Commenter:
Lisa Berger, International Code Council
Support of the Code Adoption
Dear Deputy Director Davis,
The International Code Council (ICC) offers this letter in support of the finalization and adoption of the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code and Statewide Fire Prevention Code, based on the 2021 International Codes. Regarding the Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, we offer support of the first-ever statewide adoption of the ICC/MBI Standard 1200-2021: Standard for Off-Site Construction: Planning, Design, Fabrication, and Assembly and ICC/MBI Standard 1205-2021: Standard for Off-Site Construction: Inspection and Regulatory Compliance; The Code Council commends the work of the State Building Code Office to ensure the health and wellbeing of the residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia through its commitment to adopting the most recent editions of codes and standards.
The application of strong building codes and standards plays a large part in ensuring Virginia’s communities remain safe and strong for generations to come. The reality is, science and technology are constantly changing; and, as a result, the building community also needs to stay current with construction standards for the safety and economic benefit of Virginia.
The Commonwealth has been a leader in supporting innovation in design and construction while maintaining safety, resilience, and sustainability priorities. The regulation of off-site construction is a prime example. The Department has been a model for jurisdictions across the country. Many of the practices already deployed by the Department are reflected in the ICC/MBI 1200 and 1205 standards. Formally adopting these standards helps assure that the Commonwealth is incorporating best practices into its program and recognizes the important role of regulatory consistency in unlocking the efficiencies inherent in off-site construction.
The International Code Council is happy to have the Commonwealth of Virginia as a partner in the national pursuit of resilient and efficient construction. We are happy to offer assistance as needed by the Department as implementation proceeds.
