First integrated green construction code poised for debut

Drafters of the International Code Council's International Green Construction Code (IGCC) are nearing completion of the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings, set for a public release in March.

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Drafters of the International Code Council's International Green Construction Code (IGCC) are nearing completion of the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings, set for a public release in March.

The IGCC is designed specifically to integrate and coordinate with the other International Codes already being enforced by governmental code officials at all levels. All 50 states and more than 20,000 U.S. jurisdictions use the International Codes developed by the ICC for safety and sustainability. The International Codes also serve as the basis for construction of federal properties around the world, and as a reference for many nations outside the United States.

The IGCC's unique drafting approach links the International Codes to a public process bringing together diverse areas of expertise to create the first integrated, regulatory framework for green commercial buildings. The AIA and ASTM International are Cooperating Sponsors. Other organizations with representation on the IGCC drafting committee, known as the Sustainable Building Technology Committee (SBTC), include the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Globes Initiative, and more than a dozen others.

The Code Council's unique consensus process invites continual public input from all perspectives, culminating in a final approval from code officials to ensure the best possible compliance rate.

A critical element of the IGCC is that it is consistent and coordinated with existing International Codes that span the spectrum of the industry, from building to energy conservation, fire safety, plumbing, mechanical fuel gas, and existing buildings, among others.

The last drafting meeting of the SBTC will be in January in Austin, Texas. The first public version of the IGCC will be published in March and is expected to inform many policy discussions currently underway. At the same time the IGCC will undergo continual maintenance with the solicitation of additional public comments through hearings being conducted in August. The IGCC will then go through another round of review, comments, and public hearings in 2011 for publication of the 2012 ICC Family of Codes.