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  


Each month, the ICC Pulse Podcast connects you directly 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, ideas, and innovations driving safety forward. You’ll hear unscripted discussions with engineers, researchers, and policymakers who are on the ground, tackling everything from evolving construction materials and smart city technology to the practical implications of major regulatory updates. It’s less a formal lecture and more a chance to listen in as leading experts parse the latest developments, making complex topics accessible and relevant. Whether you're a seasoned professional in the building safety industry or simply curious about how codes affect the structures we live and work in, this podcast provides a clear, authoritative voice in a field that touches everyone. Tune in monthly for these insightful interviews that cut through the noise and get to the heart of how we build a more resilient future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 67

ICC Pulse Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 24: Welcoming the Next Generation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:23
Code Council Senior Regional Manager of Government Relations Rick Hauffe hosts a conversation about welcoming the next generation of building safety professionals with members of the Emerging Leaders Membership Council (…
Episode 23: Copyright Issues & the International Codes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:41
Executive Vice President & Director of Business Development Mark Johnson interviews Code Council General Counsel Mel Oncu about the International Codes and copyright issues. Episode length: 00:11:38
Episode 22: The UK Regulatory System & The Hackitt Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
ICC Vice President of Global Services Judy Zakreski met with world renowned chemical engineer Dame Judith Hackitt to discuss the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017, the Hackitt Report and UK Regulatory System. Episode…
Episode 20: DCRA & the "Uber" for Inspections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:49
In this episode of the Pulse Podcast, the Code Council's Vice President of Government Relations Justin Wiley returns to interview Washington, D.C.'s Director of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Ernest Chrappah. The t…
Episode 19: Chicago Code Adoptions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:25
This month Code Council Senior Vice President of Government Relations Sara Yerkes interviews Commissioner Judith Frydland and Deputy Commissioner Grant Ullrich of the Chicago Department of Buildings. The guest discuss th…
Episode 18:Fire Service Membership Council [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:44
In this episode, Code Council Vice President of Fire and Disaster Mitigation Karl Fippinger interviews members of the ICC Fire Service Membership Council Randy Metz and Gary West. The guest discus the membership council,…
SPECIAL: Seismic Activity & the Searles Valley Earthquake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:32
In this special edition episode, we are joined by special guest Ken O'Dell, S.E. who is a California Structural Engineer, the President of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California and a Principal of Ca…
Episode 17: Major Jurisdiction Committee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:47
In this episode, we interview Wendy Wan from the New York City Department of Buildings and Terry Whitehill, Portland Oregon's Building Official. Both are members of the Code Council's Major Jurisdiction Committee. Each g…
SPECIAL EDITION: Securing Clean & Abundant Water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
RESTalk Host Bill Spohn interviews RESNET Program Director Ryan Meres and Code Council Executive Director of Sustainability Programs Dave Walls for this special ICC and RESNET collaboration episode for Building Safety Mo…