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The ICC Family of Companies wishes you happiness, laughter and joy this holiday season and throughout the New Year. ICC eNews is taking a break for the holidays, but we will be back in your inbox with fresh news on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, and we'll still be active on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin, as well as our website. We're so thankful for all our subscribers who go the extra mile to share, forward and refer our news to colleagues and help spread the word on building safety. We look forward to seeing you in 2018.

ICC donates 2018 I-Codes to U.S. Virgin Islands

Efforts to rebuild continue as the U.S. Virgin Islands recovers from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. After a visit to conduct preliminary field investigations, representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) witnessed first-hand the impact of the destruction to the Department of Permits and Natural Resources (DPNR). FEMA's Federal Resilience Lead Erin Mack Ashley, PhD, LEEP AP, reported that the DPNR offices were in the airport on the upper floor and were completely flooded causing the office to lose everything, including their computers, files and code books. After coordinating with Sara Yerkes, ICC senior vice president of government relations, ICC arranged the donation of 2018 International Codes books to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Dwayne Williams (left), SBCCI master electrician, city of Abilene, and Chief Master Sergeant John A. Hammonds (right), United States Air Force.

Veterans can help keep us safe as civilians, too

By now, most in the building industry know there is a shortage of qualified candidates due to a booming construction sector and retirements. This shortage presents an incredible career opportunity for dedicated, hardworking individuals looking for jobs. Sara Yerkes and Ron Piester of the Code Council are leading a new initiative, the ICC Military Families Building Career Path Program, to help veterans who are transitioning to civilian life and their family members learn more about building safety career options.

"We need new blood," Yerkes said. "And they need jobs. We know people in the military have the characteristics we're looking for: discipline, integrity, character, teamwork, technical knowledge, strong work ethic and the ability to follow procedures." Read more.

DOD recognizes IAS personnel certification body accreditation

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) now recognizes the International Accreditation Service's (IAS) Personnel Certification Bodies Accreditation Program under its Credentialing Opportunities On-Line program, a joint initiative of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy. Read more.

ICC wildfire information and resources

2017 is turning out to be one of the worst wildfire seasons on record for California with 46 fatalities, 210 injuries and 11,355 structures destroyed to date. The economic toll of the 2017 season is predicted to rise to $180 billion, causing enormous financial hardship to the state's communities, businesses and families. Our hearts are with everyone affected. Even though the ICC/CALBO donation match has ended, you can still donate to the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts here. Check out ICC's wildfire resources to see what steps you can take to protect lives and property at home and in your community.

Mark your calendar: upcoming events

From popular ICC training on residential inspection, plan review and post-disaster damage assessment to EduCode 2018 and the 2018 Upper Great Plains Region III Educational Institute, the next few months offer code professionals the tools they need for building safety and code compliance. Read more.

Registration now open for the 2018 Committee Action Hearings

The 2018 code hearings — to be held April 15–25, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio — 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 continue to benefit building and public safety. Read more.

New download assists in researching code changes

Complete Revision History to the 2018 I-Codes: Successful Changes and Public Comments is a valuable collection that greatly simplifies researching the history of a new, revised or deleted code section from 2015 to 2018. Available now as a PDF download, it collects all changes that occurred in the 2018 International Building, Residential, Fire, Plumbing, Mechanical, Energy Conservation and Existing Building Codes, including the original proposal, committee action and final action documentation in a single source. The book compiles the proponent's original reason for the change, unabridged statements that substantiated code development committee actions and the complete documentation for any public comment that was considered prior to final action on the change.

Vaughn Wicker retires after 23 years of service to the code industry

Longtime ICC staff member Vaughn Wicker, an integral member of the ICC government relations team since 2003, will retire at the end of this month. Known for his quick wit, easygoing manner and Carolina drawl, Wicker has spent 23 years doing what he enjoys best — working with people from diverse backgrounds. Once retired, he plans to focus on his other favorite activities — elevating his golf game and spending time with his family. Read more.

The ICC Annual Conference

Read about some of the excellent sessions from the 2017 ICC Annual Conference below. Next year's conference will be held on Oct. 21–31, 2018, in Richmond, Va. The 2018 conference will include top-notch education sessions, building tours, valuable networking events and the opportunity to help finalize the Group A 2021 International Codes. Mark your calendars now! Read more.

Learn about the new members of the ICC board

The Code Council welcomed three new faces to the ICC Board of Directors during the 2017 Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The new board members are Kris Bridges, David Spencer and Mike Boso. Congratulations to all three of them! To read the profiles of our board members, visit iccsafe.org/leadership.

The Code Council travels to Singapore

In November, ICC Board President Jay Elbettar traveled to Singapore to attend the Inter-jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee meeting where he presented an overview of the emerging issues that affect ICC and its affiliates. The presentation included information about natural disasters, building cladding, code official and fire safety initiatives, global projects, the Ad Hoc Committee on Tall Wood Buildings and the Code Council's subsidiaries. Read more.

RESNET rebrands water rating program

To resolve potential confusion with the Water Efficiency Rating System, RESNET has rebranded its water rating program. The new name will be HERS_H2O. The RESNET-International Code Council candidate ANSI Standard will still remain Water Rating Index (WRI). To ensure that water efficiency is represented on the deliberations of the RESNET board of directors, the board added a new seat representing water efficiency, which will be filled by Jacob Atalla who currently serves as the chairman of the RESNET/International Code Council Water Rating Index Standard Development Committee and co-chairman of the HERS_H2OWorking Group. Read more.

ICC welcomes new and renewing Preferred Providers

The ICC Preferred Provider Program recognizes and promotes ICC-approved educational courses offered by a variety of educational providers, opening the door to extensive training opportunities. The Preferred Provider network currently offers more than 400 active in-person and online courses and more than 8,000 approved courses are in the main catalog. Read more.

Significant Changes to the 2018 International Mechanical Code

A modification to Section 404.1 (Mechanical Ventilation of Enclosed Parking Garages) of the 2018 International Mechanical Code states that the code text was rewritten to clarify the intent with regard to "intermittent" operation. Read more.

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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