NCGBCS Fact Sheet (PDF 441K)

 

Consultative Council on:

Construction Codes and Standards

National Council of Governments on
Building Codes and Standards

States and localities across the United States play a very important role—they serve as the front line, protecting the health, safety and welfare of citizens by adopting and enforcing building codes. Unfortunately, protecting the public is not always easy, especially when government budgets are being cut, employees are being laid off and education and training funds are non-existent. The National Institute of Building Sciences recently established the National Council of Governments on Building Codes and Standards (NCGBCS) to help state and local jurisdictions enhance the public’s social and economic well-being by coordinating efforts across geographic boundaries to make technical findings, improve performance criteria and promote standards to ensure safe, durable, accessible and efficient buildings.

About NCGBCS

The Institute’s enabling legislation requires the engagement of states and localities:

The Institute shall establish and carry on a specific and continuing program of cooperation with the States and their political subdivisions designed to encourage their acceptance of its technical findings and of nationally recognized performance criteria, standards, and other technical provisions for building regulations brought about by the Institute. Such program shall include (A) efforts to encourage any changes in existing State and local law to utilize or embody such findings and regulatory provisions; and (B) assistance to States in the development of inservice training programs for building officials, and in the establishment of fully staffed and qualified State technical agencies to advise local officials on questions of technical interpretation. 12 U.S.C. §1701j-2(g)(4).

The National Council of Governments on Building Codes and Standards (NCGBCS) has developed a compre­hensive agenda to help state and local jurisdic­tions address challenges associated with building code adoption, enforcement and administration. NCGBCS is tasked with identifying and providing resources needed to conduct, coordinate, promote and sponsor research and development activities related to information exchange, education and training. The Council will conduct forums and workshops. It will manage research and research-related proj­ects. It will disseminate information and review work performed by other groups. The Council also may develop (or support the development of) and recommend standards, guidelines and conformity assessment programs. It will work to stimulate innovation in states and within the building industry. NCGBCS also will promote increased understanding and communications among architects and engineers, builders, manufacturers, product vendors, voluntary standards organiza­tions, users, government agencies and other sectors of the building community.

Membership

Council membership is divided into two catego­ries:

• Delegate Members: This category includes each agency or department having responsibili­ties for buildings and building related activi­ties within a jurisdiction. Delegate members may be represented by one person who shall be an employee of that agency or department, or an officer of a relevant commission, board or committee concerned with state or local building codes, standards and regulations.
• Affiliate Members: This category includes any organizational representative or individual not covered under the Delegate membership who represents one or more of the categories identi­fied in the Institute’s enabling legislation.

All individuals or organizations interested in building codes and standards development, adop­tion, administration and enforcement are encouraged to join this Council.

The Council Board of Direction is made up of:

• Two Directors from each of four regions (for a total of eight regional directors) elected by and from the Delegate Members in good standing from their respective regions, with one director representing a state and one director representing a municipality, county or other political subdivision. The regions are designated as follows:
  • Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
  • Midwestern Region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
  • Southern Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
  • Northeastern Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia
• Two directors-at-large elected by and from the Delegate Members in good standing.
• The immediate Past-Chair of the Council.
• One non-voting Affiliate Member Director elected by the membership of the Affiliate Member Advisory Committee.
• A Board Member representative appointed by the Institute Board of Directors shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Direction.

Organizations and individuals interested in membership should complete the membership applicaiton form. 

Contact

For further details on the Council, please contact:

Ryan Colker
National Institute of Building Sciences
1090 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 289-7800
(202) 289-1092 Fax