• Welcome to the new and improved Building Code Forum. We appreciate you being here and hope that you are getting the information that you need concerning all codes of the building trades. This is a free forum to the public due to the generosity of the Sawhorses, Corporate Supporters and Supporters who have upgraded their accounts. If you would like to have improved access to the forum please upgrade to Sawhorse by first logging in then clicking here: Upgrades

So what is right and what is wrong with the ICC?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I shall reserve judgement until I hear the position of all candidates in Portland. For the most part I approve of both jpranch and Min&Max but it would seem a bit shortsighted to not seriously consider all candidates who are running for these important positions. I really dislike those chapters that show up as a "block" of votes to vote for a pre-determined candidate. Makes you wonder what deals have been cut and promises made to secure votes. Good luck to both!
 
incognito said:
I shall reserve judgement until I hear the position of all candidates in Portland. For the most part I approve of both jpranch and Min&Max but it would seem a bit shortsighted to not seriously consider all candidates who are running for these important positions. I really dislike those chapters that show up as a "block" of votes to vote for a pre-determined candidate. Makes you wonder what deals have been cut and promises made to secure votes. Good luck to both!
Click to expand...
Thank you. Very well said.
 
incognito said:
I shall reserve judgement until I hear the position of all candidates in Portland. For the most part I approve of both jpranch and Min&Max but it would seem a bit shortsighted to not seriously consider all candidates who are running for these important positions. I really dislike those chapters that show up as a "block" of votes to vote for a pre-determined candidate. Makes you wonder what deals have been cut and promises made to secure votes. Good luck to both!
Click to expand...
I agree completely. That is one of the reasons I am not making any "campaign"trips. Well, that and the costs associated with the travel. I intend to discuss any and all issues with the voting members in Portland. If you have a question or concern I want to hear it. I will not leave you wondering what my opinion is---guaranteed.Based on my response you can vote for me or not. I do not want someone voting for me because that is how their chapter wants them to vote. You should vote as an individual, for the individual that reflects your values and expectations of ICC leadership.
 
The voting “block(s)” are quite an interesting affair. We all pretty much know who they are. But I can tell you that based on my experience last year that not all of the members of a “block” fall in line and vote the way they are told. Trust me on this one. I had members from those organizations come and tell me this in person. Deals, coattails, and just telling someone or an organization what they want to hear just to get elected? That’s not me! :cowboy
 
Min&Max stated:

I agree completely. That is one of the reasons I am not makingany "campaign"trips. Well, that and the costs associated with the travel.

I intend to discuss any and all issues with the voting members in Portland.

If you have a question or concern I want to hear it. I will not leave you

wondering what my opinion is---guaranteed. Based on my response

you can vote for me or not. I do not want someone voting for me

because that is how their chapter wants them to vote. You should vote

as an individual, for the individual that reflects your values and

expectations of ICC leadership.
Click to expand...
If you are seeking to be elected, IMO, it might be beneficial for us to know

a little more about you. Are you able to be transparent on this Forum?

I have talked and communicated with "jpranch" on occasion, so I know a

little bit about him. (an excellent candiate and good person, IMO). He

has been upfront and open about everything from day one.

Just sayin..

.
 
Not real computer savvy but here is a quick cut and paste of the resume' I sent to ICC.

OBJECTIVES

Provide exemplary representation for ICC members

Promote ICC codes at every opportunity

Maintain minimum codes that insure the health and safety of all occupants

Promote ICC investment into its membership through educational opportunities

EDUCATION

Northeast Community College, 1978, AA degree in Criminal Justice, top 10% of class

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1981, BS degree in Industrial Education

EXPERIENCE

Child Laborer; Nordhues Construction, May 1968—1972, Performed duties as they related to brooms and shovels. Salary-quarters and ice cream

Laborer; Nordhues Construction, May 1972—May 1976, Same as above with go-fer and sanding duties added. Salary-based on production + lots of food

Carpenter/Framer/Cabinet Apprentice; Nordhues Construction May 1976—August 1978,

Framer; Swails Construction, September 1978—March 1980

Retail Sales; Kens Kegs Liquor Store, April 1980—October 1981, Customer sales and conflict resolution with customers. Excellent training for future inspectors.

Retail Sales; Hoppe Lumber Store, April 1980—October 1981, Customer sales. Again, excellent training for future inspectors who will be dealing with contractors and do-it-yourselfers.

Frame/Finish Carpenter; Nordhues Construction, October 1981—October 1995,

Contractor/Owner Nordhues Construction, October 1995—October 1996,

Building Inspector, City of Norfolk, NE, October 1996—July 1998

Building Official, City of Norfolk, NE, July 1998—Current

ORGANIZATIONS

Nebraska Code Officials Association; Board Director 2000—2004, Vice President 2004—2006, President 2006—2008, Past President 2008—2009, President 2009 2010, President 2010—2012, Past President 2012--current

Norfolk Area Homebuilders Association; member 1968—1995, Board member 1990—1993 , Vice President 1993—1994, President 1994—1995

Norfolk Public Montessori School; PTA member 1992—1999, and yes, except for the principal I was the only guy in the room

Norfolk Kiwanis Club; 1998—current, past Board member and Camp Committee chairman

Norfolk Habitat for Humanity; 1999—current, Site Selection Committee chairman. Highly recommend this organization to anyone who wants to make a real difference in their community

AWARDS

2003 City of Norfolk Employee Excellence Award

2007 Nebraska State Homebuilders Friend of Housing Award

2007 Nebraska Code Official Association SP Benson Code Official of the Year Award

OTHER WORK RELATED STUFF

2000 IRC Joint Study Commission—Final report forwarded to Nebraska State Legislature supporting adoption of 2000 IRC

2001 Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects Informal Rulemaking Committee—Established new matrix for determining when professional design is required. Process completed in 2004 with passage of Legislative Bill 599

2003 International Energy Conservation Code—Participated in committee that supported adoption of energy code as amended by Legislative Bill 888

2008 Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects Informal Rulemaking Committee—Review of matrix and accompanying language.

2011Nebraska Energy Office Advisory Committee—Recommended adoption of 2009 International Energy Conservation Code while retaining amendments of previous energy code.

HOBBIES

Custom Cabinetry—Supposed to be a side business but tends to be more of a cabinet source for friends and family

Fishing—Family, friends, boat and beverages. What more do you need?

Hunting—Sometimes at the end of the day you just need to kill something—legally.

CONCLUSION

In closing I would like to convey that I believe I would be a valuable asset to the International Code Council and its members as a Board Director. On any issue I strive to view the situation from various perspectives prior to forming an opinion but once that opinion is formed I will promote it vigorously and aggressively. I can be swayed but it requires significant evidence to do so.

As a Board Director I would endeavour to promote increased interaction between ICC Board members and the ICC general membership at each ABM. I firmly believe this is not only doable but relatively easy and inexpensive if each Board Director were to make it a priority.

The ICC Board has an obligation to serve and support its membership by providing educational opportunities and training for professional development. Overall knowledge of code requirements is essential if code officials are to serve their communities effectively and provide for the health and safety of a communities citizens.
 
For those who don't really know me perhaps this might help?

A condenced back round:

Jim H. Brown, CBO, CFPS

NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist

ICC Certified Building Official

ICC Certified Plans Examiner

ICC Certified Building Inspector

ICC Certified Fire Inspector-1

ICC One & Two Family Dwelling Building Inspector

ICC One & Two Family Dwelling Mechanical Inspector

Maryland State Certified Inspector

Emergency Management Institute, IS-1 Emergency Program Manager

Emergency Management Institute, IS-2 Emergency Preparedness, USA

Emergency Management Institute, IS-3 Radiological Emergency Management

Emergency Management Institute, IS-5 Hazardous Materials

Committee Service:

The Wyoming Energy Code Group

The Digital Plans Submission Committee (ePlan Project)

City of Gillette Sustainibility Taskforce

City of Gillette Board of Examiners.

Wyoming Conference of Building Officials Board of Directors

ICC website codes forum workgroup

ICC website workgroup.

ICC Region II Officer (Secertary)

ICC Region II Bylaw Committee

Employment History

July 1, 2009 to Present:

Position: Deputy Building Official for the City of Gillette, Wyoming

July 25, 2005 to July 1, 2009:

Position: Commercial and Residential Plans Examiner for the City of Gillette Wyoming

July 24, 1997 to June 30, 2005:

Position: Commercial Plans Examiner for Carroll County, Maryland

October 1999 to June 2004:

Secondary Employment: Adjunct instructor for Carroll Community College. I taught building codes and accessibility codes.

January 5, 1989 to July 23,1997

Position: Building Inspector for Carroll County, Maryland

February 3, 1983 to January 4, 1984

Dolfield Contracting Co., Owings Mills, Md. 21117

Position: Carpenter

January 1981 to February 1983

Sanders Distributing Co., Finksburg, Md. 21048

Position: Truck Driver, Salesman

June 1975 to December 1976

Tri-County Development Corp., Silver Run, Md. 21158

Position: Carpenter

Military Service

December 20, 1976 to December 20, 1980

United States Air Force

Type of Discharge: Honorable

Position: Life Support Specialist / Forward Air Controller /Survival Instructor

Rank at Discharge: Sergeant

Additional Training: Forward Air Controller, Survival

Education

Attended courses at the following colleges:

Student at Carroll Community College. Major: Computer Aided Design,

Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg Maryland. College credited courses on an ongoing basis on emergency management.

1982 - Washington Bible College, Lanham, Md.

1981 - Catonsville Community College, Catonsville, Md.

1979 - 1980 - Saint Leo College, Saint Leo, Fl.

1977 - Wayne Community College, Goldsborough. N.C.

1975 - Graduate of Westminster High School, Westminster, Md.

1975 - Enrolled in Carroll County Vocational Technical Center, Westminster, Md. completing a 389 hour Material Control course

Professional Affiliations

International Code Council

Wyoming Conference of Building Officials. Board of Directors.

ICC Region II Officer (Secretary)

National Fire Protection Association

Building and Fire Safety Systems Section Committee, NFPA.

ICC Building Official Membership Council

ICC Fire Service Membership Council

ICC Sustainability Membership Council

ICC Global Membership Council

 
Looks like my cut and paste effort cut some out. Also;

Region IV founding Executive Board member, served as treasurer, vice-president, president and past president.

Certifications: Residential Building Inspector and Plans Examiner. Had some others prior to 2000 through BOCA/CABO but ICC would not except when we all became one big happy family.
 
"Had some others prior to 2000 through BOCA/CABO but ICC would not except when we all became one big happy family."

I know! Same thing happened to me! Oh well, water under the bridge.
 
Oh my goodness, more than a bit off topic but we had our first measureable rain here in 9 weeks, thats right Nine weeks. Thank God.
 
My impression is that ICC has become more focused on generating income and not on servicing the members. The member dues are relatively small compared to other professional organizations. Thus suggest ICC makes most of its money from code sales, issuing Evaluation reports, and issuing certifications. If the income structure changed to where member dues were a bigger component the organization would focus more on the membership.

While a 5 to 6 year code cycle has its attraction it will just make an existing problem even worse. Currently from the time a change is proposed to the IBC until it is enforceable in California it currently takes 5 to 8 years. While there are arguably some provisions that could wait this delay is too long when there are problems in the code or when there are new technologies.

Since many building officials are not familiar with the details of some of the standards the content of the code is effectively delegated to the small group of individuals who participate in the development of the reference standards. Thus it is not realistic to claim that building officials make informed decisions regarding the adoption of the building codes.

ICC needs to continue to work on the professionalism of building officials. Too often the building official’s only qualification is that they were a carpenter. Thus the level of enforcement varies considerably across the country. For better or worse California has stated that some parts of the plan checking process constitutes the practice of engineering and new government employees involved in such activities must be licensed architects or engineers.

I would like to see ICC become more aware of the limitations on what the building codes can legally regulate. Most if not all of the entities that adopt building codes do not have the authority to regulate the practice of engineering and architecture yet repeatedly reference standards are focused on regulating engineers and architects as opposed to what the building has to comply with. Model building codes need to be sensitive to the authority of the agencies adopting them.
 
Mark K,

Personally, I would be thrilled if all construction was required to be engineered; and the inspector's job was only to confirm that the work was done according to the engineered plans, drawings and specifications. It would also include inspectors to be trained to inspect according to plans and neither is going to happen. But, then the ICC would be out of business.

The code changes are too often and you are right, most building officials (city manager, assitant city manager, city planner, mayor, etc.) have little or no training and most have no ICC certifications. It's unfortunate.
 
jpranch said:
So if we did go to a 4, 5, or 6 year cycle how could we best adapt quickly to new industry products and technologies? Of course you know that I have an opinion but I'm phishing!
Click to expand...
In Canada we have alternate solutions. Compliance with the code can be through prescriptive methods outlined in the code or others where they can be shown to achieve the same results through the use of alternative building materials and/or methods.
 
While some might suggest that all an ICC certification certifies is one's ability to find information in a book while taking a test. In addition, they might also be so bold as to suggest that there is a difference between training in a conference room and training in the field. In my opinion, certification and training are only as good as the individual, and as they are currently rendered, should not be taken to signify any more than that individuals ability to complete a task as required.

In addition to the ICC working on the professionalism of Building Officials, it should also be noted that the AIA & Engineer/Architect Boards should not be exempted in this regard either.
 
The top two are identical. Any post in one shows up in both.

DSCN5910.jpg


DSCN5910-1.jpg
 
that's because the "Jim Brown for ICC Board of Directors" forum is a sub forum of the welcome forum. Basically if you post something in the Jim Brown forum it pops to the top of both lists, but if you were to post something in the welcome forum it would only display it under the welcome forum.
 
Customize the code for every house

What I would like to have: A customized version of the code, that has just the rules that applied to the construction of my house. This would require a computer program where a person could check off the features of their house, and the program would boil down the code to just the provisions that are relevant. Ideally, it would include the state and local amendments that apply to the house. It should be available in printed form, and be backed up by an electronic copy on the Internet.

How much revenue could the ICC get if every new house in America came with a $ 5 - $ 25 manual showing the standards the house was built to?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top