ICC International Code Final Action Hearings, a trade show exposition, and professional development training for code enforcement officials and design and construction professionals have been announced as the highlights of the BOCA/ICBO 2001 Conference Sept. 16-20 in Cincinnati. The event marks BOCA's 86th and ICBO's 70th Annual Conferences.

More than 100 exhibitors representing national manufacturers, service companies, government agencies and trade associations will display their products and services at the conference. The Educational Program includes more than 25 seminars addressing a host of topics, including code analysis, enforcement and administration; inspection; plan review; seismic requirements; customer service; and liability.

During the conference, BOCA will host a Members Forum, hold its annual business meeting, and elect and install board officers.

The ICC Final Action Hearings, the primary focus of the conference, are the last steps in the 2001 code development cycle for the International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Private Sewage Disposal, Fire, Energy Conservation, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance and ICC Electrical Codes, and the first edition of the ICC Performance Code. This year's Final Action Hearings will be held during the BOCA/ICBO Joint Conference and the SBCCI Annual Conference, Oct. 28-Nov. 1, in Greensboro, NC. The action from these two conferences decides the final content of the codes and will be incorporated into the 2002 Accumulative Supplement to the International Codes.

In other news from BOCA, it was announced that off-site voting will be featured for the first time for eligible members of the three model code organizations who won't be attending the code conference in person. The ICC Code Council Code Development Hearings will be broadcast live via satellite from the business meeting at the conference, and off-site viewing will allow all interested parties to observe the open process of code development, and eligible members will be allowed to cast their ballots on the code change proposals. Proctors will register attendees at remote sites and oversee the voting process. Off-site voting will be conducted on consent agenda items and on the final action of all code change proposals that are broadcast and witnessed in full by the voting members.