Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

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February 2004                                                              Volume 6 - Number 1

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Mitigation...

The International Code Council tackles disaster mitigation
Alfredo Lagos

The International Code Council (ICC), a 50,000-member association dedicated to building safety, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. The ICC was established in 1994 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. Its mission is 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. Additionally, the ICC was established to serve as a forum for national and international attention to address the concerns of disaster mitigation, energy conservation, accessibility, innovative technology and fire protection.

Since the appointment of Mr. James Lee Witt, former Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the Chief Executive Officer in May 2003, there has been much activity concerning disaster mitigation. In September 2003, ICC participated in the First International Congress for the Prevention of Disasters, during which CEO Witt stressed the importance of enforcing building safety codes to limit loss of life and injuries, as well as property protection, when natural disasters strike.

One month later the ICC proposed code changes in response to 9/11 and the Rhode Island nightclub fire. Addressing concerns about the fire-resistance rating of structural elements in high-rise buildings, ICC members approved a revision to the International Building Code that will require the structural system to be three-hour fire resistance rated instead of the current two-hour requirement. The ICC believes this change could allow time for more people to escape or be rescued from a burning high-rise building. The Rhode Island nightclub fire resulted in a code change that tightens the threshold for sprinklers. The International Fire Code Committee voted unanimously to require nightclubs, restaurants, banquet halls and similar facilities to have sprinklers if occupancy is more than 100 people—a substantial reduction from the previous threshold of 300 people.

While there are no specific codes regarding mitigation, there are two ICC publications that address the topic. Intended for the building department administration audience, the “Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Management Guide” assists with the development of hazard mitigation and emergency management plans through the identification of hazards, mitigation strategies and operational procedures.

The “Building Department Guide to Disaster Mitigation”, is an expanded version of the first publication and written to target those involved in preparing for and responding to disaster. The guide is described as focusing on the development or updating of disaster mitigation plans by covering a wide range of topics, including; guidelines for damage mitigation, disaster-response management, immediate response, mutual aid and inspections, working with the media, repair and recovery policies, and public information bulletins.

References: http://www.iccsafe.org/, accessed 13 January 2004.