ICC Staff Wants To Change The Title Without Submitting A New Pins Notification
At the time, a new standard is being developed called ICC/THIA Standard 1215 on the Design, Construction, Inspection and Regulation of Tiny Houses for Permanent Occupancy. Many of us are greatly concerned because the standard is no longer about tiny houses, it is about Small Residential Units ( SRU). ICC is considering changing the title to include the SRU without submitting a new pins notification.
What Is A Pins Notification?
The International Code Council ( ICC) is an ANSI accredited standards developer and they must follow all ANSI requirements including the ANSI Essential Requirements and rules filing a pins notification. A pins notification is submitted in ANSI Standards Action. PINS stands for Project Initiation Notification System. It’s a system used by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) to publish announcements of new and revised American National Standards (ANS). Essentially, it’s a public notification mechanism for upcoming standards development projects, allowing interested parties to participate and provide feedback.
ANSI has specific rules when a pins notification should be submitted. The pins process.
The Standard Has Been Hijacked By The Small Residential Unit
The committee is trying to position the Small Residential Unit ( SRU), A made up term that is not currently enforced by building officials, or recognized by anyone in a primary position over Tiny Houses, a codified IRC term, placing Tiny Houses as a subcategory under the SRU.
The Draft Is Out Of Compliance With The Originial Intention Of The Standard
The draft of OSMTH 1215, is completely out of compliance with the approved title, scope, the originial pins notification, the press release, the description of the standard on the ICC website, and the working group scopes that shall govern the draft. The draft has been hijacked by the Small Residential Unit ( SRU) .
ICC Is Considering Changing The Title To Include The Small Residential Unit
At a recent meeting, the director of standards announced that ICC staff was considering changing the title to include the Small Residential Unit. I objected and stated that it would require a new pins notification. I reached out to ANSI, and this was her answer.
Answer From ANSI Regarding A Title Change
Good morning –
The ANSI Essential Requirements (www.ansi.org/essentialrequirements) does not require the filing of a new or revised PINS as a result of a title change. Titles are not addressed in the ANSI Essential Requirements. A revised PINS would only be required if the stakeholders change or for certain project intent changes, e.g., reaffirmation to revision. Please see the excerpt below.
2.5.1 Project Initiation Notification System (PINS)
At the initiation of a project to develop or revise an American National Standard[1], notification shall be transmitted to ANSI using the Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) form, or its equivalent, for announcement in Standards Action. Comments received in connection with a PINS announcement shall be handled in accordance with these procedures.
A statement shall be submitted and published as part of the PINS announcement that shall include:
(a) an explanation of the need for the project, including, if it is the case, a statement of intent to submit the standard for consideration as an ISO, IEC or ISO/IEC JTC-1 standard; and
(b) identification of the stakeholders (e.g., telecom, consumer, medical, environmental, etc.) likely to be directly impacted by the standard; and
(c) the interest categories that will or are expected to comprise the consensus body.
If the response to sub-section (b) changes substantively as the standard is developed, a revised PINS shall be submitted and published.
If a developer receives a written request for additional information or for the opportunity to discuss the proposal from a directly and materially interested outside party or current consensus body member, during the 30-day PINS comment period, the ASD shall respond in writing within 30 days of the comment deadline.
Anne Caldas
ac*****@**si.org
212-642-4914
Sr Director, Procedures & Standards Administration (PSA)
ANSI | 1180 6th Avenue, 10th Floor | NY, NY 10036
ICC April 2, 2025 Meeting Notes Has Inaccurate Information
A motion was voted on as described below:
SMALL RESIDENTIAL UNIT (SRU). A dwelling that is 1200 square feet (111 m2) or less excluding
lofts and is constructed as a permanent residential structure with or without a permanent chassis
system.
TINY HOUSE. A SMALL RESIDENTIAL UNIT that is 400 square feet (37 m2) or less excluding lofts.
The committee voted 10-2 for the proposed definitions. The reason is for the definitions to be consistent
with the purpose and scope of the standard. This scope and purpose do seem to be in conflict with the
title. Staff is discussing amending the title of the standard to include SRUs.
ANSI permits title changes to standards as long as changing the title is not a substantive change.
My Complaint To ICC And ANSI Regarding The Title Change
The April 16, 2025 Meeting Failed To Approve The April 2, 2025 Meeting Notes
At the beginning of each meeting, the director of standards approves the previous meeting notes. At the end of the meeting, I brought up the fact that the meeting notes were not approved from the previous meeting which included a title change to include the Small Residential Unit ( SRU) and they have put it off until the next meeting. Three people have formally complained to ICC regarding the Small Residential Unit and we are waiting the outcome of this decision.
ICC Stated: ’This scope and purpose do seem to be
in conflict with the purpose and scope of the standard.’’
ICC admits that the scope and purpose do seem to be in conflict with the purpose and scope of the standard-but what is not being told, is the stacked committee manipulated the standard. It is disturbing that instead changing the draft to be in compliance with the original intent of the standard and primary purpose to add chassis provisions to tiny houses, it has changed to an agenda that will benefit ICC, the standard developer. They have had an overreach in their influence in the standards development.
One voting committee member resigned, because she felt like her voice did not matter. How could it?
The committee is stacked with THIA board members and hand picked close associates that have already decided the direction of the standards behind closed doors with ICC.
About The Standard: From The ICC Website
Tiny houses are growing in popularity as communities look to address affordable housing issues and homebuyers are looking for new housing options. This standard will codify existing requirements for the design, construction, inspection and certification of tiny houses used as permanent dwellings into a single standard and address identified gaps in available requirements for foundations and chassis. The 2021 International Residential Code (including Appendix AQ), and ICC/MBI Standards 1200 and 1205 will serve as the initial base documents with references to other existing standards.
This standard will provide minimum requirements for the design, construction, inspection, certification and regulatory compliance of tiny houses used for permanent occupancy to ensure public safety, sustainability and resilience.
ICC/THIA 1215 will include: consensus definitions for tiny houses and related terminology; prescriptive and performance-based compliance methods for tiny house foundations and chassis; and plan review, inspection and certification requirements for tiny houses constructed on-site and off-site. The standard will address tiny houses built on a foundation and those with wheels and a permanent chassis intended for permanent occupancy.
The standard will be written in mandatory code-intended language to support use by manufacturers and adoption by jurisdictions globally. This standard will will not address tiny houses used for temporary or seasonal occupancy, or tiny house community development or microgrids.
Related Article: SRU Big Industry Tiny House Takeover OSMTH 1215
What Is A Small Residential Unit ( SRU) ?
A Small Residential Unit ( SRU) is defined as -A dwelling unit that is 1,200 square feet or less constructed as a permanent residential structure with or without a permanent chassis system in the new tiny house standard currently being drafted by the International Code Council. The committee is trying to position the Small Residential Unit ( SRU), A made up term that is not currently enforced by building officials, or recognized by anyone in a primary position over Tiny Houses, a codified IRC term, placing Tiny Houses as a subcategory under the SRU.
How Would A Small Manufacturer Price An SRU?
I think we have all the prices skyrocket, partly because of the high cost of materials, inflation, and paying the cost of skilled workers. A typical price for a 400 tiny home on wheels is now between $120,000 to $250,000.
A Small Residential Unit ( SRU) on a chassis constructed as a single wide would be 16′ x 75′, can you imagine what it would have to be priced at? I have asked a few manufacturers, and their guess is over $300,000. But large manufacturers that build in factories are set up already to build in assembly lines and buy materials at a better cost because of quantity and they can build an SRU on a chassis for a lot less.
Excuses Not To Use The Term Tiny House
We have been debating the SRU and Tiny House terms for over a year, and we have heard nothing that makes for the use of the term, within the context of a tiny house standard. The SRU advocates have even stated that the term tiny house is ‘inflammatory‘, and it would be easier to explain to the building officials instead of using the term tiny house, or that building officials see tiny houses on wheels as a recreational vehicle. Two members of the committee also misled the committee and stated that two ICC standards, ICC/MBI 1200 and 1205 were turned downed at the 2024 IBC hearing, because of the term tiny houses. This is inaccurate, and I submitted a complaint to ICC.
ICC Complaint: Violation Of Code Of Ethics And ICC Consensus Procedures. David Tompos Sr. Compliance Guidelines And Conflict Of Interest Policy And ICC Consensus Procedures
Tiny House Alliance USA Editor
April 21, 2025
The Future Of Tiny Is Now!
Janet Thome Founder And President
ja***@******************sa.org
509 345 2013
