by Michael O'Brian on August 26, 2009
Get Ready for the 2012 Versions of the I-Codes
It seems that the ICC just released the 2009 editions of the I-Code series and now it is time to start the process to develop the next generation of codes. The code change proposal monograph for the 2009/2010 Code Change cycle is now available. The web-page provided by the ICC gives you the option to download the changes through a .pdf format or you can register to receive a CD. The ICC has stated that CDs will be mailed for on or about October 3, 2009.
After a quick [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on November 11, 2008
Today, the ICC released the intention of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to request a appeal hearing on RB 64 and RB 66 of the 2007/2008 code development cycle. The notice of appeal has been transmitted to interested parties by the ICC based on the appeal notification dated October 30, 2008, by the NAHB. The request by the NAHB claims that the ICC failed in providing a voluntary consensus standard and
The NAHB Claims:
- ICC states that its International Codes are developed using the governmental consensus process. Further, it claims that the ICC governmental consensus process meets the principles defined in OMB Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities.
- The appeal Regrettably, voting on code changes RB64 and RB66 demonstrated an unequivocal failure of the ICC code development process to achieve real consensus on these code changes by not preventing a single interest group, specifically the fire service, from unfairly dominating the voting on these two proposals at the Final Action Hearings. The voting on these code changes clearly violated the principle of “balance of interest” specified in OMB Circular A-119 for a voluntary consensus body (see Attachment A.)
- ICC maintains that [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on January 17, 2008
Special Blog post by:
Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, P.E., EFO, CBO
On December 4, 2006, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) issued a “Member Alert” notifying their membership about the hazards associated with the light-weight construction in residential occupancies. In that Member Alert titled “Caution Urged with Composite Floors” it was stated:
“There have been several cases of firefighters falling through floors made of composite structural components and an even greater number of near-miss situations. This type of construction is being investigated as a contributing factor in a line-of-duty death. There is a proliferation of engineered floor systems in residential occupancies across the United States. Many newer residential occupancies incorporate lightweight, engineered wood or composite structural components, including trusses, wooden I-beams and lightweight flooring systems. In most cases, these systems are structurally sound and designed to support the appropriate loads under normal conditions; however, they are likely to fail very quickly under fire conditions.
These components and systems are most often found in situations where applicable codes do not require any rated fire resistance between floor levels. They have much less inherent fire resistance than conventional wood joist floor systems and conventional wood decking. Remember – many codes do not require any fire resistance in residential floors! In the several cases of firefighters falling through floors, those floors had been exposed to fire from below for relatively short periods.”
Then, on October 1, 2007, [click to continue…]
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