Masonry Magazine April 1997 Page. 45
Masonry Building Codes
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600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1988 1989 1990
1991 1992
1993
1995 1996
Approved
Disapproved
Withdrawn
Total
Figure B. This shows the yearly code change activity of the Uniform Building Code. As you can see there is quite a lot of activity. Note that 1994 was a code change moratorium year. Because IBCO has suspended code development activity, the 1997 UBC, due out later this year, will be the last.
International Code Council
In 1994 the three model code organizations, BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI, formed the International Code Council (ICC) to develop a single set of regulatory documents covering building, mechanical, plumbing, fire and related regulations. The mission of the ICC is to foster national unity to allow the construction industry to compete in an international setting. The mission adopted by the ICC reads as follows: To promulgate a comprehensive and compatible regulatory system for the built environment through consistent performance-based regulations that are effective, efficient, and meet government, industry, and public needs.
The ICC has made substantial progress in its effort to publish this family of building codes. To date, the ICC has published the International Plumbing Code, the International Private Sewage Disposal Code, and the International Mechanical Code. Additionally, the ICC has assumed responsibility for maintenance of the One and Two Family Dwelling Code and the Model Energy Code. The ICC has also established a schedule to develop an International Fire Code which is to be published in the year 2000. Finally, the ICC started the process toward developing a first draft of the International Building Code with the proposed publication of the Code in the year 2000. More on the development of the International Building Code later in this article.
BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI are beginning to phase out their separate rate codes, deferring to the ICC documents on plumbing, private sewage disposal and mechanical provisions. As for building codes, ICBO has suspended the development of the UBC in order to focus on the International Building Code. The 1997 UBC, published later this year, is expected to be the last edition of this code. SBCCI has declared a moratorium on code changes for 1997, so no new changes will be accepted this year. This is a typical practice for the code organizations during a code publication year; the 1997 SBC will be published later this year. SBCCI has not stated whether it will return to code development of the SBC in 1998. On the other hand, BOCA will have code development cycles in 1997 and 1998 culminating to the publication of a 1999 BOCA National Building Code.
Presumably, this will be the last published BOCA code.
Masonry Alliance
for Codes and Standards
To follow the progress of the ICC and to ensure masonry design and construction provisions are properly incorporated, a balance of masonry industry representatives have formed the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS). The Alliance is structured to serve the masonry industry as a coordinating forum for needed codes and standards development during the code development of the ICC and in the future, after the release of the ICC code documents.
Representatives from state and regional masonry associations and organizations which represent producers, manufacturers, distributors, material suppliers, contractors, or laborers of masonry have joined. Members of the Alliance fall in either of two categories:
Organizational member:
Any association or organization which represents producers, man-
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