[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42399-42400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18142]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


International Code Council: The Update Process for the 
International Codes and Standards

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The International Code Council (ICC), promulgator of the 
International Codes (``I-Codes'') and Standards, maintains a process 
for updating the entire family of International Codes based on receipt 
of proposals from interested individuals and organizations involved in 
the construction industry as well as the general public. The first 
edition of the I-Codes was the 2000 edition. The codes are updated 
every three years (2003 current edition, 2006 editions, etc.) with an 
intervening Supplement published every 18 months. There are two 
hearings for each code development cycle; the first hearing (Code 
Development Hearing) where a committee considers the proposals and 
recommends an action on each proposal, followed by the assembled 
members of ICC afforded the opportunity to vote; and the second hearing 
(Final Action Hearing) to consider comments submitted in response to 
the committee action on proposals. The schedule is printed below.
    The purpose of this request is to increase public participation in 
the system used by ICC to develop and maintain its codes and standards. 
The publication of this notice by the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology (NIST) on behalf of ICC is being undertaken as a public 
service; NIST does not necessarily endorse, approve, or recommend any 
of the codes or standards referenced in the notice.

DATES: The 2003/2004 Code Development Cycle will start with the Code 
Development Hearings on September 5-14, 2003, at the Gaylord Opryland, 
Nashville, Tennessee. This will be followed by the Final Action Hearing 
tentatively scheduled for May 17-20, 2004, in Overland Park, Kansas.
    Completion of this cycle results in the 2004 Supplement to the 
International Codes.
    The agenda for the hearing as well as updates to the schedule are 
also posted on the ICC Web site at: http://www.iccsafe.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Pfeiffer, PE, Vice President, 
Codes and Standards Development at ICC's Chicago Regional Office, 4051 
West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478, Telephone 708/
799-2300, Extension 338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    ICC produces the only family of Codes and Standards that are 
comprehensive, coordinated and necessary to regulate the built 
environment. Federal agencies frequently use these codes and standards 
as the basis for developing federal regulations concerning new and 
existing construction.
    The Code Development Process is initiated when proposals from 
interested persons, supported by written data, views, or arguments are 
solicited and published in the Proposed Changes document. This document 
is distributed a minimum of 30 days in advance of the first hearing and 
serves as the agenda.
    At the first hearing (Code Development Hearing), the ICC Code 
Development Committee considers testimony on every proposal and acts on 
each one individually (Approval, Disapproval, or Approval as Modified). 
The assembled body of all ICC members is then afforded the opportunity 
to vote on the proposal if they disagree with the Committee. The 
results are published in a report entitled the Report of the Public 
Hearing, which identifies the disposition of each proposal and the 
reason for the committee's action. Anyone wishing to submit a comment 
on the committee's action, expressing support or opposition to the 
action, is provided the opportunity to do so. Comments received are 
published and distributed in a document called the Final Action Agenda 
which serves as the agenda for the second hearing. Proposals which are 
approved by a vote of the Active Governmental Members of ICC at the 
second hearing (Final Action Hearing) are incorporated in either the 
Supplement or Edition, as applicable, with the next cycle starting with 
the submittal deadline for proposals.
    Proponents of proposals automatically receive a copy of all 
documents (Proposed Changes, Report of the Public Hearing and Final 
Action Agenda). Interested parties may also request a copy, free of 
charge, from ICC's Chicago Regional Office at: International Code 
Council, Chicago Regional Office, 4051 W. Flossmoor Road, Country Club 
Hills, IL 60478-5795 or download a copy from the ICC Web site at http://www.iccsafe.org.
    The International Codes and Standards consist of the following:

International Building Code
ICC Electrical Code
International Energy Conservation Code
International Existing Building Code
International Fire Code
International Fuel Gas Code
International Mechanical Code
ICC Performance Code for Buildings and Facilities
International Plumbing Code

[[Page 42400]]

International Private Sewage Disposal Code
International Property Maintenance Code
International Residential Code
International Urban-Wildland Interface Code
International Zoning Code
ICC/ANSI A 117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities
ICC Standard on Bleachers, Folding and Telescopic Seating, and 
Grandstands

    ICC is currently in the process of developing two new standards, 
one on Storm Shelters and one on Hurricane Resistant Construction.
    The maintenance process for ICC Standards follows a similar process 
of soliciting proposals, committee action, public comment, and 
ultimately the update and publication of the standard.

    Dated: July 9, 2003.
Arden L. Bement, Jr.,
Director.
[FR Doc. 03-18142 Filed 7-16-03; 8:45 am]
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