NCHH has prepared 10 amendments to the ICC

NCHH Proposed Amendments to the International Property Maintenance Code

NCHH/AFHH Proposals for 2007/2008 Code Development Cycle:

Proposals Submitted in August 2007
Proposals Accepted in February 2008 by Committee
Revised Proposals Submitted in June 2008

Background:

In response to America's need for a single set of consistent construction regulations, the International Code Council (ICC) developed, through the governmental consensus process, the first set of coordinated and comprehensive construction and fire codes for use nationwide.

Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt and enforce codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council. For a list of jurisdictions that have adopted the International Codes visit
www.iccsafe.org/government/adoption.html.

The ICC has a open but complex process where anyone can submit a proposal to ICC to revise a code. The proposal is considered by a committee and accepted, denied with or without modifications. The public comments on the committee's decision and is free to repropose the same propose or revise it for consideration by the full assembly. Proposals accepted by the committee need a majority vote by the full assembly. Resubmitted or revised proposals need a 2./3 majority vote by the full assembly.

ICC code development process
www.iccsafe.org/safety/brochures/GovtConsensusProcess.pdf.
2007/2008 ICC code development schedule
www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2007-08cycle/code_development
_schedule.pdf
2007/2008 code development cycle
www.iccsafe.org/cs/codes/2007-08cycle/index.html.

Proposals Submitted in August 2007:

In August 2007, NCHH joined with its sister organization, the Alliance for Healthy Homes, to develop nine proposed amendments to the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as part of the 2007/2008 code development process. The IPMC is essentially a model housing code that is designed to apply to all buildings – new and existing. The amendments are intended to strengthen the health and safety components of the code and to ensure that local officials have the authority to order repairs that will help to safeguard families from disease and injury.

Proposals Accepted in February 2008 by Committee

In February 2008, NCHH and the Alliance presented the proposals to the IPMC Committee. Two were accepted with modifications: Pest control in multi-unit housing complexes and clothes dryers. The modified language

403.5 Clothes dryer exhaust. Clothes dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all other systems and shall be exhausted outside the structure in accordance with the ~~manufacturer's instructions~~ label.

Exception: Listed and labeled condensing (ductless) clothes dryers.

308.4 Multiple occupancy. The owner of a structure containing two or more dwelling units, a multiple occupancy, a rooming house or a nonresidential structure shall be responsible for extermination in the public or shared areas of the structure and exterior property. If infestation is caused by failure of an occupant to prevent such infestation in the area occupied, the occupant and owner shall be responsible for extermination.

These proposals only require a majority vote by the full ICC assembly when it meets in Minneapolis, MN in Septemebr 2008.

Revised Proposals Submitted in June 2008

In June 2008, NCHH and the Alliance submitted six proposed modifications to its proposals that were disapproved by the Committee. These modifications were designed to address the concerns of the Committee.

PM4 – Revised proposal for requiring repair of exterior deteriorated paint in pre-1978 buildings using lead-safe work practices as defined by EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule.
PM6 – Revised proposal for requiring repair of interior deteriorated paint in pre-1978 buildings using lead-safe work practices as defined by EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule and requiring correction of underlying source of moisture problems causing paint failure.
PM3 – Revised proposal to change the definition of extermination, renaming the requirement "pest elimination," eliminating references to poison spraying and fumigation, and adding references to all rodents and water sources.
PM14 – Revised proposal to maintain maximum water temperature in showers and tubs at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
PM7 – Revised proposal to require a carbon monoxide alarm where there is an attached garage or a fuel burning furnace, water heater or appliance.
PM13 – Revised proposal to require that bathrooms in dwellings other that single-family units have a smooth, hard, nonabsorbent surface to permit the floor to be easily kept clean and sanitary. Non-permanent bathroom mats would be allowed.

NCHH and the AFHH also strongly support a revised proposed by ICC's Hazard Abatement in Existing Buildings Committee chaired by Wayne Jewell of Southfield, MI. This proposal would establish a new Health and Sanitation Chapter to the IPMC. It would set health standards for asbestos, carbon monoxide, radon, lead, potable water, and arsenic-treated lumber.

ICC's full assembly will consider the proposals at its meeting in September 2008. The proposals require a 2/3 majority vote to pass.

The National Center for Healthy Housing, 10320 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 500 Columbia, MD 21044
410.992.0712 / Fax: 443.539.4150
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