Three-fourths of
all American steel
is recycled, part
of the industry’s
clear environmental commitment.

Sign up for other AISI newsletters

AISI “Tag-Teams” the ICC Code Development Process

What does it take to keep steel competitive in the construction codes and standards arena? To the code staff of AISI’s Construction Technical Program (CTP), it means reviewing a 2,973-page monograph with almost 2,500 individual code change proposals, and then covering over 200 hours of hearings in parallel tracks over a two-week, 12-hour-per-day schedule.

For CTP staff participating in the International Code Council (ICC) Code Development Hearings, held from October 24 - November 11 in Baltimore, Maryland—that schedule was a reality. These seasoned professionals played a key role in coordinating the steel industry’s response to challenges posed by competing materials, and included many hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations and testimony at the microphone on a wide range of issues.

Farid Alfawakhiri took the lead on the International Fire Code and the Fire Safety Committee of the International Building Code. Jonathan Humble handled the General Committee of the International Building Code (along with Alfawakhiri), as well as the International Energy Conservation Code, the Energy Committee of the International Residential Code, and the Administrative Committee. Bonnie Manley took responsibility for the Structural Committee of the International Building Code, and the Building Committee of the International Residential Code.

There were many items of interest to AISI and the steel industry, including:

• The Department of Energy (DOE) supports mandatory provisions for reflective roofs for all buildings in the IECC. AISI and other organizations will work with DOE on these provisions.
  
  
• There were several proposals that would increase the minimum fire resistance of floor/ceiling systems or increase the fire sprinkler requirements for light frame construction that would favor wood over cold-formed steel framing. AISI will work with industry and fire service professionals to develop a mutually beneficial and technically defendable proposal that ensures a level playing field.

What’s next? The CTP code staff is already busy planning for the next phase of the process, which is the submittal of public comments by February 8, 2010 (except for the energy-related proposals, which are due by July 1, 2010). For more information, contact the CTP code staff or Jay Larson.