Code Council releases update on standards development activities for September 2021

There is a long-standing relationship between construction codes and standards that address design, installation, testing and materials related to building construction. Building regulation cannot be effectively carried out without such standards. The critical role of standards in the building regulatory process is such that the standards are an extension of the code requirements and are therefore equally enforceable. Consequently, standards that are referenced in codes carry an expectation of being as clear, direct and enforceable as code requirements that are primarily text.

As an ANSI-accredited standards developing organization, the International Code Council can respond to the needs of its membership in developing standards for reference in the International Codes (I-Codes). As part of the ANSI accreditation, the Code Council has written consensus procedures to outline the development of standards in the most time-efficient manner. Development can include both existing standards on a five-year revision cycle as well as brand new standards to address new challenges faced by the building industry. Code Council standards are kept current to reflect the state-of-the-art for the building industry and maintain ANSI approval as American National Standards.

Standards are developed to ensure products, services and systems are safe, reliable and consistently perform the way they are intended to. They establish common values that define safety and quality requirements. The I-Codes set minimum requirements but may not necessarily detail how to achieve those requirements. A consensus standard that is referenced in the I-Codes provides that means so long as it is written in mandatory language that can be enforceable. It becomes part of the code to the extent referenced. In cases where conflict arises between the code and the standard, the code shall prevail.

When a standard is referenced, the standard reference number is indicated in the code section. A list of the referenced standards with the edition year and grouped by the individual promulgators appears in the last chapter of the respective I-Code. For example, in the 2021 edition of the International Building Code, Chapter 35 lists the referenced standards.

A helpful Code Council webinar was prepared in April 2021 to highlight the steps taken during an ICC standards development project. As part of the Code Council’s Learn Live offerings, the webinar can provide continuing education for those wishing to enhance their knowledge of the standards developing process for ANSI approval as an American National Standard.

Below is a list of International Code Council standards that are current, being revised or are under new development.

ICC 300 — Standard for Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands

Standard ICC 300 — Standard for Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and Grandstands addresses the unique concerns associated with bleacher seating. It addresses new and existing installations of all types of bleacher seating including fixed and folding bleachers intended for indoor, outdoor, temporary and permanent use. This standard is intended to coordinate with the means of egress systems in the building codes.

The 2017 edition of ICC 300 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Consensus Committee on Bleacher Safety (IS-BLE) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-BLE as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 400 — Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures

Standard ICC 400 — Standard on the Design and Construction of Log Structures establishes the minimum design requirements for log structures to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare through structural, thermal envelope, fire resistance and setting provisions. This standard is intended for adoption by local governmental agencies and organizations setting model codes to achieve uniformity in technical design criteria in building codes and other regulations.

The 2022 edition of ICC 400 will be available online and in the Code Council store shortly.

Visit the ICC Consensus Committee on Log Structures (IS-LOG) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-LOG as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 500/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters

Standard ICC 500 — ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters is published jointly by the International Code Council and the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) and is referenced in the newest building safety codes. The standard establishes the minimum design and construction requirements for storm shelters to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare relative to the design, construction and installation for protection from high winds associated with tornados and hurricanes. This standard provides design requirements for the main wind resisting structural system and components and cladding of these shelters and provides basic occupant life safety and health requirements for these shelters, including means of egress, lighting, sanitation, ventilation, fire safety, and minimum required floor space for occupants. This standard is intended for adoption by local governmental agencies and organizations setting model codes to achieve uniformity in the technical design and construction of storm shelters.

The 2020 edition of ICC 500 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Consensus Committee on Storm Shelters (IS-STM) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-STM as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 600 — Standard for Residential Construction in High-Wind Regions

Standard ICC 600 — Standard for Residential Construction in High-Wind Regions is based on content from SSTD 10 (Hurricane Resistant Construction Standard) and material standards’ and is to specify prescriptive methods to provide wind-resistant designs and construction details for residential buildings of masonry, concrete, wood-framed or cold-formed steel framed construction sited in high-wind regions where design wind speeds are 120 to 180 mph. The purpose of this standard is to improve building resiliency by providing prescriptive requirements based on the latest engineering knowledge and to provide minimum requirements to improve structural integrity and improve building envelope performance within the limitations in building geometry, materials, and wind climate specified.

After the revision of ICC 600, the committee will continue to develop a 600 series of hazard mitigation standards to specify enhanced prescriptive methodologies that affected municipalities can adopt. The committee will be designated as the Multi-Hazard Resiliency for Residential Construction Committee (IS-MHRRC). The new standards to be developed are:

• ICC 605: Standard for Residential Construction in Regions with Wildfire Hazard
• ICC 610: Standard for Residential Construction in Regions with Seismic Hazard
• ICC 615: Standard for Residential Construction in Regions with Tsunami Hazard

The 2020 edition of ICC 600 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Multi-Hazard Resiliency for Residential Construction Committee (IS-MHRRC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-MHRRC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 700 — National Green Building Standard

The ICC 700 —National Green Building Standard (NGBS) has been approved by the American National Standards Institute for all types of sustainable residential construction. A collaborative effort of the International Code Council, ASHRAE and the National Association of Home Builders, NGBS outlines a variety of green practices that can be incorporated into new homes and multifamily buildings, as well as hotels, dormitories and land developments. The standard also delivers stand-alone chapters for both home remodeling and additions and renovations of multifamily buildings. The green practices address site and lot design, preparation and development; resource, energy and water efficiency; indoor environmental quality; and operation, maintenance and building owner education.

The 2020 edition of ICC 700 is available online and in the Code Council store.

ASABE/ICC 802 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard

The ASABE/ICC 802 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard establishes design and testing requirements for landscape irrigation sprinklers, bubblers, drip emitters and microsprays. It provides minimum design and performance requirements, specifies uniform test methods for product performance, and sets definitions and product classifications for commonly used sprinklers and emitters. The consensus standard was developed through the Code Council’s ANSI-accredited standards development process in collaboration with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

The 2020 edition of ASABE/ICC 802 is available in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Landscape Irrigation Emission Devices Standard Consensus Committee (IS-IEDC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-IEDC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 805 — Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Standard CSA B805/ICC 805 — Rainwater Harvesting Systems addresses roof surface rainwater and stormwater (i.e., rainwater that has come in contact with the ground or a green roof) being used as source water. The standard addresses rainwater intended for use in non-potable applications (e.g., irrigation, fire protection, toilet and urinal flushing, clothes washing, hose bibbs, decorative fountains, and vehicle washing) as well potable applications (e.g., human consumption, oral care, food preparation, dishwashing and bathing). The term “rainwater harvesting” is used generically in this standard and can refer to harvesting of either roof runoff or stormwater runoff.

The 2018 edition of CSA B805/ICC 805 is both ANSI approved and SCC accredited and available in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Rainwater Collection System Design and Installation Consensus Committee (IS-RCSDI) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-RCSDI as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 900/SRCC 300 — Solar Thermal System Standard

The ICC 900/SRCC 300 — Solar Thermal System Standard establishes minimum requirements for the system design, performance evaluation, and installation instructions of solar water heating systems. This standard establishes a methodology for rating the performance of solar water heating systems based on performance projections and solar collector test data. This standard is applicable to residential and commercial solar water heating systems intended for use within swimming pool heating, building space heating, building space cooling, and/or water heating systems. It is applicable to both direct and indirect solar water heating systems. The expanded use of renewable energy systems in modern construction has resulted in the creation of sustainable construction codes and standards and energy incentive programs addressing solar thermal systems. In both cases, minimum criteria and uniform test methods are needed to ensure that solar thermal water heating systems provide suitable performance, durability, safety and comparable performance metrics.

The 2020 edition of ICC 900/SRCC 300 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Solar Thermal Standard Consensus Committee (IS-STSC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-STSC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 901/SRCC 100 — Solar Thermal Collector Standard

The ICC 901/SRCC 100 — Solar Thermal Collector Standard establishes minimum requirements for the design, construction, performance and testing of liquid and air heating solar thermal collectors, including those containing distributed assembly and integral concentrating components and integral storage and non-separable thermosiphon units. This standard is applicable to solar collectors intended for use within swimming pool and spa heating, building space heating and cooling, water heating systems, industrial/commercial process heating, and thermal input to electrical power production systems.

The 2020 edition of ICC 901/SRCC 100 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Solar Thermal Standard Consensus Committee (IS-STSC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-STSC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 902/PHTA 902/SRCC 400 — Solar Pool and Spa Heating System Standard

The ICC 902/PHTA 902/SRCC 400 — Solar Pool and Spa Heating System Standard establishes minimum criteria for the design and installation of solar water heating systems for pool and spa applications. It addresses both residential and commercial pools and spas, consistent with the requirements of the Code Council’s International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and other relevant ICC/PHTA standards for these applications. ICC 902/PHTA 902/SRCC 400 is a new standard that builds upon the well-established ICC 900/SRCC 300 Solar Water Heating Systems Standard that does not include pool and spa applications. This new standard allows pools and spas to benefit from sustainable heating technologies without sacrificing safety or performance.

The 2020 edition of ICC 902/PHTA 902/SRCC 400 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Pool Heating and Cooling Standard Consensus Committee (IS-PHSC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-PHSC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 903/SRCC 500 — Solar Hot Water Storage Tank Standard

The ICC 903/SRCC 500 — Solar Thermal System Standard establishes minimum requirements for the design, construction and testing of hot water storage tanks designed for use as a component within solar water heating systems. It establishes test methods and minimum standards to ensure minimum levels of safety and durability. It also sets uniform test methods for the measurement of key thermal performance and efficiency parameters for these tanks. The standard applies to tanks that are pressurized, unpressurized, with or without integral heat exchangers, and with or without integral backup heaters.

BSR/ICC 1100 — Standard for Spray-Applied Polyurethane Foam Plastic Insulation

The ANSI-approved standard BSR/ICC 1100 — Standard for Spray-Applied Polyurethane Foam Plastic Insulation establishes the minimum physical and performance properties as well as application requirements for spray-applied foam plastic insulations. The standard will be included for reference in the 2021 International Codes.

The 2019 edition of BSR/ICC 1100 is available online and in the Code Council store.

Visit the ICC Foam Plastic Insulation Standard Committee (IS-FPI) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-FPI as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 1200 — Standard for Off-Site Construction: Planning, Design, Fabrication and Assembly

Standard ICC 1200 — Standard for Off-Site Construction: Planning, Design, Fabrication and Assembly would address all facets of the off-site construction process, including planning, designing, fabricating, transporting, and assembling commercial and residential building elements. The standard includes componentized, panelized and modularized elements and will not apply to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development manufactured housing.

Visit the ICC Off-Site and Modular Construction Standards Committee (IS-OSMC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-OSMC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 1205 — Standard for Off-Site Construction: Inspection and Regulatory Compliance

Standard ICC 1205 — Standard for Off-Site Construction: Inspection and Regulatory Compliance would address the inspection, approval and regulatory compliance of off-site residential and commercial construction components and their assembly and completion at the final building site. This includes permitting, in-plant and on-site final inspections, third-party inspections, and the role of industrialized building departments, state modular programs and the authority having jurisdiction. The standard includes componentized, panelized and modularized elements and will not apply to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development manufactured housing. The development of this standard falls under the purview of the IS-OSMC committee.

Visit the ICC Off-Site and Modular Construction Standards Committee (IS-OSMC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-OSMC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ICC 1210 — Standard for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Systems, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation in Off-Site Construction

As an ANSI-accredited standards-developing organization, the Code Council is partnering with the Modular Building Institute in the development of this new comprehensive standard to address mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) used in off-site construction. This standard will be part of the 1200 series portfolio of standards to address the challenges faced by the off-site construction industry.

Standard ICC 1210 — Standard for Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Systems, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation in Off-Site Construction would address requirements for the energy efficiency and water conservation of off-site construction projects and the planning, designing, fabricating, transporting and assembling of commercial and residential building MEP system elements. This includes the componentization and modularization of elements of MEP systems, the incorporation of MEP systems in componentized, panelized or modularized building elements, and the achievement of energy efficiency and water conservation requirements in off-site construction. This standard will not apply to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development manufactured housing.

ICC 1300 — Standard for the Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings

The Code Council is developing a comprehensive standard to provide a methodology for the identification, evaluation and retrofit of specific known vulnerabilities for one- and two-family wood light-frame residential buildings (including townhouses) up to two stories in height. Also included are the evaluation and retrofit of masonry chimneys attached to three-story buildings. Development of the assessment and retrofit provisions are applicable to dwellings located in Seismic Design Categories B through E and will include the use of the best available seismic numerical modeling tools and engineering practices to assist in the development of assessment methods and to identify retrofit criteria to best achieve targeted performance objectives. The use of the provisions are anticipated to improve earthquake performance but are not intended to prevent earthquake damage. The new standard will be developed in accordance with ANSI’s Essential Requirements.

Visit the ICC Residential Seismic Assessment and Retrofit Standard Consensus Committee (IS-RSARC) webpage for more information on standards activities related to IS-RSARC as well as meeting notices and agendas, committee information, and other resources.

ANSI accreditation

The International Code Council is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a standards developing organization that adheres to ANSI’s Essential Requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process. Participation of the various stakeholders in an equitable, accessible and responsive environment is key in developing a consensus standard for recognition as an American National Standard.

The Code Council’s experience as a structured platform upon which consensus is achieved from industry stakeholder input places the Code Council in an ideal position as a standards developer. The Code Council also has the capability to augment the resources of other standards developing organizations seeking to develop standards for their respective industries. With more than 64,000 members, the Code Council’s reach touches upon individuals experienced in facets peripheral to the building industry. In other words, the Code Council can develop ANSI-approved standards not just related to building codes.

The latest version of the Code Council’s Consensus Procedures — used to develop Code Council standards — was ANSI approved in August 2021. As a standards-developing organization, this current version provides the Code Council with a streamlined method to develop standards in a most time-efficient manner.

Standards development process

The Code Council adheres to openness and transparency in our standards development process. All Code Council standards committee meetings are open to the public. Any interested party can participate in committee meetings and can be considered by the committee for membership on any workgroup that the committee creates.

Click here to learn more about the standard development process as well as standard development policy and procedures and Standard Development and Consensus Committees.