by jbs010510 j3 — January 6, 2010—Drafters of the International Code Council’s International Green Construction Code (IGCC) are nearing completion of the first-ever integrated green code for traditional and high-performance commercial buildings, set for a public release in March 2010.
The IGCC is designed specifically to integrate and coordinate with the other International Codes already being enforced by at all levels of government. All 50 states and more than 20,000 U.S. jurisdictions use the International Codes developed by the Code Council for safety and sustainability. The International Codes also serve as the basis for construction of federal properties around the world, and as a reference for many nations outside the United States.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ASTM International are Cooperating Sponsors, providing the essential perspective of the design and standards communities. Other organizations represented on the Sustainable Building Technology Committee (SBTC) include the U.S. Green Building Council and the Green Globes Initiative, along with over a dozen others.
The Code Council’s consensus process invites continual public input from all perspectives, culminating in a final approval from code officials to ensure the best possible rate of compliance. A critical element of the IGCC is that it is consistent and coordinated with existing International Codes that span the spectrum of the industry from building to energy conservation, fire safety, plumbing, mechanical fuel gas, and existing buildings, among others.
