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Code officials: Real-life heroes

In less than 15 years, 80 percent of current code officials will retire. Recognizing the need to encourage and mentor the next generation of code officials, the Code Council is hosting a Promoting the Value of the Code Official photo contest. Post your best "safetie" (safety selfie) while on the job. Share a short story about the first home or building you inspected — what advice would you give to code officials that are newer to the profession? Share a photo of you mentoring a younger code official. Make sure to use the hashtag #CodeHeroes.

In preparation for Building Safety Month, our #CodeHeroes photo contest focuses on this year's theme, Code Officials — Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth.

Order your 2017 BSM posters

The ICC Building Safety Month (BSM) campaign reinforces the need for adoption of modern, model building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement, and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system. Building Safety Month posters are now available to help you spread the message this May.

Get proactive about the next generation

Many of the officials who check construction plans and inspect buildings for safety are on the cusp of retirement, and they're not being replaced. ICC outlines the initiatives it is spearheading to draw the next generation to our industry.

Learn how to recruit and mentor new leaders

Building on last year's theme of finding, recruiting and mentoring the next generation of chapter leaders, this year's Chapter Leadership Academy June 6-7 in Atlanta, Ga., will focus on chapter management skills, including using social media to reach out to new and prospective chapter members.

New Electronic Voter Validation site open

The improved ICC Electronic Voter Validation Site is now open, and all Primary Representatives of current ICC Governmental Members are encouraged to access the new site and validate Governmental Member Voting Representatives. Remember: Governmental Member Voting Representatives must be validated each year.

Examining the 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.

Significant changes to the 2015 IFC

An addition to Section 903.2.1.6 (Assembly Occupancies on Roofs) of the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) states that fire sprinklers are now required on all floors between the occupied roof and the level of exit discharge when assembly uses occur on the rooftop of buildings and the occupant load exceeds 100 for Group A-2 or 300 for other Group A occupancies.

Industry expert weighs in on notable building code trends

Building codes are a key consideration for local government officials. Montpelier, Vt., City Manager Bill Fraser weighs in on some of the most notable recent trends he's seen around building codes.

Challenges of marijuana legalization

The ICC Major Jurisdiction Committee will host a conference call to discuss the unexpected challenges, problems and various solutions pertaining to the legalization of marijuana, especially the rise of cultivation and manufacturing facilities and how codse and enforcement apply.

The critical role of construction personnel following disasters

Industry advocates agree that construction personnel perform a critical role following catastrophes. Their knowledge, skills and abilities are essential to building recovery and community reconstruction, and should utilize sustainable construction techniques to ensure performance, safety and effectiveness.

Competition focuses on the world in 2050

Calling for submissions on the theme "The World in 2050" the American National Standards Institute announced its annual student paper competition as part of its ongoing efforts to spread awareness among post-secondary students of the strategic significance of standards and conformance.

Low-rise residential building requirements updated

The Department of Energy published an update to the Energy Efficiency Standards for the Design and Construction of New Federal Low-Rise Residential Buildings to the International Code Council 2015 International Energy Conservation Code.

Raising the building performance bar

In the cutthroat world of development, architects are often asked to qualify and quantify the merits of their design. The benchmarks are often derived from the building code. With the design community endeavoring to go above and beyond this baseline, what happens if we raised the bar for codes and standards?

Catastrophic Oroville Dam destruction revealed

Last month, the main and emergency spillways of the Oroville Dam in Oroville, Calif., failed, leading to the evacuation of 188,000 people near the dam. ICC member Nancy Springer reported the on-the-ground developments resulting from the Oroville Dam emergency flood warning and evacuations.

Free 2018 IRC significant changes webinar

Don't miss your chance to sign up for this free webinar on Significant Changes to the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC). The live webinar will focus on the energy provisions of Chapter 11 of the IRC and will identify regional code changes that may significantly impact construction.

Reserve your space today

Be a part of the Building Safety & Design Expo that will be held Sept. 10-11 in Columbus, Ohio — the ideal venue for manufacturers and associations to educate code officials and other building safety professionals about the latest innovative technologies that are helping to build safer and more resilient communities.

ICC reaches reinstatement program milestone

As March came to a close, the International Code Council's Reinstatement Program reached 750 certifications reinstated, reflecting nearly 250 individuals who have taken advantage of the program. The Reinstatement Program offers individuals with certifications expired more than six years an opportunity to reinstate their certifications without the need to re-test.

Take your code knowledge to the next level

Seasoned ICC instructors will keep you engaged from start to finish with the most up-to-date information, tactics and best practices at ICC's Training & Certification Summit. Register now and join other building and fire safety professionals for the Principles of Building Safety Institute.

Mother Nature is unpredictable... learn to manage the damage

Be prepared for when the unthinkable happens. The When Disaster Strikes Institute provides you with critical knowledge and resources to assist your community after a natural disaster. Plan to attend this important training event.

Your chance to ensure quality training

The Code Council's Professional Development Council is seeking applicants for the Education and Certification Committees to ensure quality training to meet the needs of all members, customers and certification holders. Each committee has two positions available for three-year terms.

Spanish version of CodeNotes available

As part of its continued goal to serve the needs of plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas officials, the ICC PMG Official Membership Council has partnered with the ICC Global Membership Council to provide online access to our free and informative CodeNotes in Spanish. Get your free downloadable copy of the newest CodeNotes on the 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code in Spanish.

MIT develops system to spot structural weakness in buildings

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have developed a computational model to pinpoint damage to or weakness in a structure following an earthquake or other significant seismic impact. The system targets infrastructure vulnerable to earthquakes by tracking ambient vibrations, noise and movement.

Where earthquakes will cause damage

The USGS issued its annual seismic-hazard forecast for the central and eastern United States. The updated maps, which highlight both natural and human-induced earthquakes, show that millions of Americans are likely to feel the earth shake beneath their feet this year.

Mandatory storm shelters for mobile homes

According to a U.S. Census ranking, four out of five of the top states with the highest percentage of mobile homes are in the southeast, and of those states the frequency of tornadoes is very high. The Weather Channel's Jim Cantore reports on the debate if all mobile home communities should have a storm shelter.

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.

Interesting global construction trivia

What could be more fun than horsing around with gigantic, earth-moving machines alongside your buddies? Well, there's an amusement park in Las Vegas that lets you drive construction equipment in a giant sandbox. Options include digging gigantic trenches, playing Excavator Bucket Basketball, rolling over mega mounds of dirt, and driving through obstacle courses.

In Memoriam: Robert Basol (Trey) Hughes III

As this issue goes to press, we are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Trey Hughes, Periodicals Manager for the Building Safety Journal Online and ICC eNews, and interim Director of ICC's Communications Department. A loyal member of our ICC family for more than 15 years, we mourn his loss and extend our deepest condolences to his family. He was a credit to our organization and will be sorely missed.

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