Episode 63: Tales From the Code Development Process

Episode 63: Tales From the Code Development Process

Author: International Code Council: Non-profit, building codes April 25, 2025 Duration: 40:16

In this episode of the ICC Pulse Podcast, we build on our previous episode, How to Participate in the Code Development Process, by diving deeper into real-world experiences from those who've actively contributed to shaping the codes we use today.  

Featuring familiar voices from the Code Council's code development process, our expert guests share personal stories from their time working in the code development cycles, offering valuable insights into how code updates and proposals come to life. They also discuss effective ways to get involved in the process, the power of collaboration and offer practical advice for anyone looking to take their first steps into the code development world. 

Get involved in the Code Council's 2025 Committee Action Hearings, here. 

Guests on the show: 

  • Michael O'Brian, Fire Chief for the Brighton Area Fire Authority in Michigan 

  • Jeffrey M. Shapiro, P.E., FSFPE, President of International Code Consultants, Executive Director of the Texas Fire Protection Association and works with Lake Travis Fire Rescue. 

  • John Terry, Retired, Assistant Director of Codes and Standards, State of New Jersey 

Links to related and referenced topics in this episode: 

  • Read about the benefits of participating in the code development process.  

  • View the Code Council's codes and standards  


Tune in each month to ICC Pulse Podcast for a direct line to the conversations shaping our built environment. Produced by the non-profit International Code Council, this series goes beyond the technical text of building codes to explore the people, policies, and innovations driving safety forward. You’ll hear unscripted discussions with engineers, researchers, and policymakers who are on the ground, tackling everything from adapting structures for climate resilience to integrating smart city technologies. Rather than dry regulations, the podcast focuses on the practical impact of these standards on communities and the future of construction. It’s a resource for anyone in government, technology, or the non-profit sector who wants to understand the why behind the rules. Each episode aims to connect the dots between current events, emerging tools, and the code development process, offering a genuine insider’s perspective you won’t find elsewhere. By listening, you gain context on how building safety evolves and how it touches every aspect of modern life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 67

ICC Pulse Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 5: ft Mike Pfeiffer & Ed Wirtschoreck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:22
In this episode of the ICC Pulse Podcast, ICC's Senior Vice President of Technical Service Mike Pfeiffer joins as our guest host. He and special guest Ed Wirtschoreck, ICC Director of Codes, share a comprehensive recap o…
Episode 4: Legionella & Building Water Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:55
In this month's episode, the Code Council interviewed Dr. Janet Stout, a world-renowned expert on Legionella and Legionnaire's disease. Dr. Stout, president and director of Special Pathogens Laboratory in Pittsburgh and…
Episode 3 ft. FEMA's Eric Letvin & John Ingargiola [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:14
In this month's episode we welcome two guests from the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Eric Letvin, FEMA's Deputy Assistant Administrator of Mitig…
Episode 2 ft. Beth Tubbs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:20
Beth Tubbs, a senior staff engineer with the International Code Council Codes and Standards Development department joins us this month. She has been with the Code Council since 1995 and she is currently the secretariat t…
Episode 1 feat. Jay Elbettar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:17
In episode 1, Whitney Doll, the Code Council's Director of Communications and podcast host, talks with Board of Directors President Jay Elbettar, P.E., CBO, LEED AP, CASp. Jay shares some of his experiences as a code off…