Code Update
Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 12/1/2002
The consolidation of the three major regional code-developing organizations into a single International Code Council (ICC) was made final in October. At their annual joint meeting and conference, Officials from Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA), International Council of Building Officials (ICBO) and Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) voted to consolidate into one organization—the ICC—effective January 1, 2003.
This effort began in 1994, when BOCA, ICBO and SBCCI created the ICC to develop a single model construction code. Such codes are used—either "as written" or with revisions—to develop most state, county and municipal codes in the U.S. Since the consolidation effort began, ICC has developed 11 construction codes covering a range of building systems.
The ICC recently launched an online subscription service, called eCodes, to bring these codes to designers' desktops.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has also launched an online initiative for its competing code. Designers and code officials have free Internet access to the "Building Construction and Safety Code" (NFPA 5000) and "Fire Prevention Code" (NFPA 1). Full electronic and printed versions of these documents are also available for sale online.
From Pure Power, Winter 2002
