[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 6625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2413]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


International Code Council: The Update Process for the 
International Codes

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings on U.S. Model Codes.

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SUMMARY: The International Code Council (ICC), under whose auspices the 
International Codes (``I-Codes'') are developed, maintains a process 
for updating these model codes based on receipt of proposals from 
interested individuals and organizations. The ICC's 14 separately 
published codes are comprehensively updated and re-published every 
three years with a Supplement published between each edition. The most 
current versions of the I-Codes are the 2003 Editions and 2004 
Supplements.
    Each structured 18-month code development cycle includes two 
separate public sessions, both open to public participation and 
observation. The first of the two sessions is the Code Development 
Hearing during which balanced committees initially review, discuss and 
vote on an opinion on each proposal for change to the model codes. 
Attendees to this hearing are eligible to raise objection to and call 
for a vote of the ICC members assembled regarding the committee's 
opinion. The results of the Code Development Hearing are made available 
for public review and comment prior to the second public session. 
Public comments received by the ICC are published and distributed for 
public review. At the second session, entitled the Final Action 
Hearing, public comments are reviewed and discussed and final voting is 
conducted to determine which proposals are adopted into the I-Codes.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite the public participation in 
the Code Development Hearing. 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.
    Session Dates: The Code Development Hearings of the 2004/2005 Code 
Development Cycle will occur on February 22-March 4, 2005, at the 
Millennium Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. This will be followed by the Final 
Action Hearings scheduled for September-October 1, 2005, at the COBO 
Center in Detroit, Michigan.
    Proposed changes approved during this cycle, in addition to changes 
published in the 2004 Supplement, will constitute the 2006 Edition of 
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 District Office, 4051 
West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478; Telephone 708-
799-2300, Extension 4338; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The ICC produces a family of Codes and Standards that are 
comprehensive, coordinated and are widely used across the country in 
the regulation of the built environment. Local, state and federal 
agencies use these codes and standards as the basis for developing 
regulations concerning new and existing construction.
    The ICC code development process is initiated when proposals from 
interested persons--supported by written data, views, or arguments--are 
solicited, received and then published in the Proposed Changes 
document. This document is distributed a minimum of 30 days in advance 
of the Code Development Hearings and serves as the agenda for that 
session.
    At the Code Development Hearing the ICC Code Development Committee 
for each code or subject area of the code considers testimony and takes 
action on each proposal (Approval, Disapproval, or Approval as 
Modified). Following the Code Development Hearing 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. Any person wishing to comment on the committee's action may do 
so in the public comment period following the first hearing. 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 Governmental Members of 
ICC at the second hearing (Final Action Hearing) are incorporated in 
either the Supplement or Edition, as applicable, with the next 18-month 
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, by downloading the ``return coupon'' from the ICC Web site at 
http://www.iccsafe.org and sending it in as directed.
    The International Codes 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;
International Private Sewage Disposal Code;
International Property Maintenance Code;
International Residential Code;
International Urban-Wildland Interface Code; and
International Zoning Code.

    Dated: February 3, 2005.
Hratch G. Semerjian,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2413 Filed 2-7-05; 8:45 am]
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