Privacy Policy

Introduction

The International Code Council, Inc., International Accreditation Service, Inc., ICC Evaluation Service, LLC, Solar Rating and Certification Corporation and their respective affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively “ICC”) are strongly committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. Please carefully read the following Privacy Policy. Any person accessing, browsing or otherwise using a website or online services where this Privacy Policy is posted (the “Site”) either manually or via an automated device or program, shall be considered a “User.” The purpose of this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) is to explain the type of information that ICC collects from our Users, what ICC does with that information, and with whom ICC shares this information.

User Consent to Privacy Policy

By accessing, browsing or using the Site, Users acknowledge that they have read, understand, agree and consent to the terms and conditions of the Policy. Users consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of User information including personal and non-personal information and anonymous browsing information (together “Information”) pursuant to the terms of this Policy. If you do not consent to these terms and conditions, please do not access, browse, or use this Site or provide Information to ICC.

The Information ICC Collects

Anonymous Browsing Information and Non-Personal Information
Users can browse the Site without revealing personal information. In this context, our servers or the servers of advertising partners may collect certain anonymous browsing information, such as your Internet Protocol address, your computer’s operating system, the name of the domain you used to access the Internet, the Web site you came from and the Web site you visit next. This information is collected passively through the use of certain electronic technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, pixels, clear GIFs, and similar technologies and is further explained in the Cookies section below. Anonymous browsing information is not used, nor is it intended to be used to personally identify an individual.

ICC may also collect non-personal demographic information related to your professional expertise and experience, including your title, company name, industry, technical specialty, trade and/or organization(s)/associations(s) to which you belong.

Personal Information
ICC may collect the name, phone and fax number, mailing address, email address, credit card number, and any other personal information provided by a User who contacts ICC or any of ICC’s representatives through the Site, via email or otherwise, submits an application for membership, submits personal information at a seminar or other event, purchases a product through the Site, or engages in any other activity through the Site in which personal information is provided to ICC.

By submitting Information to ICC on or through the Site, Users acknowledge that they have read this Policy, understand it, agree to its terms and authorize ICC to collect, use and disclose Information pursuant to the terms of this Policy.

How ICC Uses the Information

ICC uses the Information collected from its Users to respond to Users’ questions and/or comments, provide products, services or information to Users, process a User’s purchase, or provide related account status. Anonymous browsing, non-personal and personal information may be used to gather broad demographic information used in marketing, promotion, analytics, or similar activities. This information may be aggregated to measure the number of visits, average time spent, page views and other statistics about Users of the Site. ICC also may use this data to monitor Site performance and to make the Site easier and more convenient to use. ICC may also use Information collected from its Users to enforce its agreements with Users, prevent fraud and other prohibited or illegal activities, for other legally permissible purposes and generally to ensure that ICC complies with applicable laws.

ICC Sharing of your Information

ICC only will share Information that it collects or receives regarding its Users with third parties under the following circumstances.

  • Consent: If ICC has a User’s consent to share any Information, it may do so. This includes ICC Members who agree to have their Information posted in the Members Only area of the Site.
  • Agents: ICC may utilize other companies and individuals to perform functions on its behalf such as marketing new or additional ICC products and services, sending postal and email to Users, processing credit card payments, fulfilling orders, delivering products and services, and providing customer service. These third parties have access to Information needed to perform their functions, but may not use it for other purposes.
  • Aggregate Anonymous Information: ICC may provide to others the aggregate statistics about our Users’ site activity for purposes of marketing, promotion, analytics or similar activities. None of these statistics will identify Users personally. ICC also may provide anonymous browsing information to Clearspring Technologies through the AddThis Platform for purposes of delivering targeted advertisements. See Cookies section below for more information.
  • Protection of ICC or Others: ICC may disclose Information about our Users to others if we have a good faith belief that we are required or permitted to do so by law or legal process, to respond to claims, to protect the rights, property or safety of ICC or others, or take action regarding illegal activities or suspected fraud.
    •   Business Transfers: In the event that ICC decides to sell all or part or its assets, ICC reserves the right to include Information among the assets transferred to the acquiring company.
  • Affiliates: ICC may share personal, non-personal and anonymous browsing information with its affiliates, including without limitation, International Accreditation Service, Inc., ICC Evaluation Service, LLC, Solar Rating and Certification Corporation and the International Code Council Foundation.
  • Third Parties Providing Relevant and Valuable Products and Services: From time to time, ICC may share your Information with other organizations that provide products or services that we believe Users will find relevant, valuable and interesting.
Cookies

ICC and certain third parties that advertise or provide other services on the Site may automatically collect certain types of passive, anonymous information whenever you use the Site, certain Site services, or click on advertisements on the Site or in ICC periodicals, such as the eNews or Building Safety Journal. If ICC or these third parties collect this anonymous information, it will be done passively through the use of certain electronic technologies, such as cookies, web beacons, pixels, clear GIFs and similar technologies as explained below.

HTML Cookies: We and certain third party advertising partners may use “cookies.” When you use the Site, the pages you see, along with something called a “cookie,” may be downloaded to your computer, mobile device, or tablet (collectively, “Equipment”). Cookies are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your Equipment. These cookies do not contain or collect any personal information, but may be used to deliver content specific to your interests and for other purposes, such as security and administrative functions. For example, cookies are used to store your preferences for certain types of information so that you do not have to input those preferences every time you use the Site. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you usually can change your browser to limit or prevent cookies. Cookies in themselves do not personally identify the individual user, but rather the Equipment that is being used to access the Site. You may have the opportunity to set your Equipment to accept all cookies, to notify you when a cookie is issued, or to not receive cookies at any time. Different browsers may address cookies differently. If you set your browser to not accept cookies, it may result in certain personalized services not being provided to you when you use that Equipment.

Flash Cookies: Certain ICC advertisers may choose to use Flash cookies in advertisements available on or through the Site or in ICC periodicals. Flash cookies, also called Flash Local Shared Objects, are used by the Adobe Flash Player for the purpose of storing user preferences. More information concerning Flash cookies, including how to remove them from your computer or device is available at here.

Web beacons, Pixels and Clear GIFs: We and our advertising partners may use web beacons, pixels and clear GIFs. These electronic technologies are transparent image files that, if used, allow us and our advertising partners to track website usage information, such as the number of times a given web page has been viewed and whether and when you have opened a HTML email, how many times the email was forwarded and which links in the email were clicked. Unlike cookies, these technologies are not placed on your Equipment. This information helps us to improve the Site and helps our advertising partners by measuring the effectiveness of these communications with you. These technologies may be used in association with cookies to understand how visitors interact with the Site or advertisements made by our advertising partners.

AddThis Sharing Platform: The Site includes a content sharing platform, called AddThis, which is provided by Clearspring Technologies. AddThis allows users to share Site content with others through various social media and other platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg and many others. ICC allows AddThis to collect certain anonymous information when you visit the Site. This anonymous information is collected using cookies and/or web beacons and may be used to deliver targeted advertisements to users when they visit other websites besides this Site. You can learn more information about AddThis privacy practices here. If you prefer that AddThis not collect anonymous information about you for the purpose of delivering targeted advertising, you may opt-out here. Please note, however, that when you opt-out, AddThis will place an opt-out cookie on your Equipment. That cookie tells AddThis to not use your information for delivering relevant online advertisements. If you block cookies, the AddThis opt-out will not function properly. Also, if you delete or otherwise restrict cookies, or if you use different Equipment or a different browser, you will need to renew your AddThis opt-out choice.

International Users

Information that is submitted to this Site will be collected, processed, stored, disclosed and disposed of in accordance with applicable U.S. law. If you are a non-U.S. User, you acknowledge and agree that we may collect and use your Information and disclose it to other entities outside your resident jurisdiction, as discussed in “ICC Sharing of Your Information” above. In addition, such Information may be stored on servers located outside your resident jurisdiction. U.S. law may not provide the degree of protection for personal information that is available in other countries. By providing us with your Information, you acknowledge that you have read this Policy, understand it, agree to its terms and consent to the transfer of such information outside your resident jurisdiction. If you do not consent to the terms of this Policy and have already provided us with Information, please email us and let us know how you would like us to handle such Information.

Accessing or Changing Your Personal Information

ICC allows you to change or correct inaccuracies in your personal information by logging into your account on the Site and making changes to your personal information. Your account information can be accessed through the “My ICC” links on the Site.

Choices for Use or Sharing of Certain Information

ICC values your concerns about the privacy of your personal and non-personal information. Therefore, we offer you the opportunity to opt out of use or sharing of certain information. For information that is shared with third parties, you should be able to opt-out of receiving further promotions from these third parties by unsubscribing to their email correspondence to you or contacting them directly. ICC is not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties who may send you correspondence.

Any emails sent by ICC subject to the CAN SPAM Act will include an option to unsubscribe from further correspondence. In addition, you can always opt-out of receiving commercial emails from ICC here. Please note that even if you opt-out from receiving certain email from ICC, you will continue to receive transactional messages, such as messages conforming a product purchase, an event you registered for and certain essential ICC membership information.

Linked Internet Web Sites

The Site provides hyperlinks, which are highlighted words or pictures within a hypertext document, including advertisements that, when clicked, take you to another place within the document, to another document altogether, or to other Web sites not controlled by ICC. These hyperlinked Web sites may contain privacy provisions that are different from those provided herein. ICC is not responsible for the collection, use, or disclosure of information collected through these Web sites, and ICC expressly disclaims any and all liabilities related to such collection, use, or disclosure.

Children’s Privacy Protection

The Site is not directed towards children under 13 years of age, and ICC does not knowingly collect any information from children under 13 years of age through the Site. If you are under 13 years of age, you are not permitted to submit information to ICC through the Site.

Security

This Site has commercially reasonable security measures to protect against the loss, theft, misuse, and alteration of the Information that is submitted to ICC and is under its control. You should be aware, however, that ICC has no control over the security of other websites that you might visit or use even when a link to those websites is available on or through the Site. If you share your Equipment or use Equipment that is accessed by the general public, remember to sign off and close your browser when you finish using the Site.

ICC wants you to feel confident using the Site; however, no system can be completely secure. Therefore, ICC makes no representations or warranties with regard to the sufficiency of its security measures. ICC shall not be responsible for any actual or consequential damages that result from a lapse in compliance with this Policy as a result of a security breach or technical malfunction. Certain information may be transmitted to you by email. Although it is illegal to intercept or disclose these messages under U.S. Federal law, these transmissions are not secure. In addition, Users’ communications through the Site are, in most cases, viewed only by you and anyone to whom you address your message. As the operator of the Site, ICC may need to review or monitor your electronic mail and other communications from time to time as may be required by law. Therefore, you should not expect to have a right to privacy in any of your electronic communications.

In the event of a breach of the confidentiality or security of your personal information, ICC will notify you if reasonably possible and as reasonably necessary so that you can take appropriate protective steps. We may notify you under such circumstances using the e-mail address(es) we have on record for you. You should also take care with how you handle and disclose your personal information. Please refer to the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site for information about how to protect yourself against identity theft.

Codes and Standards Discussion Forum and eMail Discussion Lists

Certain services provided on the Site, such as the Codes and Standards Discussion Forum and eMail Discussion Lists, are provided by third parties for ICC and its Users. Use of these services is subject to the specific terms and conditions and privacy policies that are provided to a User when signing up these services. Users acknowledge that the collection, use and disclosure of their Information is subject to these policies when using the Codes and Standards Discussion Forum and eMail Discussion Lists.

Amendments to Privacy Policy

We may occasionally update this Policy, as noted by the “effective date” at the end of the Policy. If we update this Policy in a manner that is materially less restrictive in our use or disclosure of personal information that we collected prior to the update, we will provide you with prior notice of the pending update and seek your consent by posting notice on the Site or by contacting you using the email address in your ICC account. We encourage you to periodically review this Policy to stay informed about our collection, use, and disclosure of Information. Your continued use of the Site constitutes your agreement to this Policy and any updates.

Your California Privacy Rights

California law permits customers of the ICC who are California residents to request certain information regarding our disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please email us or write us:

International Code Council Headquarters
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW
6th Floor
Washington, DC 20001

We will provide a list of the categories of personal information disclosed to third parties for third-party direct marketing purposes, along with the names and addresses of these third parties. This request may be made no more than once per calendar year. We reserve our right not to respond to requests submitted other than to the email or postal address specified above. You should put “California Privacy Rights” in the subject line and in your request. You must provide ICC with specific information regarding yourself so that ICC can accurately respond to the request.

No Rights of Third Parties

This Policy does not create rights enforceable by third parties.

How to Contact ICC

If you have any questions about this Policy, please email us or call 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233).

Effective Date

This Policy took effect on October 13, 2011 and was last updated on April 1, 2015.

© 2003-2015 International Code Council, Inc. All rights reserved.