[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 6708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2077]


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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 Code Development Hearings on U.S. Model Building 
Safety and Fire Prevention Codes, 2009 editions.

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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. Each of the I-Codes are 
comprehensively updated and re-published every three years with a 
supplement released between each edition. The most current versions of 
the I-Codes are the 2006 editions and the 2007 supplements to the 2006 
editions. The 2009 editions of the I-Codes, the subject of this notice, 
will be released in the first quarter of 2009.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite public participation in the 
Code Development Hearings. At this session, all proposed changes 
submitted for the family of the 2009 I-Codes will be considered by the 
respective Code Development Committees, with the assembled body of the 
International Code Council members also afforded the opportunity to 
vote via an assembly action. Proposals for consideration at these 
hearings were received by the August 20, 2007, deadline and were made 
publically available as an electronic document on November 7, 2007, and 
as a printed Monograph on December 18, 2007.
    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 2007/2008 Code 
Development Cycle will occur between February 18 and March 1, 2008, at 
the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California.
    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, Deputy Senior Vice 
President, Codes and Standards Development at ICC's Chicago District 
Office, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, Illinois 60478; 
Telephone 888-422-7233, 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. ICC's model codes 
and standards are each developed and maintained through voluntary 
consensus development processes known as the Governmental Consensus 
Process. Consistent with the voluntary consensus requirements of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
113), the Governmental Consensus process incorporates a balance of 
involved interests, ensures due process, provides for conclusion by 
consensus, the resolution of objections by interested parties, the fair 
consideration of all public comments, and has a prescribed process for 
appeal of any action.
    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). At the conclusion of committee action on each proposal, any 
member of the public assembly may make a motion for a vote by the ICC 
members in attendance (``assembly action'') to consider an action 
different than the committee action. Successful assembly actions on 
code changes become part of the record of public comments and are 
considered at the Final Action Hearing. Following the Code Development 
Hearing, the Report of the Public Hearing is published and identifies 
the disposition of each proposal, the reason for the committee's 
action, and successful assembly actions. Any person may provide 
additional comment on the committee actions in the public comment 
period following the first hearing. These comments are published and 
distributed in Final Action Agenda which serves as the agenda for the 
second public hearing in each cycle.
    Proposals which are approved by a vote of the Governmental Members 
of ICC at the 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 will receive a copy of all documents (Proposed Changes, 
Report of the Public Hearing and Final Action Agenda). Any interested 
party may also request a copy, free of charge, by downloading the 
``return coupon'' from the ICC Web site at http://www.iccsafe.org and 
forwarding it as directed.
    The 2009 International Codes consist of the following: 
International Building 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: January 31, 2008.
Richard F. Kayser,
Acting Deputy Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-2077 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P