May is Building Safety Month. Building Safety Month is an international campaign to raise awareness about building safety and the importance of current safety codes and the role of code officials in creating safe, sustainable structures that communities can rely on for generations to come. Building codes protect citizens from disasters such as fires, weather-related events and structural collapse.
Weekly themes throughout the month will spotlight specific areas of building safety:
- May 1-5: Partnering with Code Officials to Build Stronger, Safer Communities;
- May 6-12: Advancing Resilient Communities Through Science and Technology;
- May 13-19: Protecting Communities from Disasters;
- May 20-26: Safeguarding Our Water; and
- May 27-31: Improving Education and Training Standards for a Safer Tomorrow.
Resources, such as strategies on how to set up an event, a news release template, a sample proclamation and safety tips handouts, are available for download or purchase online or download the 2018 Building Safety Month poster.
During May, the International Code Council, its 64,000 members and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety community come together with corporations, government agencies, professional associations and nonprofits to promote building safety through proclamations, informational events, legislative briefings and more. The campaign reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, a strong and efficient system of code enforcement and a well-trained, professional workforce to maintain the system.
“Building Safety Month brings attention to issues that are not regularly considered unless disaster strikes. Modern codes and standards incorporate the latest technology and provide the safest, most resilient structures for our families and communities to protect against building failures, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, high-rise fires and other modern-day disasters,” said Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “Building codes really do save lives.”
“The Code Council, in partnership with our members and stakeholders, works hard year-round to ensure that we work, live and play in strong, safe buildings. Through Building Safety Month activities, we recognize the dedication of our code officials and celebrate the fact that the International Codes result in the highest level of building safety in the industrial world,” said Code Council Board President Jay Elbettar, P.E.
The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.
