Model Codes Update
By Ron George, CIPE, CPD
President, Ron George Design & Consulting Services
The two model code organizations are busy finalizing their 2009 editions of their respective codes. Their upcoming meetings are full of educational sessions with an emphasis on green buildings and various other education seminars.
International Code Council
The International Code Council (ICC) is a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, and they develop the building safety and fire prevention codes used for the construction of residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. International Code Council members include: state, county and municipal code enforcement and fire officials, architects, engineers, builders, contractors, elected officials, manufacturers and others in the construction industry. The ICC organization has nearly 300 chapters, each with its own personality and focus representing all ICC member professional disciplines.
The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by the International Code Council, provide minimum safeguards for people at home, in institutions, at school and in the workplace. The International Codes are a complete set of comprehensive, coordinated building, safety and fire prevention codes. Building codes provide for public safety in the built environment.
International Model Building Codes:
The purpose of a set of model building codes is to establish minimum requirements necessary to protect public health, safety and welfare in the built environment. Model building codes provide for protection from fire, structural collapse, electrical, mechanical and plumbing hazards and general building deterioration. Safe buildings are achieved through code-based design and construction practices in concert with a code administration program that ensures compliance. The inspectors have a very important role in making sure the built environment is safe. Model codes serve to keep construction costs down by establishing uniformity in the construction industry. This uniformity permits building and materials manufacturers to do business on a larger scale--statewide, regionally, nationally or internationally without having to worry about uneven enforcement from weak or vague code language that leaves interpretation up to the code official. A good code will spell out all of the code requirements in the body of the code so enforcement if fair and consistent in all jurisdictions. This larger scale approach, in turn, creates cost savings for the end consumer. Codes also help protect real estate investments, commercial and personal, by providing a minimum level of construction quality and safety.
International Code Council Code Development Process:
The International Code Council uses the governmental consensus process to develop its building safety and fire prevention codes. It is an open, inclusive process that allows input from all individuals and groups. Committees hear all code change proposals. An appeals process allows anyone to appeal an action or inaction of a code committee. Final decisions are made by International Code Council voting members -- code enforcement and fire officials who, with no vested interests beyond public safety, represent the public’s best interest. ICC also offers technical and educational support regarding the codes as well as certification exams to test professional knowledge of code enforcement and construction.
How a Code Becomes Law:
Legislative bodies are not obligated to adopt model building safety or fire prevention codes, and may write their own code or portions of a code. A model code has no legal standing until it is adopted as law by a legislative body (state legislature, county board, city council, etc.). When adopted as law, owners of property within the boundaries of the adopting jurisdiction are required by law to comply with the referenced codes. Because codes are updated, existing structures usually are required to meet the code that was enforced when the property was built. The primary application of a building code is to regulate new construction. Building codes usually only apply to an existing building if the building undergoes reconstruction, rehabilitation or alteration, or if the occupancy of the existing building changes as defined by the locally adopted building code.
Support Builds for Community Building Code Administration Grant
Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, along with Representatives John Boozman (R-Ark.)â Michael Capuano (D-Mass.)â Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Robert Scott (D-Va.) and Pete Stark (D-Calif.) are the latest co-sponsors of the “Community Building Code Administration Grant” Act of 2007 (CBCAG). If approved, Community Building Code Administration Grant funds would be dedicated to training inspectors that are being called “First Preventers,” They are like the Medical First Responders in the Fire Service except they are responding to the need for building inspectors in the wake of a building boom following a disaster when many communities resources are stretched thin or non-existent. These are building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire safety officials who prevent harm by ensuring compliance with safety codes before a disaster occurs. The bill would make it possible to recruit and train inspectors in under-served communities or communities in greatest need of inspectors or code officials to assure safety through code compliance.
In many communities, there simply are not enough resources for building safety inspection and plan review officials. A community can adopt codes, but if they do not have trained people to ensure compliance and provide support, there is no enforcement of the codes.
The Community Building Code Administration Grant authorizes a competitive grant through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help local governments hire, train and equip code officials to save lives and protect property. Introduced last December by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), the CBCAG would aid communities that see their resources over-stretched Ð or lack resources altogether in the face of building booms or major rebuilds after a disaster.
“I firmly believe that this legislation will help ensure the safety of buildings across the country and ultimately will reduce the cost to the American taxpayer after a disaster,” said Congressman Moore. “Responsible building codes are a wise investment and the right thing to do for our communities, which is why I appreciate the Chairman’s support of this important initiative and look forward to working with him in the future to try to advance this legislation through the House.”
“It’s been proven over and over again that houses built to code and inspected properly stand up to natural disasters,” said Steve Shapiro, International Code Council president and director of Codes Compliance for Hampton, Va. “Studies show that for every federal tax dollar spent on mitigation costs through grants, it saves the community four dollars in recovery and rebuilding costs.”
As of this writing, the Community Building Code Administration Grant currently awaits action by the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.
International Code Council Annual Conference Will Feature: Code Development, Disaster Response and Green Buildings
Residential fire sprinklers and improved energy efficiency are just a few of the code change proposals expected to draw lively debate during the International Code Council’s Final Action Hearings at the Code Council’s 2008 Annual Conference.
The Annual Conference and Final Action Hearing will be held Sept. 14-23, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis. The Code Council’s Annual Conference offers everyone the opportunity to broaden their code knowledge and contribute to the future of building safety and fire prevention.
“Participation in the code development process leads to safer construction, saved lives and reduced property losses,” said Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “We look forward to welcoming a strong turn-out of “First Preventers” -- code officials -- along with local government officials, architects, engineers, contractors and other construction industry professionals.”
To register, call 888/ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4229. To participate as an exhibitor or sponsor, call 888/ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 5264 or visit the International Code Council website at http://www.iccsafe.org
The Code Council’s Annual Conference features the Final Action Hearings, Sept. 17-23, which will result in the 2009 International Codes, and gives all attendees the opportunity to voice their opinions about proposed code changes by fostering full and open participation in the Code Council’s governmental process.
Nearly 30 education sessions will be offered during Annual Conference, giving participants the opportunity to earn CEUs and LUs. Topics include hazard response, disaster mitigation, green building and more. Certification testing will be available Sept. 19-22 for residential and commercial building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical inspectors; fire inspectors and fire plans examiners. You can Pre-register for the exams on the ICC Web site
The International Code Council Expo will feature more than 100 exhibitors displaying construction industry-related products and services designed to improve the built environment. A special section of the Expo is dedicated to plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas products. Exhibitors represent manufacturers, service companies, government agencies and trade associations.
Other features activities include the Code Council’s Opening Event, hosted by Target Corporation, the annual business meeting, awards luncheon, golf tournament, fun run and the Fifth Annual Bob Fowler Motorcycle Ride.
ANSI partners with ICC to electronically deliver I-Codes in Spanish
The International Code Council (ICC) has partnered with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to distribute the recently released Spanish versions of the 2006 International Codes in electronic format. These codes include the International Building, Fire, Residential, Energy Conservation, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Property Maintenance Codes. The popularity of the International Codes globally has provided the impetus for the Code Council to pursue development of these codes in multiple languages. In addition to interest outside the United States, ICC has also experienced an increase in demand for the codes in Spanish from the Spanish-speaking community within the United States.
IAPMO convened annual Technical Committee Meetings May 5-7, 2008.
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) on May 5-7 in Denver convened its annual Technical Committee Meetings to process public comments toward the development of the 2009 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), 2009 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), 2009 Uniform Solar Energy Code and 2009 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code. The meeting to act on all comments represents one of the final stages of the three-year ANSI-accredited Uniform Code development cycle.
During the meetings, four separate task groups of individuals with select expertise were formed to provide focused guidance on specific areas of the code:
- The Access Task Group
- The Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) Task Group
- The Gray Water and Reclaimed Water Task Group
- The Horizontal Wet Venting for Bathroom (Groups) Task Group.
Discussions also highlighted a number of issues regarding sustainable environments, including: green building, energy conservation and water reuse, according to Lynne Simnick, IAPMO director of Code Development.
There were one hundred twenty-one (121) public comments regarding the Uniform Plumbing Code. Forty-one (41) of the public comments to the plumbing code were approved as submitted and 13 approved as amended by the Plumbing Technical Committee, representing a 45 percent approval rate.
There were 36 public comments regarding the Uniform Mechanical Code. Twenty-five (25) of the public comments to the mechanical code were accepted as submitted and two more were accepted as amended by the Mechanical Technical Committee, which amounted to a seventy-five (75) percent approval rate.
There were 15 public comments regarding the Uniform Solar Energy Code, with 13 gaining approval as submitted and one more approved as amended, 93 percent approval. There were fifty-eight (58) public comments regarding the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, 49 were approved as submitted and five others were accepted as amended, which amounted to a ninety-three (93) percent approval. Each of these latter two codes is participating in the ANSI process for the first time.
“The voluntary consensus system (ANSI process) operates on the principle that all who will be affected by the outcome should be freely afforded a voice in creating IAPMO’s standards for the 2009 Uniform Codes,”
Simnick said. “Bearing this in mind, these meetings were extremely successful as each public comment at the hearings was discussed and acted upon.”
The Technical Committee Reports, consisting of the Report on Comments and the preceding Report on Proposals, will be presented at the Association Technical Meeting Convention, Sept. 28 through Oct. 3, at the IAPMO Annual Education and Business Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The 2009 Uniform Codes should be published next spring.
AIA Approves IAPMO as CEU Provider
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has been approved as a Registered Provider for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the leading national association for licensed architects. As a result, architects and related professionals can now satisfy their continuing education AIA renewal requirements through participation in IAPMO courses and seminars. “The AIA is dedicated to providing quality continuing education to its members and has recognized IAPMO as an organization that meets their high quality standard,” said Kathleen Mihelich, IAPMO director of Career Services. “This makes IAPMO an alternative for architects nationwide who desire to learn more about the plumbing and mechanical codes. Architects are no longer limited to continuing education concerning only the building code.”
The approval was granted based on a comprehensive AIA review of IAPMO’s educational content development and instructional design process; needs assessment protocol; quality assurance and improvement measures; and program and information management procedures. The AIA concluded IAPMO satisfied each requirement on behalf of its membership. It’s another step in fulfilling IAPMO’s goal to provide educational and training services -- accredited by bodies both international and national on down to the state and jurisdiction level -- to a broad group of professionals for whom continuing education is vital.
Sponsorship growing for International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials and World Plumbing Council’s International Emerging Technology Symposium in Chicago, IL
The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) will co-convene with the World Plumbing Council (WPC) an International Emerging Technology Symposium, Aug. 19-20 at the O’Hare Marriott in Chicago. Sponsorship and support for the event is growing. Just a few of the organizations sponsoring the International Emerging Technology Symposium include: Sloan Valve Company, the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) and The Institute of Plumbing Australia Inc. (IPA). “This symposium represents an exciting opportunity to highlight how our industry creates and adapts to emerging technologies,” said IAPMO Executive Director GP Russ Chaney. “The event promises to be tremendously informative, as we trust a great many unique organizations will seize the opportunity by providing their most highly-qualified experts as presenters and panelists.”
“We have kept the cost of registration low at $295 for both days (includes breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack) in order to encourage international participation,” according to Maria Sol Alba, IAPMO Training Client Services supervisor. “Hotel reservations should be made directly with the Marriott by mentioning the IAPMO event, with a special room rate of $129 per night.”
The timely event will allow participants to learn how the manufacturing, engineering and trade industries devise solutions to international regulatory developments.
For sponsorship opportunities and/or information on participating in the event, please contact Maria Sol Alba at (708) 995-3005 or Career.Services@iapmo.org.
IAPMO Begins Work on Green Supplement
Following through on their commitment to be the leader in sustainable model code provisions through the promotion of safe and reliable, environmentally responsible construction practices, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) on April 9 in Chicago convened the inaugural meeting of its Green Technical Committee. This initial dialogue formally launches IAPMO’s efforts to identify opportunities to make the Uniform Codes more embracing of sustainable practices and technologies and develop the first ever green supplement for plumbing and mechanical codes.
Assembled from a host of top experts in water efficiency and the sustainable plumbing and mechanical industries, the Green Technical Committee seeks to develop and maintain a supplemental document establishing requirements for green plumbing and mechanical systems, while ensuring these practices are safe and reliable. The green plumbing and mechanical supplement will also serve as a repository for provisions that can ultimately be integrated into the Uniform Codes and supplement codes developed by other organizations.
“I consider it a great honor to be part of this pioneering effort to develop a whole new set of provisions that promote and ensure sustainability in our future building practices,” said committee Chairman Bill Erickson of CJ Erickson Plumbing Co. “I have placed a very high priority in my work to see this to its fruition.” The supplement will seek to meet these requirements through the use of high-efficiency fixtures, appliances and equipment, water reuse and conservation, and renewable energy sources; reexamination of sizing methods and design practices; placing more emphasis on maintenance; and many other tenets of the green movement.
“By creating a comprehensive green plumbing and mechanical supplement, many proactive jurisdictions will have the option of adopting the requirements or using them as a resource to complement their existing plumbing and mechanical codes,” said Dave Viola, IAPMO director of Special Services. “Many municipalities across the country have been asking for such a document.”
At the meeting, clearly defined goals were established and task groups were formed to tackle specific issues in the development of the code supplement.
The committee’s next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 21, 2008 in Chicago. Contact IAPMO at: 909/472-4100 for more information.
Ron George specializes in plumbing, piping, fire protection and hvac design. He also provides plumbing/mechanical code and product standard consulting services and forensic investigations of mechanical system failures.