ICC Global Membership Council Chair Underwood has Worldwide Building Safety Expertise

New Council will serve needs of global ICC Members

The professional experiences of Lynn Underwood, chair of the International Code Council Global Membership Council Governing Committee, have taken him to Afghanistan, El Salvador, Libya and throughout the United States. He has earned several ICC and Virginia certifications, and authored or co-authored seven books on building safety.

“Our codes and standards are able to apply in every nation, maybe sometimes with a little tweaking,” Underwood, a building official and assistant director of planning and community development for Norfolk, Va., said. “It is in our interest to reach out to our peers in the world community, to listen to them and share our experience. By doing so, we will learn and grow together.”

In Afghanistan, Underwood was part of an ICC team that developed a model code and provided training. He also presented training in El Salvador and created an abbreviated Spanish version of the International Building Code. In Libya, he lectured on building codes, green building, energy efficiency and solar energy technology.

The ICC Board approved five discipline-specific Membership Councils: Global Members; Building Officials; Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas; Sustainability, including energy; and Fire Service. Each Council will advocate for concerns and issues that are of particular importance to its discipline.

Through Governing Committees, the Membership Councils will:

• Build and improve relationships with stakeholders who have an interest in safe and sustainable construction globally;
• Provide opportunities to enhance the understanding, acceptance and adoption of ICC codes related to the Global Membership Council;
• Make recommendations for ICC training, certification and other programs related to global matters;
• Keep ICC stakeholders informed and engaged in the association’s activities; and
• Act as an advocate for professional or technical interest areas and receive feedback.

“Every chance I get at an ICC Annual Conference, I try to find people in the international community and talk to them,” Underwood said. “I generally like to have a dialogue with them about our profession. My profession means everything to me and is a very significant part of my life, so I like to share it.”

Martin Reiss, Rolf Jensen Associates, will serve as the Global Membership Council Governing Committee Vice Chair. Members representing various global jurisdictions and organizations will be announced soon along with details on how ICC Members may affiliate with the Global Membership Council. There is no charge for participation and everyone interested in international issues is encouraged to get involved and enroll in the Global Membership Council.

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.