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People bathe and wash laundry in a river in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: AP

The Code Council and CNIAH sign agreement to improve plumbing and sanitation systems in Haiti

The International Code Council, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development, signed an agreement with the College National des Ingenieurs et Architectes Haitiens (CNIAH) to raise the level of plumbing and sanitation standards in Haiti. Read more.

ANCR announces a distinguished group of specialists

A renowned group of subject matter experts have been selected to assist the International Code Council and the Alliance for National & Community Resilience (ANCR) in the development of the first U.S. whole-community resilience benchmarks related to buildings. Read more.

Ensure your perspective is represented in the most widely used family of construction codes

The 2018 International Code Council Committee Action Hearings are being held on April 15–23 in Columbus, Ohio. The hearings offer code officials, architects, builders, engineers, designers, plumbing professionals, construction trade associations and other interested parties a first chance to publicly review proposed code changes to the Group A International Codes (I-Codes) and provide feedback for the 2021 I-Codes. Read more.

A live video feed will be available online for those who cannot attend the hearings in person.

Download infographics about the process: How It Works and By the Numbers.

Proposed committee interpretation posted for ICC membership review and comment

A proposed committee interpretation to Section 907.10 (Smoke alarm maintenance) of the 2018 International Fire Code was posted for ICC membership review and comment on March 16, 2018. The review and comment period will end April 15, 2018. View the proposed committee interpretation.

Damage caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Photo: AFP

Volunteers still needed for important building code mission

Construction personnel perform a critical role in the wake of catastrophes. Their knowledge, skills and abilities are essential to community reconstruction. In coordination with the International Code Council, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources in the U.S. Virgin Islands still needs volunteers and issued a call for interested individuals or teams of building officials to assist in the assessment of buildings impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The most immediate need is for plans examiners and building and electrical inspectors.

If you wish to volunteer, or you have contacts with individuals or groups who might wish to help, your State Emergency Management Agency can help you with details (indicate you are responding to the Resource Request #1306-RR-7432). Together we can help the communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands during this period of rebuilding.

Significant changes to the 2018 International Building Code

A modification to Section 312.1 (Classification of Communication equipment Structures) in the 2018 International Building Code states that classification as a Group U occupancy is now appropriate for those communication equipment structures that are less than 1,500 square feet in floor area. Read more.

Kris Bridges appointed to first APSP Commercial Council

Kris Bridges, MCP, CBO, building official with the city of Martinsville—Inspections in Martinsville, Va., was recently appointed to the Commercial Council of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP). The new council, formed late last year, will meet on May 1, 2018, in Denver, Colo., and represents efforts to recognize the importance of commercial construction and service.

The announcement follows up the news from February when the APSP appointed six members to the Code Council's 2021 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) Council, which will be instrumental in the creation of the ISPSC 21 and will serve as an advisory body and international forum for discussion and deliberation about building design, construction methods, safety, performance requirements, technological advances and innovative products.

Charles Huber received the Victor C. Jones Award from the Ohio Building Officials Association on March 19, 2018, in Dublin, Ohio. Pictured (left-right): OBOA Director Jeffrey Rettberg, OBOA Immediate Past President Rick Helsinger and award recipient Charles Huber. Photo: Corky Hong, OBOA

OBOA's Victor C. Jones Award presented to Charles Huber

The Ohio Building Officials Association (OBOA) honored former Medina County Chief Building Official Charles Huber with its Victor C. Jones Award on March 19, 2018, at the OBOA/NWOBOA Joint Conference in Dublin, Ohio. The award is for years of dedication and service to both the code enforcement profession and OBOA, and commends Huber's leadership, creativity and energy, which have set consistently high professional standards. Huber retired last year after 11 years with Medina County.

Henderson, Nevada, earns energy efficiency award

The city of Henderson, Nev., earned regional recognition from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) for saving its residents and businesses more than $2.3 million on utility bills and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by about 30,254 metric tons over the past four years. The economic savings and environmental benefits both stem from the city's decision to adopt the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.

The "Energy Codes Count Award" was presented to city officials on March 20, 2018, and Henderson is the only city in SWEEP's six-state region to receive the award this year, and just the second municipality ever to earn the honor. Read more.

American Red Cross and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data shows that nearly the entire United States is subject to one or more risks. Photo: Alert Systems Group

Spring outlook: U.S. to see moderate flooding

As massive storm systems tear across the southern and central United States, flooding fears rise as well. The 2018 Winter/Spring Flood Forecast from the National Weather Service promises potential river flooding, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center estimates that "background" climate conditions — such as a wet winter and saturated soils — will create an enhanced risk of flooding throughout the season.

The Code Council has flooding safety resources to help you prepare what to do before, during and after a flood. Learn more.

FEMA releases new PrepTalks video

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with other emergency management organizations, released a new PrepTalks video presentation — Francis Ghesquiere's The Making of a Resilient Future: Disaster Risk in Developing Countries. PrepTalks presentations by subject-matter experts and national and international thought leaders are designed to spread new ideas, spark conversation and promote innovative leadership for the issues confronting emergency managers now and over the next 20 years.

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.

400,000 smoke detectors that don't detect smoke are recalled

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of Kidde smoke detectors — models PI2010 and PI9010 — due to a manufacturing defect that inhibits their ability to smell smoke. The problem stemmed from an oversight in the manufacturing process that left a yellow cap covering one of the two smoke sensors. The affected units are dual-sensor alarms. Read more.

This new recall comes on the heels of another recall in November 2017 of more than 40 million Kidde disposable fire extinguishers sold in the U.S. due to nozzle malfunction.

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