Keep the Public Safe From Tall Wood Buildings

Words: Hector KarrmasonryThe International Code Council soon will vote on proposed code changes that among other things would allow tall wood buildings to be built up to 18 stories, despite a lack of rigorous scientific or in-the-field fire and structural testing.

NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION by urging the ICC to say no to these dangerous proposals that are up for a final vote which closes on Nov 27, 2018. Join the public hearing process to let your voices be heard. This highly combustible mass timber must be stopped!

There are two key ways you can take action:
  1. The most effective action is to encourage designers, code officials, and concerned building owners you know to SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS in opposition to these changes. Act fast! The public comment period is open until July 16, 2018. Comments must be submitted through the ICC's cdpACCESS website. Click here for a printable set of detailed instructions and suggested talking points.

  2. You can also submit public comments yourself. See above for information on submitting comments and suggested talking points.

Why should these TALL WOOD proposals for mass timber construction be stopped?

UNTESTED: Wood-industry funded tests performed in the U.S. and Canada were completely inadequate, failing to examine real-world structural risk factors, potential firefighting safety impacts from weather, and material-related risk factors to public health and safety.

UNPROVEN: While non-combustible concrete and steel have been used for centuries to build tall buildings and structures, mass timber products, like cross-laminated timber, are unknown and unproven construction materials.

UNSOUND: Common sense knows, and history shows, that TALL WOOD buildings are high-risk and dangerous to public health and safety when it comes to natural and man-made disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.

To download a full set of talking points, click here.
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