Citing a failure of the International Code Council to provide a fair and open voting process at its Final Action Hearings in Minneapolis in September, NAHB has filed an appeal to the ICC to set aside code changes mandating fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family homes constructed under the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) and to consider changes that would restore balance to its voting process.

In a letter submitted on Oct.  30, NAHB asked the ICC to “take immediate action to eliminate the influence of third-party funding in the voting process” and “undertake corrective action(s) ... by restoring the principle of balance of interest in the selection of Governmental Member Voting Representatives.”

After calling for an independent audit of the irregularities they identified in their letter, the Washington state building officials concluded that, “We believe the integrity of the ICC is at stake.”

The ICC has not yet set a date for hearing NAHB’s appeal. However, interested parties are invited to respond to the appeal by submitting their views in writing to mpfeiffer@iccsafe.org and to participate in and present information at the appeal hearing.

For copies of NAHB’s appeal and the notice from ICC soliciting input from interested parties, association members can click here (nahb.org/sprinklers).

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