IgCC a "Sign the Game Has Changed," Says AIA

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has produced a guide to help architects implement the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), which was introduced in March 2012 by the International Code Council, and to advocate for adoption of the code in their own jurisdictions.

“The AIA Guide to the IgCC” points out that architects familiar with the code will be sought for their expertise as the code is more widely adopted. The guide gives chapter-by-chapter summaries and commentary on the implications of IgCC provisions for design and practice, saying, “The IgCC…is not itself a game changer but further evidence that the game has changed.”

Encouraging advocacy for code adoption, the guide recalls the initial uncertainty and confusion surrounding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), whose accessibility accommodations have since become second nature. To avoid this confusion regarding the IgCC, says the guide, architects “have to articulate what the IgCC actually requires” and remind officials that “the issue is not more regulation; it is consistent regulation.” For more information, see www.aia.org/igcc.