New York Governor George E. Pataki has announced that the state has formally adopted the International Codes™. The announcement followed a meeting at which the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council voted unanimously to adopt the International Codes. It is expected that the State Fire Prevention and Building Code may be used beginning July 2002.

“By reducing development costs and providing greater flexibility, these codes will provide a major incentive for new investment, construction, and economic development in cities, towns, and villages throughout New York,” said Pataki.

The State Code Council reached the decision four years after the governor’s initial directive to the Department of State in 1998. The Code Council’s extensive process began with the establishment of technical subcommittees to review the individual codes and culminated with a unanimous decision to adopt the International Family of Codes at the March 6 meeting. New York will update the code on a regular schedule consistent with the International Codes’ three-year review cycle.