Month: May 2023

International Code Council and Dubai Municipality Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Safe, Innovative Construction

Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council and the Building Permits Department of Dubai Municipality have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes and expands the entities’ well-established collaboration. The MOU streamlines the ability to leverage International Code Council solutions such as Evaluation Service Reports, that independently assess the compliance of innovative building products and systems with locally enforced building regulations, to be accepted by Dubai Municipality.

The MOU also includes a pathway to membership and Dubai Municipality’s participation in the MENA Building Science Advisory Council, established last year by the International Code Council’s regional office in Dubai.

“We were thrilled to meet in person with our colleagues from Dubai Municipality and to launch this next phase of collaboration,” said International Code Council CEO Dominic Sims, CBO. “Dubai has some of the most fascinating architecture in the world and is already a leader in innovation. We are pleased to support this work that aligns with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Dubai Strategic Plan 2030.”

For Dubai Municipality, the MOU signing represents an important advancement in its goal to increase international cooperation with private sector organizations with global expertise.

 “This collaboration promotes the rapid growth and development of innovative building systems, including the emerging use of 3D printing in construction, while prioritizing building safety and sustainability,” said Eng. Maryam Obaid Almheiri, the Acting CEO of Building Regulations & Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality. “We eagerly anticipate this approach strengthening our partnership and exceeding expectations with the private sector houses of expertise.”

The International Code Council’s Dubai office, which was established in 2019 to expand the reach of the family of solutions to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market, has been instrumental in building relationships with key stakeholders in the region such as Dubai Municipality.

“Our engagement with important leaders in the MENA region like Dubai Municipality has been essential to increasing understanding and use of the building safety solutions provided by the International Code Council,” said Mohamed Amer, ICC MENA Regional Director of Operations. “This MOU is a great example of our commitment to provide support for achieving the goals established by the authorities and enabling the construction industry in the MENA region to grow and continue to develop safe and innovative structures.”

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

2023 Conference – Registration

#ICCAC23

Registration

Take advantage of online registration and receive your email confirmation the same day. View registration fees.

Conference Oct. 8–11   ▪   Expo Oct. 8–9

Member
Registration
Non-Member
Registration

Voter Validation

Voter validation is required to vote at the Annual Business Meeting (ABM). All governmental voting representatives who plan to attend the 2023 ABM need to be validated in order to vote on Code Council business such as elections, bylaw amendments, member resolutions, etc. View the Voter Validation Process FAQs page to get more information. The deadline for validating voters was September 8, 2023.

Register as a Delegate by August 31 and Receive a Free Conference Polo Shirt

Receive a free conference polo shirt when you register as a delegate for full conference by Thursday, August 31! Choose your shirt size when you register. The shirts will also be for sale at the Resource Center if you miss the early registration window.

Special Annual Conference Offer to Non-Members

International Code Council non-members registering as a delegate will receive a free one year “Building Safety Professional” ICC membership. For details and a list of exclusive member benefits and services included in this offer, click here. Membership begins December 1, 2023. (Please note, this free membership offer is not redeemable for cash value and does not include a free code book during your first free year of membership.) Ask a Membership Representative at the Registration Desk to sign you up!

Get Your Boss on Board

Need to demonstrate why the Code Council’s conference is a good investment? We’ve got you covered with our justification letter template. Use this template to explain what you’ll get out of attending the event, and how much it will cost. Feel free to customize as needed.

Questions?

For registration questions, please call Jessica Franklin (ext. 4333) at 1-888-ICC SAFE (422-7233), or email conference@iccsafe.org.

***The International Code Council follows the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. The Code Council will provide reasonable accommodations and necessary auxiliary aids and services upon request. Please advise Jackie Claus at jclaus@iccsafe.org of your needs by Tuesday, September 26, 2023. We will do our best to accommodate requests received after this date, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.***

 

REGISTRATION FEES
ICC MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
ICC MEMBER
NON-MEMBER
By August 31*
After August 31
Delegate Registration – Full Conference includes Welcome to St. Louis Reception, Education Sessions, Annual Business Meeting, Awards Luncheon, Expo Happy Hour/Reception, Connections Gala
$650
$750
$750
$850
Annual Business Meeting (ABM) Only
NO FEE
NO FEE
NO FEE
NO FEE
Education Only Tuesday (no lunch)
$225
$300
$300
$375
Education Only Tuesday (with lunch)
$300
$375
$375
$450
Companion Registration – Basic includes Welcome to St. Louis Reception, Expo Happy Hour/Reception, Connections Gala
$200
$275
$275
$350
Companion Registration – Premium includes Welcome to St. Louis Reception, Beautiful Blooms and Historic Homes Companion Tour, Expo Happy Hour/Reception, Connections Gala
$325
$425
$425
$525
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Welcome to St. Louis – 10/08/23
$100
$125
$125
$150
Awards Luncheon – 10/10/23
$75
$100
$100
$125
Connections Gala – 10/10/23
$100
$125
$125
$150
BUILDING TOURS
St. Louis Architectural Tour – Full Day
$140
$165
$140
$165
Veterans Community Project: A Tiny House Village – Half Day
$75
$85
$75
$85
Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Facility & Training Center – Half Day
$75
$85
$75
$85

*Take advantage of early bird savings when you register as a delegate for full conference by Thursday, August 31, and receive a free conference polo shirt. Choose your shirt size when you register.

Register for Annual Conference

Illinois Legislature Clears Historic Bill to Strengthen Community Resilience Statewide

Washington, D.C. – Both Illinois Chambers have now passed by overwhelming bipartisan margins SB2368 which requires that all jurisdictions in the state adopt the International Building Code® (IBC), International Residential Code® (IRC) and International Existing Building Code® (IEBC). The International Codes® (I-Codes) are the most widely used and adopted set of building codes in the U.S. and around the world.

The Code Council, along with several organizations, worked to amend the Bill, and testified before both the Senate and House committees. As the largest of the seven remaining states without a statewide building code, Illinois passing this bill now creates a statewide minimum standard for structural design within the framework of existing Illinois laws.

The legislation addresses residential, commercial, and existing buildings and construction and accounts for communities with and without local building codes already adopted. SB2368 ensures that newly built construction and substantially improved existing commercial buildings throughout Illinois are designed and built in accordance with national standards for resilience to natural disasters such as snowstorms, high winds, tornadoes, earthquakes, and flooding.

“We congratulate Illinois for taking a major step towards ensuring a resilient future for its residents,” said Tim Schmitz, Lead Senior Regional Manager, Government Relations at the Code Council. “Our coalition was tireless, and this bill shows Illinois’ commitment to the adoption of hazard-resistant building codes.”

The new legislation paves the way for Illinois communities to be more competitive for federal funding opportunities that support code adoption and enforcement activities such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The BRIC program awards billions annually in pre-disaster mitigation grants to jurisdictions. Communities that adopt and effectively implement hazard-resistant codes are afforded preferential consideration.

More details about the recently passed legislation can be found here.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Colorado Governor Signs Bill Establishing New Wildfire Resiliency Code Board

 Jefferson County, CO. – On May 12, 2023, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed bill SB23-166 that establishes a Wildfire Resiliency Code Board to adopt a statewide minimum code for fire-resistant construction and defensible space in Colorado’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas. SB23-166 was one of the 11 wildfire-related bills Governor Polis signed into law showcasing the state’s leadership in reducing risk for people and property in Colorado’s WUI areas.

The 21-member Wildfire Resiliency Code Board will be appointed by September 2023 and must adopt initial rules, based on best practice approaches such as the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code® (IWUIC®), by July 1, 2025. In addition to adopting wildfire codes and standards, the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board is charged with defining the WUI and identifying the areas of Colorado that are included within it.

“The International Code Council fully supports the creation of Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code Board. We are proud to have participated in the process spearheaded by Colorado State Senator Lisa Cutter, members of the Colorado Fire Commission, and the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control that led to the signing of this bill,” said Karl Fippinger, Code Council Vice President of Fire and Disaster Mitigation. “We look forward to partnering with the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board as it considers best practices and model codes, such as the IWUIC, for adoption as part of its minimum statewide wildfire code.”

The Code Board will be comprised of Colorado residents representing building code professionals, the Colorado fire service, residential and commercial builders, land use professionals, hazard mitigation professionals, local government representatives, insurance professionals, building trades, and utilities. The board will also include three ex officio members, including the Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the Colorado State Forester, and the Director of the Colorado Resiliency Office.

The signing of SB23-166 and Colorado’s other wildfire-related bills comes on the heels of the December 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado that burned over 6,000 acres over three days, killing two people and destroying more than 1,000 homes. The Marshall Fire is the most destructive fire in Colorado history in terms of buildings destroyed.

Find out more about fire-resistant construction, defensible space, and the IWUIC here.

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Building Safety Month Helps Prepare Communities for Disaster

Washington, D.C. – The International Code Council’s 43rd annual Building Safety Month campaign continues into its third week with insight on how building codes can help protect homes and communities from flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires and more. Preparing and planning for such disasters can significantly mitigate building damage and help create resilient communities around the world.

Week Three: Preparing Your Community, also demonstrates how adopting and implementing up-to-date building codes and standards can save lives, save billions of dollars and protect property for generations to come.

“By raising awareness about the importance of codes, maintenance and other building safety measures, we can help ensure that our homes and communities are more resilient and better able to withstand potential disasters,” said President of the Code Council Board of Directors Michael Wich, CBO. “Building Safety Month provides us with the opportunity to increase awareness and empower individuals to be proactive and help create safer, stronger and more resilient communities.”

2023 Building Safety Month sponsors include the American Gas Association (AGA), Society of Fire Protection Engineers, State Farm and more. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, click here.

“AGA is once again proud to be a Foundational Sponsor of the Code Council’s Building Safety Month held each May. AGA has been a leader in advancing safety codes and standards across the industry to help protect customers, communities and employees, while continuing to deliver the reliable energy Americans expect,” said Karen Harbert, AGA president and CEO. “We have an extensive history partnering with the Code Council and our support for Building Safety Month continues to demonstrate that ongoing partnership.”

More information about Building Safety Month, including details regarding virtual events and downloadable resources, can be found at buildingsafetymonth.org.

Communities have begun to issue proclamations declaring May 2023 as Building Safety Month. View the proclamations or submit one here.

To participate in Building Safety Month:

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About the International Code Council
The International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.

Why the IFGC

Why the IFGC?

Why should a state, city or jurisdiction adopt the International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)?

The IFGC is the most widely adopted fuel gas code across the United States. The IFGC is currently adopted in 42 states across the U.S. and is also adopted in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Approximately 275 million people, or 82% of the US population, live in areas that have adopted the IFGC.

The IFGC is also used in Pakistan and other countries around the world.

The IFGC is a vital part of a complete building safety system, providing an integral component necessary to provide an acceptable level of safety and to protect life and property from the potential dangers associated with the storage, distribution and usage of fuel
gases and the byproducts of combustion of such fuels.

The IFGC is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new fuel gas system and appliance designs.  For example:

  • The IFGC provides coverage on the installation of gaseous hydrogen systems, while correlating with Chapters 53 and 58 of the International Fire Code.
  • The IFGC provides guidance for compressed natural gas motor vehicle fuel dispensing facilities while correlating with the IFC.
  • The IFGC allows Schedule 10 steel pipe to be used for fuel gas service when joints are made using press-connect fittings, flanges, brazing or welding.
  • The IFGC does not allow fuel gas piping to penetrate foundation walls when the piping is installed below grade. This prevents escaping gas from an underground leak from traveling through a foundation wall, and collecting within a structure.

The I-Codes, when adopted as a family of codes, correlating as they do, provide a consistent system of regulations that designers, builders, and regulators can rely on,
across city, county, or state lines.

It is for this reason that FEMA’s “Consensus-based Codes, Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance Policy” requires that as a condition of grant funding, the I-Codes be incorporated into the design and construction for repair and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. FEMA requires construction not only meet the latest editions of the IBC, IPC, IMC, IECC, and IFC, but also the IFGC.

The adoption of building codes, including the fuel gas code, is not just about the codes. Technical support, in the form of expert advice, code opinions, and technical resources are some of the most sought-after services following adoption of a code.

The Code Council’s expert technical staff provides advice, code opinions, and resources to our more than 60,000 members as a complimentary benefit.

We have several resources, including commentaries and study companions, to support our members and industry professionals in achieving a better understanding of the code and implementing inspection programs.

Numerous training resources are available on the IFGC including face to face training and webinars which are led by qualified instructors and fuel gas industry leaders.

The Code Council also has a world class digital platform where codes, industry standards and resources can be accessed from one’s computer, tablet, or phone.

The IFGC is developed through a governmental consensus process

that involves many interest groups including public safety officials, plumbing contractors, manufacturers, standards development organizations, academia, consumers and many more;

cannot be influenced by vested financial interests;

and is conducted every three years.

Click here for more information on the process or
one of the links below to see an infographic of the process.

(Click to download a jpg or pdf)

The International Code Council Joins the TIC Council 

The International Code Council Joins the TIC Council 

Membership in the TIC Council bolsters the Code Council’s position as a world-class provider of testing, inspection and certification (TIC) solutions in the built environment.