ICC Board Action Shapes Code Development Future; Expands Opportunities for Member, Stakeholder Input

Code Council Board Approves Code Development Process Recommendations; Changes to IECC, IRC Code Development; Provides New Venues to Stay in Touch and Further Develop ICC

Two measures approved by the International Code Council Board of Directors at its May meeting are aimed to increase participation and maintain the high level of confidence the association’s Code Development Process is recognized for. Other actions by the Board will continue to broaden participation in technical committees or councils, and expand opportunities for Members to provide feedback and help set the course for the organizations future.

CDRAC Recommendations Adopted with Two Additions

The Board approved all recommendations made by the Code Development Review Ad-Hoc Committee (CDRAC) and two additional suggestions from the Code Appeals Board. The additions require stakeholder disclosure of scholarship offers in conjunction with a code hearing and establish a written policy limiting committee member communication with code change stakeholder interests before and during hearings.

The 14-person CDRAC committee, made up of ICC Board members and a broad cross section of industry representatives, was created to increase participation and maintain the high level of confidence the code change process is known for, and built on the basic principles of the Code Council’s Governmental Consensus Process.

Board Approves Changes to IECC, IRC Code Development Processes

The Board also approved changes to the code development processes for the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the International Residential Code (IRC), effective with the 2012/2013 Code Development Cycle. The 2012 IECC will contain two distinct, separate and comprehensive sections of energy provisions for commercial buildings and low-rise residential buildings as defined in the code, reflecting input from numerous stakeholders. This will include separate provisions that address Scope and Administration; Definitions; General Requirements; and Energy Efficiency.

Residential buildings are defined as detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single family dwellings (townhouses), and Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade. Chapter 11 of the 2012 IRC will include the IECC residential provisions applicable to residential construction that fall under the scope of the IRC. The changes are an outcome from a code change (RE4-09/10) approved during the 2010 Final Action Hearings in Charlotte, N.C., that for the first time resulted in identical residential provisions in the IECC and IRC. As a result, the ICC Board recognized the opportunity to coordinate the IECC and Chapter 11 of the IRC and minimize the burden currently placed on the Code Development Process by having two sets of residential energy provisions.

The changes ensure a single set of energy-efficiency provisions for residential construction under a single code development committee. Code and Scoping Committee assignments will be adjusted to accommodate the change.

Two committees will be assigned to maintain energy provisions of the I-Codes. The current IECC Committee will be assigned responsibility for commercial energy provisions and restructured as the Commercial Energy Code Development Committee. A new Residential Energy Code Development Committee will be created with responsibility for all residential energy provisions in the both the IECC and the IRC. Look for a call for members for both committees at iccsafe.org.

Appointments Made to New Codes and Standards, Membership Councils

The ICC Board also approved a new Codes and Standards Council to review and approve new codes and standards projects, advise the Board regarding committee appointments, and review code development policies and procedures.

The appointment of discipline-specific Governing Committees for the new Membership Councils—Building Officials; Fire Service; Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas; Global Members; and Sustainability (including Energy)—will advocate for concerns and issues of interest to each Council, serve as a forum for information exchange and communication, provide feedback to the Board and staff, and act as a voice for the discipline regarding the activities and programs of the Code Council. Committee Chair appointments and other important details will be announced soon.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention and energy efficiency, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council. The International Codes also serve as the basis for construction of federal properties around the world, and as a reference for many nations outside the United States.