Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.
Issue link: http://concrete.epubxp.com/i/442865
www.concreteproducts.com January 2015 • 27 NEWS SCOPE STANDARDS CLOUD COLLABORATION, COST JUSTIFICATION ENTER INTERNATIONAL CODE DEVELOPMENT Leading to the 2018 International Building Code and International Residential Code, the 2015/2016/2017 Code Development Cycle will be the first full inter- val to use cdpACCESS, the International Code Council's cloud-based system for code change proposals and public comment submittals, floor modification submissions and online voting. "Building codes benefit public safety and support the construction indus- try's need for one set of codes without regional limitations," says ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims. "cdpACCESS increases participation in how the codes are developed, which is a major step toward creating a safer and more affordable built environment." "The process ensures the International Codes reflect the latest technical and scientific advancements, and creates a forum where anyone can submit a code change in a fair and equitable manner," adds ICC Board President Guy Tomberlin. Also new to the cycle is policy expanding an existing requirement that code change proponents indicate whether their proposals will increase the cost of construction. Change proponents must now substantiate cost impact, without which proposals are considered incomplete and will not be processed. "NAHB commends ICC for this landmark ruling," affirms National Associ- ation of Home Builders Chairman Kevin Kelly, a Wilmington, Del., builder and developer. "By acknowledging that costs are an important factor in determin- ing the merit of change proposals, this will make the building codes process more cost-effective and affordable. In turn, this will help keep housing costs down, enable builders to construct more energy-efficient homes and allow more young families to enter the new home buying market." LEED developer backs UN program The U.S. Green Building Council and Business Council for Sus- tainable Energy (BCSE) have joined the Global Energy Efficien- cy Accelerator Platform, a program of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's Sustainable Energy for All initiative. The Accelerator Platform and its members are committed to the goal of doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Launched at the September 2014 UN Climate Summit, the Accelerator Platform aims to unite key stakeholders to catalyze a major scaling up of energy effi- ciency activities with a collaborative program of technical and financial assistance. "The Platform is driving real change through its dynamic public-private partnership approach," notes USGBC President Roger Platt. "Globally, buildings account for about one-third of energy use and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. With green, energy-efficient buildings and green building programs like LEED, we can achieve 25 to 50 percent reduc- tions in energy, which also helps mitigate climate change, save money, create jobs, and improve the health and environ- ment in communities." Accelerator Platform teams will engage with national and sub-national leaders to support action at the country, city, state, regional and sector levels, together with donors and other supporters. In addition, it is poised to support the emissions reduction goals as negotiators work toward a global climate agreement in Paris next year.