View newsletter online

Connect with us

New podcast on building safety

The International Code Council is podcasting! The monthly ICC Pulse Podcast gives listeners the inside scoop on ICC and the building safety industry. In the first episode, ICC Board President Jay Elbettar shares some of his experiences as a code official, plans for 2018 and updates about various Code Council initiatives. Listen now.

Committee Action Hearings schedule available

Join us at the International Code Council's 2018 Committee Action Hearings, April 15–23, 2018, in Columbus. This year's hearings offer ICC members and other building safety professionals the opportunity to provide input on proposed code changes to the 2018 Group A International Codes. View the schedule.

Safety 2.0 — Building careers for today's generation

Safety 2.0 is the Code Council's signature initiative to welcome a new generation of members and leaders to the building safety profession and includes the Value of the Code Official toolkit, technical training program and Military Families Building Career Path Program. Learn more on our new webpage. Also available for download is an infographic.

Proposed committee interpretation posted for review & comment

A proposed committee interpretation to Section 602.2.1 (Materials with plenums) of the 2015 International Mechanical Code is posted for review and comment by ICC Members until March 24, 2018.

Building Safety Month video explains the important work of code officials

Building Safety Month is a public awareness campaign created by the International Code Council and celebrated by jurisdictions worldwide during the month of May. Our new video explains the important work that building officials do and how current, strong building codes are the best way to protect our homes, offices, schools and manufacturing facilities. Watch now.

Significant changes to the 2018 International Building Code

An addition to Section 202 (Definition of Greenhouse) of the 2018 International Building Code states that a definition of greenhouse has been added to the code in order to recognize that the primary characteristic of such a structure is its unique environment for growing plants, and not the structure itself or merely the presence of plants. Read more.

Angie Wiese joins the Code Council board

In January 2018, Angie Wiese, P.E., CBO was selected to fill the vacant director-at-large position on the International Code Council's Board of Directors. Originally from the Twin Cities, Wiese serves as the fire safety manager for the city of Saint Paul, Minn. Read more.

ICC-SRCC and APSP release new solar pool and spa heating system standard

The Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (ICC-SRCC) and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) announced the release of the first edition of the Solar Pool and Spa Heating System Standard (ICC/APSP 902/SRCC 400-2017). Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as an American National Standard, ICC/APSP/SRCC 400 was developed through the International Code Council's consensus-based standard development process that brings together all stakeholders, including code officials, product and system manufacturers, design professionals, researchers, and facility owners and managers. Read more.

The International Code Council annual awards program

The Code Council presents awards in several categories each year to honor individuals and organizations for their accomplishments and service to the Council and the building safety industry. Descriptions of each award and past winners are now available. Learn 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's notorious tornado season starts

March typically kicks off the annual escalation of the spring tornado season in the South and parts of the Plains and Midwest. Roughly 76 tornadoes touch down annually during March, based on the average for the 20-year period of 1996 through 2015. That makes March the fifth-most tornadic month of the year. The Code Council recently added tornado and high wind safety resources to help code professionals prepare what to do before, during and after a tornado. Learn more.

Portland Cement Association donation will help architects and future and veteran leaders

The Portland Cement Association recently contributed $12,500 to the Code Council's Code of Honor Scholarship Program. The scholarships help ensure that the International Codes reflect the consensus view of officials at all levels of government by providing funding to Governmental Member Voting Representatives seeking to attend and participate in Public Comment Hearings. Learn more.

Pictured (left-right): Judaline Cassidy, Dorothy Harris and Arthur O. Klock Jr.

Meeting up with the female plumber encouraging women to enter the construction trades

Dorothy Harris, vice president of State & Local Government Relations for the International Code Council, was touring the UA Local 1 Training Center in New York City with its Director of Trade Education Arthur O. Klock Jr., when she bumped into Judaline Cassidy, founder/director of the nonprofit Tools & Tiaras Inc., who had recently finished taping a segment on the Today Show encouraging young women to enter trade professions like plumbing.

ANCR website updates

The Alliance for National & Community Resilience (ANCR), the Code Council's resilience subsidiary, has made a few additions and updates to their website. New sponsor and member logos have been added including the Portland Cement Association and Simpson Strong-Tie. Also, the website now provides charts to explain the Community Resilience Benchmark Development Process and a vision for the final deliverable, a resiliency self-assessment for communities. Visit the www.resilientalliance.org to see the updates.

FEMA releases new PrepTalks video

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with other emergency management organizations, released a new PrepTalks video presentation — John Barry's The Next Pandemic: Lessons From History. 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.

In memoriam: William "Bill" Rehr

Retired Code Council staff member William E. "Bill" Rehr passed away Jan. 30, 2018. A fixture at code development hearings for years, Rehr responded to countless ICC member requests for code opinions and his expertise was sought by many on fire-related requirements in the codes. Read more.

ICC affiliate sponsors