The IBQC Chair’s Address at the Annual ICC Conference on the Synergies Between the IBQC and the ICC and How They Cooperate for the Betterment of Global Built Environments

1 Nov 2024

On Tuesday, the 22nd of October, at Long Beach, California, during the International Session of the annual ICC conference, Kim Lovegrove, Chair of the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC), delivered an address on the synergies between the IBQC and the International Code Council (ICC). The focus of his presentation, the address of which is below, was how both organizations collaborate to advance the safety, sustainability, and resilience of global built environments.

Shared Expertise in Building Safety

Lovegrove highlighted that the ICC, a global authority on developing and providing building safety solutions, and the IBQC, with its emphasis on best-practice regulatory guidelines, are in simpatico. Both organizations have accumulated vast experience in crafting frameworks that prioritize safety, sustainability, and resilience. The ICC’s comprehensive building codes and the IBQC’s expertise in context-sympathetic solutions are making a significant impact on both advanced and emerging economies, where building safety regulations continue to evolve.

A Multinational and Diverse Skill Set

During his address, Lovegrove emphasized the importance of the IBQC’s uniquely diverse board, with members hailing from Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Colombia, Germany, England, America, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

This global representation reflects the IBQC’s broad scope of expertise across sectors like construction law, law reform, urban planning, and safety regulations. This diversity is crucial for developing best practices that address the needs of both emerging and advanced economies. In harmony with the ICC, the IBQC ensures that solution leadership is applied across a broad spectrum of markets, ranging from highly developed to emerging economies.

Enhancing Global Impact

Lovegrove’s address also delved into how the IBQC’s global presence, focused on developing best-practice guidelines, complements the ICC. The IBQC delivers practical and implementable guideline frameworks, including risk-based inspection protocols, dispute resolution systems, and product safety protocols. 

This synergy allows both organizations to benefit from shared insights into the regulatory challenges faced by different economies. The synergy between the IBQC’s guideline solutions and the ICC’s technical expertise complements their respective abilities to provide thought leadership on holistic, fit-for-purpose regulatory frameworks.

Joint Development of Guidelines – A Case Study Exemplar

Lovegrove highlighted one of the key successes of the ICC-IBQC collaboration: the Good Practice Inspector Guidelines for Emerging Economies. This joint publication exemplifies how the ICC’s technical code development expertise, combined with the IBQC’s research-driven approach, has created adaptable guidelines for diverse emerging economies and developing nations. These guidelines provide thought leadership on how emerging economies can establish robust regulatory environments that prioritize safety and sustainability.

Securing the Future with Governance and Legal Incorporation

A significant step in the synergy as Lovegrove explained, was the governance structure established through the IBQC’s legal incorporation in the United States by the ICC. This incorporation guarantees the IBQC’s longevity, with governance support provided by the ICC and other global leaders. The ICC’s role as one of the founding institutions on the board has cemented the IBQC’s position as a key player in shaping the thinking with respect to international building regulatory practices. This legal incorporation ensures that the IBQC will continue to influence global regulation for years to come.

Updated IBQC Website

The ICC has very recently updated the IBQC website for which we are most grateful and special thanks is conveyed to Dominic Sims, Judy Zakreski and Laurence Genest. The feedback is that the update is most impressive.

In conclusion, Kim Lovegrove’s address at the ICC conference emphasized how the collaboration between the IBQC and the ICC is setting a global standard for building safety collaboration. Through their combined expertise, diverse geographical, social economic and cultural perspectives, the IBQC and ICC are leading the way in advancing construction regulation and building safety solutions to ensure safer built environments worldwide

See Guidelines below

The ICC also hosted a podcast on July 1 2021 that was moderated by Judy Zakreski on the  IBQC Guidelines for Developing Countries – the link is below

https://iccpulsepodcast.libsyn.com/episode-42-international-building-quality-centre-ibqc-guidelines-for-developing-countries?utm_campaign=ICC%20Pulse%20Podcast%20Promotions&utm_content=171663484&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-31134

Disclaimer

This article is not legal advice and discusses its topic in only general terms. For legal advice consult with an experienced construction lawyer in your local jurisdiction.