What Is Building Safety Month

Building Safety Month is presented by the International Code Council and its 64,000 members worldwide along with a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities. Corporations, government agencies, professional associations, and more come together to support Building Safety Month because they understand the need for safety where we live, work and learn. Building Safety Month is an annual public awareness campaign, initiated in the United States, which is a celebration of all aspects of building safety that helps families, employers and leaders understand & appreciate the best practices that keep the places where we live, work and play safe. This is celebrated by jurisdictions during the month of May. The campaign aims to help individuals, families and businesses think about the safety of buildings in their communities, which is frequently taken for granted, and understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures. Building Safety Month was first observed in 1980 and is an international campaign that takes place in May to raise awareness about critical building safety and safety issues from structural to fire prevention, plumbing and mechanical systems, and energy efficiency.

Now in its 40th year, 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.

All communities need building codes to protect their citizens from disasters like fires, weather-related events and structural collapse. The effective enforcement of modern building codes are society’s best way of protecting homes, offices, schools, manufacturing facilities, stores and entertainment venues. Code officials are committed on a daily basis to keeping the public safe.

Why is Building Safety Month important today?

For the last 40 years, the Code Council, its 64,000 members, and a diverse partnership of professionals from the building construction, design and safety communities have come together to celebrate Building Safety Month. This is a milestone year for Building Safety Month – the Code Council, its members and partners have been celebrating building codes and the role of code officials during May for 40 years. “In difficult times, like our current pandemic, code officials remain essential to keeping us all safe and protected within the buildings we spend most of our time. Regardless of the circumstances, safe building will always be important.”

Building Safety Month provides education for the public about solutions that improve the safety, sustainability and resiliency of buildings, infrastructure and communities.

Properly administered and up-to-date safety codes reduce loss of life and property damage. Contemporary planning, building materials, design and construction can make our communities more resilient in the aftermath of disasters, fires and other events.

Who Needs Building Codes?

May 2020 marks the 40th year that communities around the world will celebrate Building Safety Month. With the increased frequency and severity of devastating storms, each year the importance of building safety has become a personal topic – especially for those still recovering from recent disasters. While the destruction has uprooted many, building codes continue to protect and save lives. Building codes incorporate the latest technology and provide the safest, most resilient structures for our families and communities. The International Codes, development by the International Code Council and adopted by our community, are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the U.S. and around the world.

Code officials are committed on a daily basis to keeping the public safe. Code officials, plan reviewers, fire inspectors, architects, builders, engineers, design professionals, contractors and staffers in the City of Rolling Meadows are among the 64,000 members of the International Code Council that created Building Safety Month. All of us work together to provide the first line of defense against building disasters and to ensure the safety of the buildings where we all live, work and play.

The men and women that serve as building safety, public works, law enforcement and fire prevention experts are heroes to our communities. They inspect buildings and review construction plans to ensure code compliance and to ensure the places where you live, work and play are safe. With an extensive history dating back to 2200 B.C. building codes have protected the public for thousands of years. The regulation of building construction in the United States dates back to the 1700s.

Building Safety Month is presented by The International Code Council, a nonprofit association that provides a wide range of building safety solutions including product evaluation, accreditation, certification, codification and training. It develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures

 Today, the International Codes, developed by the Code Co community, are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the U.S. and around the world. Learn more about Building Safety Month at www.buildingsafetymonth.org

As we prepare ourselves for the increased severity and frequency of natural disasters, building safety is even more important. Disaster mitigation through the adoption and enforcement of building codes is one of the best ways for communities to prepare and protect against future disasters. Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes and the officials who enforce the codes are essential to helping communities minimize the risks of death, injury and property damage in the event of a disaster.

This is a milestone year for Building Safety Month – the Code Council, its members and partners have been celebrating building codes and the role of code officials during May for 40 years. “In difficult times, like our current pandemic, code officials remain essential to keeping us all safe and protected within the buildings we spend most of our time.

Regardless of the circumstances, safe building will always be important.”

No longer are places of residence simply a family living space; they’ve taken on the role of extended work, school, gym and entertainment centers. With a greater demand to create safe cities of the future, buildings need to account for increased capacity, dangers from natural disasters and resource shortages, and a wide range of public safety concerns. Building Safety Month provides homeowners, government officials and the public with the necessary information for ensuring safety in the spaces where they live, work and learn.