This piece was originally published in the June 2018 issue of electroindustry.
Bryan P. Holland, South Field Representative, NEMA
Nearly 1,200 code change proposals were submitted to the International Code Council (ICC) for the 2018 Group A code cycle that includes the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and several other ICC codes (collectively known as I-Codes) containing requirements related to electric, alarm, and emergency communication products. Proposed changes were discussed and voted on during public hearings held in April.
While nearly every sector of the electroindustry will be affected by proposals approved during this first round of hearings, many of them focused on specific electric, alarm, and emergency communication systems:
- Energy storage systems
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
- Electric vehicle supply equipment
- Fire, smoke, and CO detection and alarm systems
- Emergency, fire service, and mass notification communication systems
- Emergency lighting and control systems
The deadline for public comment submittal is July 16, 2018. A second round of hearings will be held in October in Richmond, Virginia, where eligible governmental members will vote on the changes recommended for approval. This action will close the Group A code cycle.
The ICC Group B code cycle will commence in 2019. Group B codes include the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
The complete set of the 2021 I-Code editions are expected to be published in August 2020.