A newly formed Code Development Committee will allow the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to serve as “a significant player” in the development of model building codes, the society announced.

“This committee will provide ASHRAE with a stronger voice in development of U.S. model building codes,” Bruce Hunn, ASHRAE director of technology said. “The committee will provide ASHRAE consensus recommendations for code changes, as well as review and take positions on code changes proposed by others to U.S. model building codes.”

The committee, which reports to the existing Code Interaction Subcommittee, will prepare consensus-developed recommendations on proposed revisions to various codes, primarily those of the International Code Council. Currently, no formal mechanism exists within ASHRAE to develop consensus recommendations on codes, according to Hunn.

It also will allow ASHRAE to develop positions on code changes that affect members but where the society does not have a standard.

The committee will consider proposed code changes suggested by ASHRAE members. Such changes will first be put out for internal public review by ASHRAE members. Once consensus has been reached within ASHRAE, the proposed changes will be submitted to the appropriate model code group.

”This allows all AHSRAE members to have input into ASHRAE members to have input into ASHRAE comments on proposed changes,” Hunn said.

The committee also will consider comments from ASHRAE members on proposed changes from other organizations.