The inaugural conference and business meeting of the International Code Council as a single organization featured the first code development changes directly resulting from 9/11 and the Rhode Island nightclub fire, as well as the election of the first female board president.

In response to concerns about the fire-resistance rating of structural elements in high-rise buildings, ICC members approved a revision to the International Building Code that will require the structural system to be three-hour fire-resistance rated instead of the current two-hour requirement.

The Rhode Island nightclub fire resulted in a code change that tightens the threshold for sprinklers. The International Fire Code Committee voted unanimously to require nightclubs, restaurants, banquet halls and similar facilities to have sprinklers if occupancy is more than 100 people. The previous occupancy for required sprinklers was 300.

These and other code change proposals will be on the agenda in May when ICC holds its final code development hearings for the 2006 I-Codes. For more information, visit