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Code Council welcomes General Code to its Family of Companies

The International Code Council (ICC) welcomes General Code LLC to its Family of Companies, effective Nov. 15, 2017. "This acquisition of General Code will provide a perfect complement to our product and service portfolio," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. "We are strategically aligned with similar missions and goals, focused on safety and serving our members and customers." Read more.

Register now: 2018 Committee Action Hearings

The 2018 code hearings offer building and fire code officials, architects, builders, engineers, designers and other professionals the opportunity to provide input on proposed code changes to the Group A International Codes. Help ensure that the next generation of International Codes benefit building and public safety. Read more.

$30,000 raised for California wildfire relief

With your generous support, the International Code Council and the California Building Officials reached our goal of matching donations 1-1 up to $10,000 to assist victims of the recent California wildfires. Together we raised $30,000 in the name of local California building departments for American Red Cross disaster relief. To donate, and for more wildfire information and resources, click here.

Winter safety resources now available

As cold weather approaches, some of us may look forward to winter activities. But a gentle reminder is in order: Each season has its dangers, and winter is no different. The Code Council offers a winter safety resources webpage that offers preparations you can make at home and when traveling to make sure you have a fun and safe winter. Read more.

Code Council applauds SMART Rebuilding Act introduction

The International Code Council supports bipartisan House Resolution 4455, the Supporting Mitigation Activities and Resiliency Targets for Rebuilding Act or SMART Rebuilding Act, sponsored by Congressmen Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Mike Capuano (D-MA). This bill aims to help communities rebuild stronger and recover more quickly after natural disasters by incentivizing communities to build replacement structures to the most up-to-date building codes available. Read more.

ICC-ES adds new evaluation services for alternative seismic force-resisting systems

The ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) is adding evaluations of alternative seismic force-resisting systems to its extensive list of product evaluations. To set in place procedures as to how ICC-ES will evaluate alternative seismic force-resisting systems, the company will develop new acceptance criteria that outline provisions for the evaluation of alternative seismic force-resisting systems using the principles in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Quantification of Building Seismic Performance Factors (FEMA P695). Read more.

Solar Rating & Certification Corporation joins ICC Evaluation Service

The International Code Council announced that the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) is joining ICC Evaluation Service, LLC. With the move, all certifications presently conducted and maintained by ICC-SRCC, including the certifications for the Small Wind Certification Council, will be coordinated within the ICC Evaluation Service framework. Read more.

Call for input on ICC standards extended to December

The ICC Consensus Committees on Landscape Irrigation Emission Devices (IS-IEDC), Storm Shelters (IS-STM) and Residential High-Wind Construction (IS-RHW) will be developing the next edition of their respective standards, ICC 802-2014, ICC 500-2014 and ICC 600-2014. The deadline for suggested revisions or additions to the standards has been extended to Dec. 11. If you have suggested revisions or additions to these ICC standards, please complete the public proposal form and submit it to the ICC.

Call for presentations: Global Connections Day 2018

Share your expertise at the 2018 International Code Council Global Connections Day on Oct. 24, 2018, in Richmond, Va. The 2018 Global Connections Day is supported by the ICC Global Membership Council and convened as part of the ICC Annual Business Meeting. The overall theme for Global Connections Day 2018 is Innovation in the World of Building Safety, with sessions focusing on Innovative Methods and Materials in Building Design and Construction and Innovative Approaches to the Building Regulatory Process. Read more.

Amy Barenklau (far left), a licensing and permit technician with the city of Lenexa, Department of Community Development, hands out items to interested high school students promoting the construction profession during Career Expo 2017.

Building career pathways in Kansas City

Timothy Schmitz, regional manager of ICC government relations, attended the Career Expo 2017 on Nov. 8 in Kansas City, Mo., along with members of the Metro Kansas City Chapter of ICC where they handed out items promoting the construction profession and answered questions related to code professionals and the work they do. Career Expo 2017 introduced approximately 3,000 high school students to promising career paths in public service, connected employers to their future workforce and featured more than 50 exhibitors from local government and colleges and universities.

Learn the significant changes in the 2018 International Codes

The Significant Changes to the 2018 International Codes series can help any code user save time by zeroing in on the most critical changes in the 2018 International Codes. The Code Council's technical experts provide summaries, analysis and graphics for these changes making them clear and easy to understand. The 2018 significant changes guides are available for the International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. Read more.

Code Council member John Terry promoted to assistant director

Congratulations to International Code Council member John Terry on his promotion to assistant director of the Division of Codes and Standards for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs! Prior to his promotion, Terry served as the chief of the Bureau of Construction Project Review as well as a construction code enforcement manager. Read more.

Number of Master Code Professionals continues to grow

The achievement of the Master Code Professional designation from the International Code Council is the highest level of ICC certification and has become the gold standard for demonstrating proficiency in the building and fire safety profession. Currently, there are more than 900 Master Code Professionals worldwide, and their achievements are a benefit to the code enforcement profession, as well as their communities. Read more.

Innovation in resilience: Resilient Nation Partnership Network Forum

The Code Council attended the Resilient Nation Partnership Network's 2017 Annual Forum hosted by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "Based on Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma... we see that building codes clearly work," said Eric Letvin of FEMA. Read more.

Code Council attends Water Summit hosted by The Atlantic

The Code Council attended the inaugural Water Summit in Beverly Hills, Calif., hosted by The Atlantic. Environmentalists, policymakers, industry leaders and community representatives gathered to discuss challenges, solutions and innovations that can make our water safe, reliable and accessible for years to come. Susan Dowty, ICC government relations manager, attended the event. Read more.

Pictured (left-right): ICC Region II Treasurer Mark Panilo and Mark Barnhill.

Mark Barnhill receives Honorary Life Membership Award

ICC member Mark Barnhill, retired building inspector for the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, received a 2017 Honorary Life Membership Award from ICC Region II in recognition of his many years of dedicated service. Barnhill is a past president of Region II. ICC Region II represents the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. Though only five years old, Region II has emerged as one of ICC's most active regional chapters.

Significant Changes to the 2018 International Building Code

A clarification to Section 302.1 (Classification of Outdoor Areas) of the 2018 International Building Code states that occupied roofs are to be assigned one or more occupancy classifications in a manner consistent with the classification of uses inside the building, based upon the fire and life safety hazards posed by the rooftop activities. Read more.

Mark your calendar: upcoming events

From a free RESNET webinar to popular ICC training on fire and life safety, residential inspection, plan review, and post-disaster damage assessment, the next few months offer code professionals the tools they need for building safety and code compliance. Read more.

Pictured (left-right): Kathleen Nugent with ICC State & Local Government Relations Vice President Dorothy Harris, and new Past President Michael Mendoza with Dorothy Harris.

SEMBOA installs new president at chapter meeting

The Southeastern Massachusetts Building Officials Association (SEMBOA) held its monthly meeting on Nov. 15 in Taunton, Mass., where Kathleen Nugent was installed as the new SEMBOA president.

New ICC CodeNotes now available

The PMG Official Membership Council released a new free CodeNotes — Bonding of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing Gas Piping System — that discusses a new section that was added to the 2018 editions of the International Fuel Gas and Residential Codes. It addresses arc-resistant, corrugated stainless steel tubing products. CodeNotes is provided courtesy of the ICC PMG Official Membership Council. Download now.

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.

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