The International Code Council Foundation has announced new programs and partnerships for consumer education, professional development and community service and unveiled a new Web site. The ICC said these three focus areas support the Foundation’s mission to help consumers and avoid building tragedies by encouraging the construction of safe‚ sustainable buildings and homes.
   “Building safety is no accident, and accurate, reliable information is the key to constructing and maintaining strong, sustainable structures,” said ICC CEO and Foundation board of governors president Rick Weiland. “The new Foundation initiatives reinforce the natural link between code officials and their communities by providing efficient ways to deliver essential building safety information on topics ranging from energy efficiency and green building to disaster safety, fire safety, safe water and more.”
   New consumer education program topics include disaster mitigation and a partnership with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Inc. (flash.org) to offer families free information on how to protect homes from natural hazards like earthquakes, lightning, hail, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, winter storms and more. In May, the Foundation will sponsor the 29th Annual “Building Safety Week” to bring focus to affordable options to make homes and buildings stronger, safer and more sustainable. 
   Professional development initiatives include two new scholarships. The “Code of Honor” scholarship is designed to help address limited resources for code officials to participate in the code development process and ensure a diverse range of input from all geographic areas. The “Professional Education” scholarship will provide code officials with access to training and education on new construction technology, building science and professional ethics.
   Community Service initiatives are anchored by the new “Code Official Volunteer CORPS”, a program designed to identify, celebrate and expand ongoing volunteer efforts by the 50,000 worldwide Code Council members, their families and organizational partners. The CORPS will support efforts to meet and exceed the volunteer service challenge issued to complete more than 250,000 hours of service before the next annual meeting in Baltimore during November 2009.