Model code developers committed to processes accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) have combined their expertise and proven track records in public safety to complete the world's first fully integrated volume of consensus codes and standards, the C3 set. C3, the Comprehensive Consensus Codes™, will be available this May and can be pre-ordered now at www.c3codeset.org.

C3 is being developed by a partnership that includes NFPA, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The set includes NFPA 5000™, Building Construction and Safety Code™; NFPA 70, National Electrical Code; NFPA 101, Life Safety Code*, NFPA 1: Uniform Fire Code™; the Uniform Plumbing Code™ (UPC™); the Uniform Mechanical Code™ (UMC™); NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code; NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code; NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code; and NFPA 30A, Code for Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages. The full set also incorporates ASHRAE standards 90.1 and 90.2.

"Bringing the completed C3 set to jurisdictions is an important advancement in public health and safety in the United States," said NFPA President James M. Shannon. "The C3 partnership has worked in unison to bring forward the best people, the best documents, and the best practices in the completion of the world's first fully integrated set of consensus codes. For the first time, jurisdictions may choose a full set of codes developed through ANSI-accredited processes."

In addition to enhancing public safety, adoption of the C3 set can help states reduce certain taxpayer costs associated with the adoption of new safety codes. NFPA and IAPMO have committed to make available free training and associated codebooks to code enforcement officials in states that adopt the C3 codes. No other code development organization has made such a strong commitment to help code officials implement and enforce its safety codes.

The model codes comprising C3 are developed through full and open discussion, guaranteeing that no single interest group may dominate the code-development process. ANSI, a private, nonprofit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system, accredits the code-development processes of the C3 partners and approves the C3 codes.

NFPA has an experienced staff in place to support the development and use of the C3 set, including the Building Construction and Safety Code. Staff members include experts in structural engineering, architecture, and building systems. NFPA also administers professional certification programs for building inspectors, building and fire plans examiners, electrical inspectors, and fire inspectors.

For more information on the C3 set, or to pre-order, go online to www.nfpa.org or www.c3codeset.org. EC