ICC, IBHS Join to Improve Disaster-Related Building Codes

November 4, 2004

FALLS CHURCH, Va—The International Code Council and the Institute for Business & Home Safety signed a strategic alliance agreement to work together on the research, development, adoption and enforcement of building codes on the state and national levels that address disaster-resistant residential and commercial construction.

ICC and IBHS will conduct an analysis of construction performance findings in Florida following the four hurricanes that struck the state during August and September. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Florida Department of Community Affairs will also participate in this process, designed to determine Florida's code effectiveness in high wind events.

Following this analysis, the groups will convene a summit meeting of public and private sector representatives to begin developing plans to strengthen existing codes and standards.

On the national level, IBHS has been awarded a seat on the International Code Adoption Coalition, an ICC research committee designed to identify national areas of concern for code development and disaster mitigation.

IBHS also signed a strategic alliance agreement with the International Code Council Foundation, which is dedicated to changing the effects of natural disasters and other building tragedies by promoting ideas, methods and technologies that encourage the construction of durable, sustainable buildings and homes. The agreement will open the door for joint research, development and submittal of code amendments.