The International Code Council (ICC) was established in 1994 as a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes. The founders of the ICC are Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). Since the early part of the last century, these non-profit organizations developed three separate sets of model codes used throughout the United States. Although regional code development has been effective and responsive to our country’s needs, the time came for a single set of codes. The nation’s three model code groups responded by creating the International Code Council and by developing codes without regional limitations; the International Codes.

The International Code Council (ICC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OptaSoft in June 2005, a joint initiative with the goal of providing world class software solutions in the areas of building construction plan design and plan review to regulatory agencies and the Architectural – Engineering Community (AEC) throughout the domestic and international market place. ICC is extending its marketing assistance to OptaSoft to provide its software services to ICC’s customer base of 40,000 members and greater than 200,000 current customers. ICC and OptaSoft are working toward a cooperative exchange of information that will lead to specific programs of mutual interest to better serve the ICC membership and building construction industry.

Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by ICC. "We are delighted to work with a world-class organization such as the International Code Council and to be able to assist in the joint initiative of providing building code knowledge for our industry through automated plan review software, an effort translating into improved safety within the built environment," said OptaSoft President and CEO Eiad M. Odeh.

The International Code Council (ICC) is a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention. ICC develops the codes and standards used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.

The International Codes, or I-Codes, published by ICC, provide minimum safeguards for people at home, at school and in the workplace. The I-Codes are a complete set of comprehensive, coordinated building safety and fire prevention codes. Building codes benefit public safety and support the industry’s need for one set of codes without regional limitations.

Fifty states and the District of Columbia have adopted the I-Codes at the state or jurisdictional level. Federal agencies including the Architect of the Capitol, General Services Administration, National Park Service, Department of State, U.S. Forest Service and the Veterans Administration also enforce the I-Codes. The Department of Defense references the International Building Code for constructing military facilities, including those that house U.S. troops, domestically and abroad. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands enforce one or more of the I-Codes.