ICC Code Hearings, Rochester 2007

[DeputyMarshal]

Is anyone from here attending the ICC Code Hearings in Rochester? There are some important fire safety items for the 2009 code up for voting.

(Most notably, RB114 -- a change to the IRC that would require automatic sprinklers in new one & two family dwellings)

[FWDbuff]

Deputy- Have you ever heard of the ICC having provisions for absentee voting? I have been asking around and no one seems to know. I had originally planned on attending specifically to vote for that bill (The HBA's be damned!) but due to my wife recently being in the hospital, I chewed through a big chunk of my vacation leave.

I should call the ICC on Monday and see if they do- kinda doubt it though, I am sure logistically they are not prepared for that. Not to mention the fact that the HBA's would scream about it if they lost.

But even if we did get it through the IRC, I am sure the Rocket Scientists in Harrisburg would screw it up through legislation (with the help of lobbyists from HBA's), much like they threw hard wired SD's and basement egress to the wind with act 92.


-Member, ICC
Code Enforcement Official/Building Inspector

[DeputyMarshal]

Deputy- Have you ever heard of the ICC having provisions for absentee voting?

They're testing a computer based system which -- I presume -- will provide the ability to vote remotely in the future. Frankly, this is my first brush with voting under the ICC so i'm still learning the process.

But even if we did get it through the IRC, I am sure the Rocket Scientists in Harrisburg would screw it up

Local amendments will undoubtedly be a big hurdle everywhere even if the requirement passes into the model code but, IMHO, we all stand a better chance of keeping a requirement locally that appears in a model code than adding one that doesn't.

There's not much info, but here's the webpage where remote voting is mentioned: http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/remote-rochester.html

[FWDbuff]

I'm hearing that the sprinklers got shot down......anyone else have any info????

[DeputyMarshal]

I'm hearing that the sprinklers got shot down......anyone else have any info????

That's correct.

The majority voted to add a requirement for residential sprinklers to the 2009 IRC but failed to reach the supermajority (2/3rds) needed for it to pass into the code.

IMHO, this is largely the result of a lot of misconceptions and, quite frankly, ignorance about sprinklers, how they work, and what design alternatives are available out there. As fast as the pro-sprinkler lobbies (led by the IAFC) try to educate the public (including building officials), the anti-sprinkler lobbies (led by the National Association of Home Builders) spread more myths and half-truths against them.

IOW, it's dirty politics at its best.