Increasing Model Codes Cooperation

The International Code Council, authors of the International family of codes, has announced an agreement for closer cooperation between the ICC and the International Association of Pluming and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the authors of the Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes. According to the announcement:

The parties intend to explore a joint venture that would allow them to work cooperatively to develop successor codes to the Uniform and International Plumbing and Mechanical Codes...The parties intend, in order to promote the public interest, to work to identify a system to allow them jointly to develop a single set of coordinated successor codes to the Uniform and International Plumbing and Mechanical Codes.

In related news, it appears to this author that the upcoming 2006 edition of the International Building Code will also more directly reference the National Electrical Code, the dominant national model electrical code produced by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). See the ICC's 2004/2005 Code Development page for more information on the upcoming 2006 Codes.

See also California Backpedals on NFPA Building Code for news regarding that state's recent decision to adopt the International family of codes.

For those of us (this author included) rooting for a unified, consistent set of national model building codes, these are promising developments.