• Welcome to The Building Code Forum

    Your premier resource for building code knowledge.

    This forum remains free to the public thanks to the generous support of our Sawhorse Members and Corporate Sponsors. Their contributions help keep this community thriving and accessible.

    Want enhanced access to expert discussions and exclusive features? Learn more about the benefits here.

    Ready to upgrade? Log in and upgrade now.

Counterfeit Codes

B

bill1952

SAWHORSE
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
2,571
Location
Clayton NY
I'm guessing I'm not the only one to get an email from ICC about counterfeit codes - hardcopies of ICC codes. Just sort of surprised there's enough profit in it to make it worth while. I also wonder who is buying them. Designers? Code departments?
 
I'm a long-time professional member of the ICC (as an architect, in addition to my membership as a building official through my work). I have not received any such e-mail either to me as a professional member or at work.
 
The whole email is to large but here is text. pm me email address and I'll forward.

Counterfeit Code Books​

The International Code Council recently uncovered a counterfeit operation producing and distributing unauthorized ICC code books within the United States.

This threatens the integrity of building codes and standards, and we’ve taken steps to protect public safety and retain the public’s confidence in the Code Council as the trusted source of model codes and standards.

The Code Council is pursuing legal actions, including a number of lawsuits in which we seek preliminary injunctions to halt the distribution of counterfeit books.

Temporary restraining orders have already been secured to stop the illegal sale of counterfeit code books. It is critical for the Code Council to pursue action against violators to control the quality of our products so that we can ensure that buildings remain as safe as possible.

If you are concerned that a code book may be counterfeit, it can only be guaranteed as a genuine article if purchased directly from the Code Council or one of our authorized resellers. We also invite you to help us educate others about the importance of purchasing authentic publications directly from the Code Council and/or its resellers.

Customers can contact Cesar Monteiro, Director of Business and Product Development for the Code Council, at cmonteiro@iccsafe.org for help finding an authorized reseller.

This collective effort is vital in maintaining the trust and integrity foundational to our shared commitment to building safety and compliance.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in these efforts. Together, we can overcome this challenge and continue to ensure the highest standards of safety and integrity in building practices.
 
We are always so far in years behind in the codes I always buy used code books. Can't be sure if they are counterfeit but used ones are so much cheaper. I found them more useful years ago when I was taking tests because they already had marks in them and highline sections from previous owners who were studying them.
There are always a lot of brand-new code books in eBay that are probably counterfeit because they are shipped from other countries and have multiple books to sell. I always get used from a seller that is only selling one book, does not sell much, and is shipped from USA because less change that it is counterfeit.
 
Last edited:
bill1952 said:
I'm guessing I'm not the only one to get an email from ICC about counterfeit codes - hardcopies of ICC codes. Just sort of surprised there's enough profit in it to make it worth while. I also wonder who is buying them. Designers? Code departments?
Click to expand...
Yep.
 
I just received the notice from the ICC about counterfeit codes this morning.

We need to find these counterfeiters and throw the book at em!
 
Mine are real 2021 1st editions. I had to download all the errata and then go through the code books to add or correct the massive amount of inaccuracies.

They would have to be real with that much red marks in them now.
 
Are we heading towards paperless codes?

Wonder what percentage of AHJ's and RDP's are using the ICC subscriptions?
 
Everyone I know (on the RDP side of things) uses UpCodes online, which does not require a subscription.
I purchased a hard copy of volume 1 of the 2022 CBC, just because I sometimes prefer to flip through a physical copy than to click through text on a screen. I do not subscribe.
I also keep a hard copy of all my old code books, so that when I do alterations and remodels I know what was originally approved.
 
We have city ordinances that require a copy of the codes be made available, I could check with the state to see if that can be digital, if it can then we would have to provide a computer in the lobby cuz were protected by glass and walls so that a crazy dude doesn't cause havoc at city hall!
 
SCBO1 said:
Are we heading towards paperless codes?

Wonder what percentage of AHJ's and RDP's are using the ICC subscriptions?
Click to expand...

We use the printed books in our office. Some of the inspectors have subscribed to UpCodes in order to have access to the codes on their tablets on site. Nobody I know likes or uses the ICC digital codes.

The downside to UpCodes is that it's not always correct (I have found errors, and notified them of them -- and they haven't fixed them). The way our state adopts the code, ONLY the printed version is legally binding because the state legislature formally votes on the adoption of any new codes. This means that in a legally critical situation, using UpCodes or the ICC digital codes isn't a safe haven. We have to use the actual, printed books when it counts.

In fact, several code cycles back, I wrote a report and my boss questioned something I wrote. We finally determined that I had the third printing of that code book, and he had the first printing. The third printing had corrected some errata -- one of which affected the section I was citing. The problem was, the legislature had adopted -- by law -- the first printing (errata and all). To resolve it legally and factually, we had to get the state to issue a formal interpretation that "interpreted" the official first printing to mean what the third printing said it was supposed to mean all along.
 
I have an ICC membership and that comes with a subscription. Not the greatest interface but it has improved a lot since it began. I'm pleased I can see all the documents - last several editions of each - anywhere. Mostly on my phone.
 
SCBO1 said:
We have city ordinances that require a copy of the codes be made available, I could check with the state to see if that can be digital, if it can then we would have to provide a computer in the lobby cuz were protected by glass and walls so that a crazy dude doesn't cause havoc at city hall!
Click to expand...

We have that. Our Building Department, Engineering Department, and Planning and Zoning Department each have a counter with a glass window facing the corridor. Clients are not allowed into the offices themselves. About three years ago, the IT department set up a table with a small PC and monitor on a table in an alcove off the main corridor. This is available for the public to use for researching assessor's card data and for accessing the on-line permitting system (through a portal called City Squared).
 
I worked for a municipality that their ordinance was written that one set of code books goes to the city clerks office, one set to the BO, one set to the Inspector and one set to the local library. When I delivered the library set, they library ladies had know idea what was going on and said "theirs some code books in aisle whatever!"

That shelf had been depleted, that was where contractors would go to get their free code copy, tucked under their arm and out the door they went. There was five different code years and not one complete set.

Well the city's thought process was in the right place.
 
bill1952 said:
I'm guessing I'm not the only one to get an email from ICC about counterfeit codes - hardcopies of ICC codes. Just sort of surprised there's enough profit in it to make it worth while. I also wonder who is buying them. Designers? Code departments?
Click to expand...
I purchased a 2018 IBC from eBay last year. Something about the shrink wrap seemed different from what I was used to. Once I began to flip through the pages, the printing was crooked on a few pages and I actually found a few typos. Even the cover had some slight differences from the authentic book. Who is buying them? People who are looking to save a few bucks. The authentic books are far from cheap, so many people are looking for a deal. I don't think people are intentionally buying books that they know to be counterfeit, but being duped instead. If I had never purchased a book from the ICC before, I likely wouldn't have known that it was a fake. When I tried to return it, the seller offered me a partial refund to keep it. I refused the refund offer and reported them to eBay for selling counterfeit goods. FWIW, this seller is still selling books on eBay as I type this, but no ICC books that I can find. Regardless, eBay is littered with fake ICC books. I just did a search for "IBC 2018" and the majority of the results were questionable, with a handful being obvious fakes.
 
SCBO1 said:
Are we heading towards paperless codes?

Wonder what percentage of AHJ's and RDP's are using the ICC subscriptions?
Click to expand...

We are mandated by law to have one paper copy on hand at the office.

But I'm almost exclusively digital. I have one standard in print form, the rest are digital access.
 
Inspector Gadget said:
We are mandated by law to have one paper copy on hand at the office.

But I'm almost exclusively digital. I have one standard in print form, the rest are digital access.
Click to expand...
Additionally, the codes are so cheap in Canada there likely wouldn't be much or a market for counterfeit codes here.

For others:
$100 bucks buys you a full building code. They are just covering the costs of printing/shipping. Development is covered by the federal government.
 
I totally agree with mtlogcabin! I-Quest was the best form of codes for our department. It enabled us to search and paste the codes sections into our plan reviews with ease. No yearly fees to access. No internet connection needed. You bought it and owned it just like a book. Best of all, it took up next to no space to store, in our laptops and they still work today.
 
Several code cycles back, I bought the ICC digital codes (the PDF versions, not the on-line version) and painstakingly copied and pasted every word of of the IMC, IPC, and IEBC into Microsoft Word -- after which I then went through and edited in all our state-specific amendments. Many states contract with the ICC to print state-specific versions of ALL the codes. For reasons known only to the powers-that-be, this benighted state on has the ICC publish a state-specific version of the IBC and the IRC -- for the test of the codes, we either have to work with the ICC code plus the state amendments in a separate document, OR we use UpCodes. UpCodes is convenient, but I have caught multiple errors in it, so I don't trust it.
 
I also liked the I-Quest, I Have a friend inspector, he sez he loves his prescription codes, changes and updates to the latest code as soon as it comes out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top