Building Safety Journal

Editor’s Note: This article was previously published in Plumbing & Mechanical. August 16th marks National Backflow Prevention Day, celebrating the technologies and professionals that protect the safety and quality of our potable water supply. Backflow is a critical concern in plumbing systems, particularly regarding the safety and quality of potable water.

The Wyoming Conference of Building Officials (WCBO) celebrated a major milestone this summer as members, guests and industry leaders gathered in Cody, Wyoming, for the organization’s 50th anniversary. From Aug. 4 through Aug. 8 guests attended WCBO’s Conference that included professional development, networking opportunities and celebrations recognizing five decades of leadership in building safety across Wyoming.

Washington State’s Tricia “Trish” Bennon started in the building industry in 1988 as a front counter technician, but was always drawn to building codes. “I love conducting research and learning new concepts,” said Bennon.

One of the most important parts of managing a third-party program is building trust.For the District of Columbia, trust is tested from multiple directions at once. Third-party inspection agencies want enforcement to be fair and consistent, and project owners are focused on time and cost. Residents want confidence that inspections are protecting the public, and elected officials want assurance that the jurisdiction is overseeing the program responsibly.

Built more than 150 years ago in Nashville, Tennessee, Belmont Mansion is steeped in history. The Italian villa-style building was initially conceived to serve as a summer home for Adelicia Hayes Acklen Franklin Cheatham and her second husband, Joseph Acklen. The mansion featured a number of amenities, both creative and innovative, including a water tower that brought running water inside the home.

Texas is moving to strengthen building safety and resilience with the adoption of three updated building codes: the 2024International Mechanical Code® (IMC),2024 International Fuel Gas Code® (IFGC) and 2024 International Residential Code® (IRC). The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) approved the codes following an extensive review process.

The ICC Annual Conference and Expo will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, Oct. 18-21. This year’s event brings together premier educational sessions, meaningful networking, an inspiring keynote address, musical entertainment and opportunities to volunteer locally. Dalton Thomas, Safety and Training Coordinator for the Metro Nashville Codes and Building Safety Department, said the conference’s arrival in Nashville prompted him to ask the city to allow 150 to 200 department employees to attend.

The International Code Council (ICC) and the Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil (UCSG) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for collaboration on a localized building code for the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. With a metropolitan population of 3.29 million, Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador and the nation’s economic capital and main port.

The International Code Council (ICC) announced that the ICC 1300 Standard for the Vulnerability-Based Seismic Assessment and Retrofit of One- and Two-Family Dwellings has been finalized and accepted into the 2027 International Codes® (I-Codes®). The ICC 1300 standard establishes a nationally recognized, cost-effective framework for seismic retrofits by identifying and addressing the most common ways that homes fail during earthquakes.

There are a lot of incredible and historic mansions throughout Tennessee, but Two Rivers Mansion stands apart for a number of reasons. First and foremost, in addition to the mid-1800s mansion, guests can peruse the 1802 House, which is estimated to have been built in the early 1800s. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.