For those not familiar with the ICC (International Code Council) and the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), the following information serves as background. The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). The nation's three model code groups responded to the need to eliminate conflicting codes by creating the International Code Council and by developing codes without regional limitations (i.e., the International Codes). The continuing reach and influence of this group, and the codes and standards that it develops, cannot be ignored or overstated. Of greatest importance is the fact that, unlike the Energy Star Program that is a voluntary program, the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is mandatory for those states or municipalities that choose to adopt it.

AEC's/KAW's involvement with ICC has just begun. It should be noted that the timing was such that we entered into this arena at the end of the 2003-2004 Code Development cycle. KAW's area of interest is within the IECC since this is where issues relative to aluminum fenestration products-both commercial and residential-appear.