Applications accepted for ICC Board of Directors.

Applications are currently being accepted for individuals to serve on the 2016-2017 International Code Council Board of Directors. Applications, letters of interest and other related information must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 17. Click here for details. Elections to the ICC Board will be held Oct. 17 during the Annual Business Meeting at the 2016 Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo.

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signs Public Act 16-215 that will expedite the current and future building and fire code adoption process in Connecticut. Connecticut State Building Inspector Joe Summers worked closely with ICC stakeholders, including ICC Members Peter Zvingilas and Joe Summers from the Connecticut Building Officials Association, and Carlton Smith, Chairman of the Codes & Standards Committee on the legislation. Note Smith, Summers and Zvingilas to the immediate right of the Governor and ICC Government Relations Regional Manager William Nash to the far right in the photo.

New Connecticut codes based on the I-Codes.

The Department of Administrative Services, Office of the State Building Inspector, in conjunction with the Codes & Standards Committee, announced its intent to adopt the 2016 Connecticut State Building Code and 2016 Connecticut Fire Safety Code. The new building code will be based on the 2012 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Energy Conservation Codes, the 2014 National Electrical Code, and 2009 ANSI/ICC A117.1. The new fire code will be based on the 2012 International Fire Code and NFPA Standard 101 Life Safety Code. In accordance with the requirements of Public Act 16-215, the state is accepting public comments through close of business August 5.

Don't miss weighing in on IBC Section 1203.1.

A proposed committee interpretation to Section 1203.1 (Ventilation—General) of the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) — regarding natural ventilation of buildings in accordance with Section 1203.4, or mechanical ventilation in accordance with the International Mechanical Code — is posted for ICC Membership review and comment until August 12.

Misty Guard to impact PMG strategy in the marketplace.

Leading a cross-functional team from throughout the ICC Family of Companies to help align the organization's PMG strategy to have maximum impact in the marketplace, Misty Guard joined ICC as Vice President of Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Swimming Pool (PMG) Programs. In her new role, she will work closely with various ICC divisions to promote ICC codes, standards, products and services at the federal, state and local level, as well as represent ICC globally in the standard developing organizations community.

More educational sessions available at this year's conference.

ICC has expanded the number of educational sessions available at the 2016 Annual Conference, Oct. 16-19, in Kansas City, Mo. There will be more courses with more opportunities to learn about the latest topics that are important to you — all while earning valuable CEUs! Click here for the full schedule.

Code essentials of ignition sources in the IFC.

Controls for ignition sources are dictated in several chapters of the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC), including specific requirements for electrical equipment and hot work involving brazing, oxygen-acetylene cutting and welding.

(excerpted from the Fire Code Essentials based on the 2015 IFC.)

Morgantown, W.V., code department praised for becoming an ICC Preferred Provider.

Thanks to its newly acquired ICC Preferred Provider designation, the city of Morgantown, W.V., Code Enforcement Department will be able to more easily and affordably give its officers the training required to be serve the community. Morgantown's preferred provider status means city residents can be confident their code inspectors will be highly educated in their field, encouraging higher safety standards, fewer mistakes and greater knowledge of appropriate procedure.

Living safely with wildfires.

Nearly 100,000 wildfires burn approximately seven million acres of land each year, according to the International Association of Wildland Fire statistics. Firefighters and civilians perish each year in these fires, many of which occur in areas that do not have any construction codes and standards pertaining to the wildland-urban interface. What can you do? ICC strongly recommends officials in at-risk communities adopt codes such as the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code and help educate residents and businesses about what they can do to stay safe and prevent wildfires.

ICC Region VI tour includes town hall meeting, chapter stops.

An ICC contingent, including Board of Directors President Alex Olszowy, Board Director and Region VI Director Robert Drexler, and Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, will lead a tour of Region VI, Aug. 6-12, that will include a town hall meeting at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and chapter stops in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island.

ICC Chapter officers from across the country share the goals and challenges they face during the inaugural ICC Chapter Leader Symposium.

ICC holds first annual Chapter Leader Symposium.

The International Code Council held its inaugural Chapter Leader Symposium in Oklahoma City, Okla., June 20-22. Forty-one Chapter leaders attended the symposium, representing numerous states throughout the country, including Hawaii and Alaska. Representatives from Trinidad and Tobago were also in attendance. ICC Board or Directors President Alex "Cash" Olszowy and Vice President Dwayne Garriss presided over the event, delivering opening and closing remarks, participating in work sessions and providing advice and guidance. In addition, several ICC staff representing Government Relations, Business and Product Development, and Member Services, as well as ICC subsidiaries ICC Evaluation Service and the ICC Solar Rating & Certification Corporation, facilitated discussions and provided presentations throughout the symposium.

Join the discussion: Storage containers as permanent structures.

In its continued effort to address emerging issues in the built environment, and discuss specific areas of interest relevant to our Members, the Major Jurisdiction Committee will be hosting a conference call on Aug. 11 (11:00 a.m. ET/8:00 a.m. PT). Ara Sargsyan of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety will moderate on "Use of Storage Containers for Permanent Structures — An open discussion on code compliance issues and approval processes in various jurisdictions". If you would like to participate in the discussion, please email us and call-in instructions will be sent to you.

Need a hand with plan review?

The 2015 International Code Plan Review Records can help. 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.

The code essentials on storm shelters.

Storm shelters, sometimes called safe rooms, though not required by the code, offer added protection from the destructive forces of high winds, hurricanes and tornadoes. The design and construction of storm shelters, either as detached structures or safe rooms within a dwelling, must conform to the requirements of ICC/NSSA-500, Standard on the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters.

Gary & Delaine Englebert: Married code professionals.

Like every married couple, Gary and Delaine Englebert have their similarities and their differences. Both of them were raised in the South, but there's a difference in his North Carolina accent and her southern Georgia lilt. They both have earned the title of Master Code Professional, but he's the code geek while she saw it as a path to greater professional recognition. But what they may have most in common is that there's no more surefire way to motivate either one than to tell them that they can't do something.

Building inspectors: friend or foe?

Utah County Commissioner Greg Graves and Utah State Fire Marshall's Office Chief Deputy Ted Black discussed the International Building Code, building inspectors and the process of building inspection on the July 8 episode of the County Seat. Often considered a friend or foe relationship, Graves and Black eloquently illustrated to the audience that much thought goes into how homes are built, and the numerous safety precautions carried out by dedicated building inspectors that are involved.

Wife, mother and long-time ICC supporter Barrie Sims passes away.

Barrie Sims, wife of ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, passed away after a long-term fight against cancer. A lifelong educator, she is remembered for her sense of humor, passion for life and love she had for Dominic, and their two children. Shown here at a state chapter meeting in 1989, Barrie was a long term supporter of the Code Council. The Sims family expresses deep gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received during this difficult time.

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