The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the International Code Council (ICC) announced an expanded alliance on October 22, 2026, to strengthen cooperation on HVACR codes, standards, education, and industry issues. The organizations have worked together since 2009, and the renewed agreement establishes an updated framework for collaboration.
Under the agreement, ACCA and ICC will support the inclusion of ACCA design standards, including Manual J, Manual D, and Manual S, in the International Codes (I-Codes). These include the International Mechanical Code, International Residential Code, and International Energy Conservation Code. Both organizations will also participate in each other’s code and standards development processes to promote practical, enforceable, and technically sound requirements.
The alliance includes plans to explore joint educational programs, webinars, and seminars for HVACR contractors and code officials. These initiatives will focus on code compliance, HVACR design, and installation practices. ACCA and ICC will also examine opportunities to align ICC certification programs with ACCA training curricula.
Additional cooperation will cover awareness initiatives promoting permitted work and professional HVACR design while addressing risks associated with unlicensed installations. The organizations also intend to exchange research, data, and technical insights on emerging technologies, including low-GWP refrigerants and heat pump adoption.
“ACCA contractors work with building codes every day, so it is critical that the codes and standards governing HVACR systems are practical, technically sound, and enforceable in the field,” said Martin Hoover, interim president and CEO of ACCA. “This agreement strengthens our longstanding relationship with ICC and creates new opportunities to bring the experience of contractors and code officials together.”
