Getting Involved With the ICC Code Development Process

November 18, 2010 3 2010 IBHS Annual Conference

ICC Overview

  Membership based association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention, and sustainable building practices. Approximately 40,000 members from diverse background including architects, builders, engineers, code officials, and fire service professionals

  ICC Develops the codes and standards used to construct residential and commercial buildings across the United States and internationally. Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level

Code Development Process Getting Involved

  Any interested individual, or group, can submit a code change proposal and participate in the proceedings which proposals are considered

  The ICC process is open and debate occurs before a diverse membership from the built environment– both regulators and industry are represented

  Voting members may either ratify the committee’s recommendation or make their own recommendation which is then forwarded for final action. Any member of ICC may participate in the Code Development Hearing

November 18, 2010 4 2010 IBHS Annual Conference

ICC Code Change Cycle 2015 I-Codes

November 18, 2010 5 2010 IBHS Annual Conference

Code Changes Submitted

Public Hearing Results Printed & Distributed

Code Changes Printed & Distributed

Public Comments Sought on Public Hearing Results

Public Comments Printed & Distributed

Final Action Hearing

New Edition Published

I-CODE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

Code Development Hearing

Mar 12, 2012/2013 Jan 3, 2012/2013

June 8, 2012/2013

April 29, 2012/2013

Sept 10, 2012/2013

Aug 1, 2012/2013

Oct 24, 2012/2013

Tips for Involvement

  Visit ICCsafe.org

  Network with code professionals through ICC Chapters

  Participate in code hearings – May 16, 2011 Dallas, TX (IGCC)

  Concerns about a code? Submit a code change!

  Join an ICC committee – Code Technology Committees, Code Action Committees, Ad Hoc Committees (November 25, 2010, Code Committees (June 1, 2011)

  Utilizing data from the IBHS Research Center to form code change proposals   ICC and IBHS are discussing collaborative efforts– Short time frame!

  Quickest way to transfer IBHS-RC data into the marketplace is through the use of codes

November 18, 2010 6 2010 IBHS Annual Conference

Justin Wiley, Director of External Relations

International Code Council

jwiley@iccsafe.org

November 18, 2010 7 2010 IBHS Annual Conference

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Wanda D. Edwards, PE IBHS Director of Building Code Development

Overview  

Creation of International Codes

Code Process

New International Green Code

Update on residential sprinklers

Focus for 2011

Target states for 2011

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Brief History of International Codes Three code organizations

–   ICBO

–  SBCCI

–  BOCA

Three organizations came together to create the

International Code Council

First set of international codes produced in 2000

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New code in the process of development is

the International Green Code

For commercial construction

Encompasses energy and water

conservation and site development

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Final action hearings for 2012 are complete

Eric Stafford will elaborate on the changes

sponsored by IBHS

Surprise – Energy Code changes may have

affect on structural aspects of construction

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Propose changes to the Texas Department

of Insurance code requirements

Changes to Florida Building Code

Proposed changes for the Massachusetts

Code

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Building  Codes  –  Are  We  Making  Progress?  

T. Eric Stafford T. Eric Stafford & Associates, LLC

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Building  Codes  

•   Slow  process  •   ICC  

–  Previously:      18  month  cycle  

–  Now:      36  month  cycle  

•   Roughly  6  total  minutes  of  floor  discussion  on  a  parJcular  proposal  each  cycle  

Recent  Improvements  Sponsored  by  IBHS  

•   Lowering  the  wind  speed  threshold  for  when  residenJal  structures  do  not  require  wind  design  

•   In  WBDR  –  Plywood/OSB  shuQers  have  to  have  anchorage  permanently  installed  on  the  building  

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Recent  Improvements  Sponsored  by  IBHS  

•   Soffits  required  to  be  designed  for  wall  pressure  

•   Roof-­‐to-­‐wall  connecJons  for  residenJal  structures  –  Metal  connectors  

–   Improved  nail  connecJons  

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Recent  Improvements  Sponsored  by  IBHS  

•   SWB  required  for  all  areas  where  wind  speed  is  120  mph  and  greater  –  30  lb  felt  with  significantly  improved  fastener  size,  metal  or  plasJc  caps,  and  closer  nail  spacing  

–  Self  adhering  membrane  (peal  &  sJck)  

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Recent  Improvements  Sponsored  by  IBHS  

•   PrescripJve  procedures  for  voluntary  retrofits  of  gable  ends  

•   PrescripJve  procedures  for  voluntary  retrofit  of  roof  decks  when  reroofing  

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Recent  Improvements  Sponsored  by  IBHS  

•   Successfully  integrated  new  wind  speed  thresholds  for  prescripJve  provisions  with  new  ASCE  7-­‐10  wind  speed  maps  

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US Residential Fire Problem*

 A fire every 84 seconds

  86% of fire deaths – 2,590

  77% of fire injuries – 13,050

  72% of structure property damage–$7.8B

  53% of fireground firefighter deaths

*2009 NFPA

Fire deaths and injuries in one and two-family homes* (percentage of residential)

  81 % of fire deaths - 2,100

  71% of fire injuries - 9,300

  82% of fire property damage - $6.4 B

  78% of fireground firefighter deaths - 7/9

*2009 NFPA

Historical perspective: 1973 – America Burning Report

1975 – NFPA 13D Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes is first issued

1996 – The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition is formed

2005 – NFPA 1 Fire Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, and NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code all require fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwellings

2008 – Included in the 2009 IRC

2009 – NFPA launches the Home Fire Sprinkler Initiative: Bringing Safety Home

Challenges:

 Myths  Community awareness  Support from stakeholders   Political landscape   Political muscle/willpower

Opponent arguments:

  Too expensive  Will negatively impact housing  New houses don’t burn  Smoke alarms are enough  Should be a matter of choice  Water issues horror stories   Insurance won’t cover water damage

Fire Protection Research Foundation Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment

Opponents argument:

 Sprinklers are expensive

THE FACTS:  Average cost per sprinkler SF is $1.61

Fire Protection Research Foundation Incentives for the Use of Residential

Fire Sprinklers Systems

Opponents argument:

 High financial impact/not cost effective

THE FACTS:   Typical incentives to home builders offset

33% of system cost

Opponents argument:

 Smoke alarms are enough

THE FACTS:  Smoke alarms have done a good job in

reducing home fire deaths  We’ve reached a plateau. People are still

dying and being injured in home fires  Over 37% of people who died did so in

homes with working smoke alarms* *NFPA 2008

Opponents argument:  Home fire incidents, injuries and death

continue to decline without the installation of fire sprinklers.

THE FACTS:  Have we solved the fire death and injury

problem?

Opponents argument: Demand is not there. Should be a matter of choice

THE FACTS:  Belief of "it won't happen to me" -- until it

does   Fire impacts the entire community  Whose responsibility is it?  What about liability – constructive

knowledge?

Comparative Analysis of Housing Cost and Supply

Key findings:

 No reduction in number of housing

 Relative increase in construction

 Analysis did not reveal any detrimental effects

 Minor influence compared to other factors

Key findings:

 Majority did not experience meter cost increase

  90% experienced no increase on service fees

 Domestic water consumption rates did not increase

 Majority did not see an increase in tapping fees

HFSC/FM Global The Environmental Impact of

Automatic Fire Sprinklers Conclusions: Fire Sprinklers Are Green!   Reduce green house gases by 98%   Reduce fire damage by up to 97%   Reduce water usage to fight a home fire by upwards of

90%   Reduce the amount of water pollution released into the

environment   Reduce debris to landfills

A coordinated effort to provide resources for the fire service and other sprinkler

advocates firesprinklerinitiative.org

States adopting: CA, MD, PA, SC (delayed) Anti-sprinkler legislation: AK,AR,AZ,MS,NM,OH – died without action KS,NE,NH,LA – sent to study committee IA,TN,UT – allowed under certain conditions MO – mandatory option ME – failed last year AL,FL,GA,ID,ND,SD,TX – signed into law

Questions?