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Board feedback on the ICC code development process due Feb. 15.

As previously posted, the ICC Board has directed staff to engage the stakeholders by announcing a "Call for Feedback" on any and all aspects of the ICC code development process. The next step in the process is the deadline for feedback, which is Feb. 15. Feedback received will be posted for comment. The final report will considered by the ICC Board at its May board meeting.

ICC announces theme for 37th annual Building Safety Month.

The International Code Council Family of Companies' theme for 2017 Building Safety Month — a worldwide public safety campaign celebrated in May — is Code Officials: Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth. During May, the Code Council's 60,000-plus Members, along with other professionals in the construction and design community, will conduct events, including school assemblies, hosting information booths at builder supply stores, and implementing proclamation signing ceremonies to increase awareness about the importance of building and remodeling to modern codes and standards.

Code Council & Saudi Building Code National Committee sign agreement to advance building safety & innovation.

The International Code Council is supporting the Saudi Building Code National Committee's (SBCNC) efforts to update the Saudi Building Code utilizing current provisions of the 2015 International Codes, including the International Building Code, International Plumbing Code, and others in the I-Code family. Once updated, the Saudi Building Code will improve building safety, trade and innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The agreement reflects the long-standing relationship and collaboration between the Code Council and the SBCNC, which dates more than 20 years.

ICC-SRCC collaborates with CSA Group on North American solar thermal standards.

The Solar Rating Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC), a member of the International Code Council Family of Companies, and CSA Group are coordinating and unifying standards so stakeholders have access to North American solar thermal standards that best meet the industry's needs.

"ICC-SRCC fulfills the industry's need for a single, national program that allows manufacturers to rate and test the efficiency of solar equipment," said ICC-SRCC Executive Director Eileen Prado. "Its primary purpose is to provide authoritative performance ratings, certifications and standards for renewable energy products, with the intention of protecting and providing guidance to consumers, incentive providers, government and industry."

National Green Building Standard update process underway.

The 2018 National Green Building Standard (ICC/ASHRAE-700) development process is now underway. Applications are being accepted for members of the Consensus Committee and Task Groups — deadline for applications is Feb. 6. The first meeting of the Consensus Committee will be held April 18-19 in Washington, D.C.

Stakeholders and members of the public are also eligible to submit change proposals to be considered by the committee for the 2018 standard — deadline for proposed changes is March 1. For more details, please click here. ICC Governmental Member Representatives are authorized to travel at ICC's expense when participating at standards development committee meetings.

Significant changes to the 2015 IPC/IMC/IFGC.

Section 717 (Replacement of Sewers by Pipe Bursting Method)

Replacement of building sewers by the pipebursting method has been used for many decades and is especially useful where excavation of the existing sewer is difficult and costly because of parking lots and other items on the ground surface that would need to be removed and replaced.

Student paper competition focuses on "The World in 2050".

Calling for submissions that exemplify the theme — The World in 2050 — the American National Standards Institute announced its sixth annual student paper competition as part of its ongoing efforts to spread awareness among postsecondary students of the strategic significance of standards and conformance.

Entries are due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on April 28, and must be written and submitted by college or university students at the associate, undergraduate or graduate level enrolled in a U.S. academic institute of higher learning. The competition is open to both full and part-time students of all disciplines.

Network, share experiences & solve problems with your colleagues.

ICC Region III Educational Institute | Feb. 6-10 | Chaska, Minn.

With topics of interest to all building design, construction and inspection professionals, the 2017 Upper Great Plains Region III Educational Institute features a wide spectrum of specialized courses and the opportunity for on-site ICC Certification exams.

ICC-ES issues ESR-3631 to Structurlam Products.

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) issued ESR-3631 to Structurlam Products LP for its CrossLam cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, providing evidence CrossLam CLT panels comply with the code requirements of the 2015 International Building Code and International Residential Code. Cross laminated timber is a relatively new technology involving the efficient use of the timber resource in manufacturing "mass timber" building components; CLT structures often experience faster construction times and also result in net carbon negative buildings.

White paper examines role of existing building codes.

Existing buildings define the main streets and the skylines of the nation's communities. Yet, as these communities evolve to address changes in their economy and populations, they don't always have the mechanisms in place to assure the safety and security of their citizens. The National Institute of Building Sciences National Council of Governments on Building Codes and Standards focuses on this issue in a recently released white paper.

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.

2017 ICC Chapter meetings & events.

Napa Solano Chapter installation
ICC Central Coast Chapter installation

Interesting trivia from the world of construction.

Did you know?
Japanese farmers, after removing the hulls from their rice crop and sorting out the white kernels, take the hulls from the leftover rice, mix them into a kind of paste, mold the substance into brick-shaped blocks, and build houses with them. Such buildings are known in Japan as "houses of rice skin." ASTM testing has demonstrated that rice hulls, in their raw and unprocessed state, without the addition of any chemicals, constitute a Class A or Class I insulation material because they are difficult to burn and less likely to allow moisture to propagate mold.

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