• Monitors, and disseminates information on, the activities of relevant code bodies and international committees, providing early detection of building codes and standards that would adversely affect the plastics industry or provide opportunities for introduction of new products.
  
  
• Provides a forum for discussion aimed at ensuring the rapid adoption of new, and maintenance of existing, codes and standards that allow the safe use of new plastics products throughout the spectrum of their applications in the United States and in foreign nations
  
  
• Examines and acts on issues related to significant, universal concerns such as smoke production and fire product toxicity and develops unified industry policies and positions.
  
  
• Reviews activities of all three model code organizations, as well as several state code groups, the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association, and participates actively in all groups.
  
  
• Develops and advocates the SPI/APC position on specific fire and building code issues relating to plastic products.
  
  
• Sponsors biannual meetings that include presentations by government and industry experts on topics of current interest and provide opportunities for networking with government officials and industry colleagues.
  
  
• Sponsors research on combustibility.
  
  
• Develops position papers and presents testimony on the performance of plastics in fires.
  
  
• Coordinates codes, standards and similar activities among SPI's operating units and industry interests.

In addition, CCFS members hold voting seats on all major U.S. and international code bodies dealing with plastic products.

As noted, the CCFS holds meetings twice yearly to examine and address issues of concern to the plastics industry. The group also convenes by conference call to discuss pending issues and determine appropriate actions.

Recent CCFS Accomplishments
SPI Opposes Unfair Challenge To Plastics Foam . . . A petition that would require special flammability labeling for polyurethane foam used in upholstered furniture was opposed by SPI in comments filed in June 2000 before the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). SPI called the proposal, set forth by the National Association of State Fire Marshals, unfair and unnecessary as it failed to recognize the success of existing voluntary standards and ignored the ongoing testing by the CPSC.

SPI Represents the Industry at the September BOCA Meeting . . . SPI staff and consultants, along with several CCFS members, attended and participated in the September 2000 conference in St. Louis of the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA). 100 percent of the code proposals submitted by CCFS were adopted for the new consolidated 2000 edition of the International Code Council Building, Fire and Residential Codes.

Wire and Cable Subcommittee Develops Positions on NFPA National Electrical Code Proposals . . . The CCFS Wire and Cable Subcommittee met in December 2000 in Baltimore to review more than 600 proposals to amend the National Electrical Code (NEC) of the National Fire Protection Association. All the proposals would have had an impact on plastics products used in construction and furnishing. Where consensus was reached, positions were taken and forwarded to SPI's representatives for guidance on votes cast on behalf of the SPI at the NEC meetings in January 2001.

Code Monitoring and Member Input Active Throughout Fall . . . SPI staff and consultants actively monitored building code developments, reported to appropriate member company and business unit representatives and sought member input for possible association positions on a range of code activities. Issues included:

• wire and cable as it relates to plenums
• light-transmitting plastics
• National Electric Code changes affecting plastics
• International Building Codes affecting plastics
• National Fire Protection Association proposals affecting plastics

Activities
Members of the CCFS have responsibility for covering activities for polymeric products in the following organizations: