last October

The 19 proposed changes were submitted by building code expertsassociated with two ICC committees, the National Institute ofBuilding Sciences and the US General Services Administration. Theyaddress areas such as increased resistance to building collapsefrom fire and other incidents, use of spray-applied fire resistivematerials, performance and redundancy of fire protection systems,elevators for use by first responders and evacuating occupants, thenumber and location of stairwells, exit path markings, and fuel oilstorage/piping.

"NIST welcomes and fully respects the ongoing debate among theprofessional and building official communities as they considerthese proposals for adoption," adds Sunder. All ICC members willhave the opportunity to vote on the proposals at hearings scheduledfor this fall. All changes passed, and those which did not pass butfor which public comments are received, will then be up forapproval and inclusion in the ICC codes when ICC government memberrepresentatives meet in the spring of 2007.