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The Code Council joins organizations from across the globe in celebrating World Water Day

This global campaign raises awareness about the importance of water in our everyday lives and the critical water challenges we face in the 21st century from high demand in areas of low availability to quality issues and the disruptive effects of natural disasters. The Code Council is dedicated to helping solve these problems through strong, modern building codes and standards that lead to resilient communities, safe plumbing, efficient technologies and a well-trained, professional workforce of code officials and plumbing professionals to maintain these systems. Read more.

Download our water infographic, "Everyone Needs Water" and visit www.iccsafe.org/water for more information.

ICC Pulse Podcast targets recent fire protection issues

Beth Tubbs, a senior staff engineer with the International Code Council Codes and Standards Development department, joins us this month. She has extensive experience in fire protection engineering and shares insight on the Grenfell Tower fire in London last year and how the Code Council and others in the codes and standards community have responded.

Beth has been with the Code Council since 1995 and she is currently the secretariat to the International Existing Building Code, the International Fire Code and ICC Performance Code. She is also the lead staff on the Fire Code Action Committee.

Listen to the podcast on our website here or subscribe through Apple Podcast, Google Play or your favorite podcast app. Click here to view the transcript.

Tennessee governor issues proclamation announcing that "Building Codes Save Lives!"

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam proclaimed that May 2018 is Building Safety Month, the first U.S. governor to do so this year. To date, state governors, local leaders, Code Council chapters and partners across the nation have issued 53 proclamations in support of Building Safety Month. Read more.

Building Safety Month depends on the efforts of individuals like you, and ICC has everything you need to assist in promoting Building Safety Month in your community, including strategies on how to set up a Building Safety Month event, a fill-in news release, a sample proclamation, and an official ICC Building Safety Month PSA video you can watch and share.

Proposed committee interpretation posted for ICC membership review and comment

A proposed committee interpretation to Section C403.2.6.1 (Demand controlled ventilation) of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code was posted for ICC membership review and comment on March 14, 2018. The review and comment period will end April 13, 2018. Read more.

Significant changes to the 2018 International Mechanical Code

An addition to Section 403.3.2.4 (Outdoor Air Ventilation for Dwelling Units) of the 2018 International Mechanical Code states that there is a new requirement for labeling of controls for whole-house (dwelling) ventilation systems. Section 403.3.2 addresses dwelling units in low-rise construction and prescribes the design and operation of the dwelling ventilation system. The newly added text requires the control(s) for such ventilation system to be labeled as such. Read more.

Commentary to Accessibility Standard completes updated trio of ICC A117.1 publications

The newly released ICC A117.1–2017 Standard and Commentary contains the full text of the standard ICC A117.1-2017: Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities, including tables and figures, followed by the corresponding commentary for each section. The expert commentary explains the background and intent of the standard's requirements and suggests the most effective method of application. The ICC A117.1–2017 Standard and accompanying Significant Changes to the ICC A117.1–2017 were released last fall. All three publications are excellent resources for understanding how to make buildings and facilities accessible and usable.

Welcome new & renewing providers

The International Code Council's Preferred Provider Program opens the door to extensive training opportunities from a variety of educational resources. With more than 300 active in-person and online courses, the Code Council welcomes the Preferred Providers who joined the program or renewed their participation in January and February. Read more.

Members of the RESNET HERSH2O Technical Guidelines working group and RESNET board during an open house demonstration of a KB Home that was HERSH2O rated at the 2018 RESNET Building Performance Conference in Orlando. Pictured (left-right): Jonah Schein, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Jacob Atalla, KB Home; Steve Baden, RESNET; Dave Walls, International Code Council; Mark Johnson, International Code Council; Dave Bell, TopBuild; and Ed Osann, Natural Resources Defense Council.

RESNET Board of Directors adopts RESNET Water Efficiency Rating Technical Guidelines

The final HERSH2O Technical Guidelines were recently approved by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) board and will serve as the basis for a joint RESNET/ICC American National Standards Institute candidate standard that is currently under development. Later this year, RESNET expects to launch a more formal pilot project to allow builders and HERS raters to begin doing ratings. Read more.

ICC When Disaster Strikes Institute

Volunteers and second responders are needed more than ever to help assess damage and get communities back up on their feet after a natural disaster. The International Code Council offers a two-day class on March 26–27, 2018, so that you can become a properly trained second responder. Learn more.

Just the facts: Legionella and water supply systems

Plumbing Manufacturers International's "Just the Facts" content provides answers to several key questions about Legionella and its potential effects on water supply systems. Learn more.

This year's 2018 Committee Action Hearings in Columbus will feature a PMG Special Session with world-renowned Legionnaires' disease expert Dr. Janet Stout. Attendance for the session "Controlling Legionella: New Focus on Building Water Safety and Management" at 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 2018, is free, but space is limited and an RSVP is required.

Builder confidence remains on solid footing in March

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes edged down one point to a level of 70 in March from a downwardly revised February reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index but remains in strong territory. Read more.

Building Officials Association of Texas members display the donated iPads that will help them continue to assist Hurricane Harvey victims.

Building Officials Association of Texas receives disaster assessment tools in wake of Hurricane Harvey

Smart Vent Products, Inc., donated 10 iPads to the Building Officials Association of Texas to be used by their disaster assessment team as they continue to assist victims of last year's Hurricane Harvey and help communities in Texas in their time of need. 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.

East Coast Nor'easters amplify calls for resilient building code regulations

Massachusetts architects, engineers and environmental groups are calling for regulators to force building owners to implement resilient design to protect their properties from extreme wind, flooding and heat related to climate change and sea level rise. Read more.

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