The International Code Council is to revise its building code development process with changes taking effect in 2024. The new process for reviewing code change proposals will see a three-year rolling cycle encompassing Committee Action Hearings and a joint Public Comment Hearings / Online Governmental Consensus Vote session, with the 2027 I-Codes to be the first edition produced using the pathway.

In the new timeline, Year One will host two Committee Action Hearings for Group A Codes, while Year Two will host two Committee Action Hearings for Group B Codes. In Year Three, joint Public Comment Hearings and an Online Governmental Consensus Vote will be held for both Group A and B Codes.

ICC believes that the addition of the second Committee Actions Hearings in the first two years will allow for a more thorough vetting of code change proposals while allowing proponents more opportunities to build consensus for their code change proposal. The combining of Public Comment Hearings in the third year is also designed to allow voting members to vote on all suggested changes for the next edition of building codes at one time.

“As stewards of the code development process, we are always looking for ways to improve,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims in a statement announcing the changes. “As members of the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations community, we can continue the legacy of those who have come before us in ensuring our communities have safe, sustainable, and affordable buildings.”

The Committee Action Hearings themselves are presided over by volunteers with backgrounds in the field, including architects and design professionals. Information on calls for committees is available on ICC’s website here.