Pictured (left-right): David Walls, ICC; Santiago Creuheras, SENER; Evangelina Hirata, CASEDI; Undersecretary Leonardo Beltrán, SENER; Richard Shackleton, UK Embassy; Julia Martinez, CTSEMBARQ; and Odón De Buen, CONUEE.

ICC partners with Mexico in developing energy efficiency model.

The International Code Council (ICC) and Calidad and Sustentabilidad en la Edificacion A.C. (CASEDI) [Building Quality and Sustainability] announced the publication of the Mexico Conservation Code for Buildings, the first energy efficiency code for Mexico. This code represents the cumulative efforts on behalf of CASEDI, Mexico's National Commission for Energy Efficiency, the Secretaria de Energia [Department of Energy], ICC and input from other interested parties from both the public and private sector. This new publication is based on ICC's International Energy Conservation Code, the most widely adopted energy code in the U.S.

Save valuable time and stay updated.

Receive text message updates during ICC's 2016 Annual Conference, Public Comment Hearings and Expo to help you stay on schedule, remind you of important start and end times for sessions, keep you updated on activities and other conference events, and even let you know what code changes are coming up for discussion. Opt-in to receive text messages.

IABO answers call to conduct flood damage assessments.

As thousands of people evacuate Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in anticipation of the area's Cedar River cresting this Friday, the Iowa Association of Building Officials (IABO) is answering the call of the city of Cedar Rapids' Building Services Department for volunteers to aid in conducting flood damage assessments. Volunteers are urged to not "self-deploy" due to security measures in the flood-affected area; the city will provide a brief training session to volunteer inspectors prior to any assessments. If you are interested in volunteering to help conduct disaster assessments, please contact Building Services Manager Duncan McCallum.

Voting at the Group B Public Comment Hearings, 2016 Annual Business Meeting.

The Public Comment Hearings in Kansas City, Mo., are the first step in the process to determine the Final Action on 2016 Group B code changes — Public Comment Hearing voting followed by the Online Governmental Consensus Vote utilizing cdpACCESS. Click here for a summary of the voting procedures published on page iv of the posted Public Comment Agenda, specifically noting how the final action will be determined.

An electronic voting system will not be utilized during the 2016 Annual Business Meeting in Kansas City. Voting at the Annual Business Meeting will be determined by either a show of hands or a written ballot, to be determined in accordance with CP 19.

Building codes, planning key to community resilience.

"Buildings built to the most modern building codes were the safest places to be during Hurricane Sandy," states ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims in a guest post on NIST's Taking Measure blog. "Having spent most of my life in code enforcement, I've known this to be fact and have seen the evidence with my own eyes. But hearing New York City Chief Resilience Officer Daniel Zarrilli say it on stage at the White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes this past May after the death and destruction wrought on the Northeast during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 brought back so many memories and reminded me why the International Code Council's motto and mission is: 'People Helping People Build a Safer World.'"

Northern Nevada counties adopt Energy Rating Index.

The cities of Carson City, Fernley, Reno and Sparks and the counties of Lyon, Storey and Washoe in Northern Nevada have joined the ranks of states and municipalities that have amended their energy codes based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code to include an Energy Rating Index compliance option. The voluntary energy rating index option relies on the Home Energy Rating System, which assesses projected energy use in homes and offers a score that conveys energy efficiency.

Code essentials of fire department connections.

For existing buildings, the International Fire Code (IFC) authorizes the code official to require the installation of additional signs to help identify the fire department connection location. In many cases, the IFC and International Building Code only require automatic sprinkler protection for the fire area or a portion of the building.

Special inspection agency accreditation training.

Oct. 13-14 | New York City
Anyone performing special inspections in New York City will want to attend this two-day course offered by the International Accreditation Service. This course provides an overview of the accreditation requirements for the New York City Department of Buildings.

New California Codes and guides to key changes help code users prepare for 2017.

The 2016 Title 24 California Codes go into effect Jan. 1
The latest editions of the California construction codes will result in safer communities with more efficient and resilient homes and buildings. The 2016 triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code, Title 24, is now available and includes, for those who sign up for its subscription service, all updates issued by the state through 2019. Building officials and local government, industry and design professionals, and the general public can purchase California's new codes that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

Calif. Gov. approves new construction oversight.

In response to last year's fatal balcony collapse in Berkeley, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill — SB 465 by Senators Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) — increasing transparency and providing more oversight to construction contractors. The bill also requires contractors convicted of crimes related to their work to report that information to the Contractors State License Board, which oversees the industry.

Sometimes market forces work.

Over the past 40 years, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Energy Program Co-director David Goldstein's experience shows that the market forces they teach you about in Economics 101 don't work when it comes to energy efficiency. In his recent post on the NRDC blog, he comments on the increase in the number of homes rated to the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) in the first half of 2016, as compared to the number of homes rated over the same period in 2015. The HERS Index is a number ranging from 100 — for a house that meets the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code — to zero for a zero-net-energy home.

EPA releases document on Legionella control in plumbing.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final document, "Technologies for Legionella Control in Premise Plumbing Systems: Scientific Literature Review," which summarizes effective strategies for controlling Legionella growth in plumbing found in buildings and facilities. With this information, states, facility owners/operator and others can make more informed risk management decisions that prevent or mitigate Legionella growth in premise plumbing.

Davis recognized with Honorary Life Member Award.

International Code Council Member Jack Davis of Dobson, N.C., was awarded an Honorary Life Member Award from the North Carolina Mechanical Inspectors Association (NCMIA) during its 44th Annual Educational Conference. Davis served on the NCMIA Board of Directors for four years. NCMIA President Dennis Maidon presented Davis with the award.

Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina insurance commissioner and state fire marshall, spoke at the opening session; and ICC Board Director Donny Phipps shared information on new codes.

What we're reading, following & 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.

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