organizations that are making building safety a priority by sponsoring Building Safety Month. This year's Major Sponsors for week 3 — Learn from the Past, Build for Tomorrow — include: the American Wood Council, Building Owners and Managers Association, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Simpson Strong-Tie and Softwood Lumber Board. Learn more about becoming a Building Safety Month sponsor.

Get creative with Building Safety Month celebrations.

Code officials work day in and day out to keep the public safe. Building Safety Month is a month-long celebration of all aspects of building safety that helps families, employers and leaders understand and appreciate the best practices that keep the places where we live, work and play, safe. Send us your photos, proclamations and events so that other code professionals and the public can benefit from your efforts.

Need some extra inspiration? Check out this fun video.

ASHRAE, AIA look to future of energy efficiency.

To address increasing design challenges in the built environment, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together in a variety of areas related to technical activities and research, the development of young professionals, advocacy and public outreach, publications, and education. ASHRAE and AIA are part of a group that is developing a new version of the International Green Construction Code, scheduled to be released in 2018.

ICC-ES joins ASPE affiliate sponsor program.

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) welcomed the ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) to its Affiliate Sponsor program, which will provide ICC-ES' Plumbing, Mechanical, and Gas Program with valuable exposure within the plumbing engineering community and increase awareness of the importance of its Listing Reports regarding products in plumbing system designs.

ICC, ASTM partnership continues to support sustainable building codes in the Gulf.

The International Code Council and ASTM International continue to partner 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 funded in part through the Market Development Cooperator Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. The goal is to enhance the Gulf region's efforts in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, materials management, building safety and overall economic growth.

PERC releases drainline transport report phase 2.1 supplement.

With water conservation and efficiency continuing to drive code changes, ICC is among Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition (PERC) members providing new insight into building drains. PERC's release of the Phase 2.1 supplemental report on the drainline transport of solid waste in building drains focuses on the implications surrounding dual flush toilet discharge patterns, and the impact of drainline slope deviations on the transport of solid waste.

Code Essentials of the 2015 IRC.

Exposure category. Many of the prescriptive methods of wood frame construction in the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) are generally deemed in compliance without consideration of the wind exposure category. Siding, roofing, windows, skylights, exterior doors and overhead doors must be manufactured and installed to resist wind loads based on ultimate design wind speed, exposure factors and other criteria in accordance with the code.

2016 ICC Chapter meetings & events.

Region 8 installs newly elected officers and board.
ICC presents Chapter Merit Award to CALBO.
Monroe County Fire Marshalls meeting in Rochester, N.Y.

What we're reading, following and covering.

There's a lot happening — domestically and globally — in building safety, fire prevention, sustainability and resiliency right now. Our aim is to provide busy professionals like you with a weekly run-down of the most compelling industry news stories concerning the safety, science and performance of the built environment. We do the reading for you and break down the latest news and information into an easy-to-digest format with fresh insight.

ICC affiliate sponsors

Training & education opportunities

Upcoming shows & events