The International Code Council announced that it is revising its code development process. The changes will take effect in 2024-2026 for the development of the 2027 International Codes (I-Codes) and will move the development process to an integrated and continuous three-year cycle.
In the new timeline, year one will include two Committee Action Hearings for Group A Codes, year two will include two Committee Action Hearings for Group B Codes, and year three will be the joint Public Comment Hearings and Online Governmental Consensus Vote for both Group A and B Codes.
As part of the new process, volunteers on code development committees will now preside over the two Committee Action Hearings, one in the spring and one in the fall.
Benefits of the change
According to ICC, the addition of the second Committee Actions Hearings in years one and two will foster a more in-depth vetting of code change proposals, allowing an opportunity for committee members to review and evaluate the original proposals and consider the submitted responses. It will also provide more opportunity for proponents to build consensus for their code change proposal to the existing codes.
With combined Public Comment Hearings in the third year, ICC states that voting members are able to vote on all suggested changes to the next edition of the I-Codes at one time. The updated process also provides more opportunity for proposed new referenced standards to be developed and finalized on a consistent timeline regardless of the group (Group A or B) with which they are associated.
ICC's view on the change
“As stewards of the code development process, we are always looking for ways to improve,” says ICC CEO Dominic Sims. “These changes have been carefully considered by the Code Council for years and supported by both the Board Committee on the Long-Term Code Development Process and the Industry Advisory Committee. As members of the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations community, we can continue the legacy of those who have come before us in ensuring our communities have safe, sustainable, and affordable buildings.”
“The code development process is an open and transparent process that allows for any interested parties to participate. This facilitates a broad spectrum of ideas, expertise, and input enabling the I-Codes to be the best model codes available to support the built environment,” says Dr. Russ Manning, incoming senior vice president of technical services, ICC. “Participation in the code process not only allows sharing individual expertise for the benefit of nearly two billion people worldwide; it also helps each of us to build individual skills in our respective roles in the shaping of our buildings and communities.”
