May is Building Safety Month

Each year the International Code Council encourages safety awareness in the built environment by promoting May as Building Safety Month. This is the 37th year that the ICC and its 63,000+ member partners worldwide have joined in advancing the benefits of safe and sustainable structures in which each of us work, play and live. In part, this campaign emphasizes the need to adopt modern model building codes that are based on building science, technical knowledge and past experiences. 

These codes greatly assist in providing protection from manmade and natural disasters, guard public health and reduce property loss.  Furthermore, model codes make buildings more energy efficient, fire resistant and ensures the electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems are safe. Additionally, the ICC uses this campaign to emphasize the importance of the inclusion of knowledgeable and professional code enforcement and a well-trained qualified workforce along with the model codes as the three legs supporting a safer built environment. 

This year’s theme is “Code Officials: Partners in Community Safety and Economic Growth.”  Members and citizens are encouraged to join with their local, regional and national affiliates in activities that raise awareness of the importance of building safe and resilient construction, fire prevention, disaster mitigation, and new technologies in the construction industry. 

The ICC provides several resources to assist in promoting Building Safety Month, including kids’ activity booklets that feature stickers, brochures and pencils, news releases, and sample proclamations. Each year governors, mayors, county executives and ICC chapters sign proclamations, official statements and letters of recognition as acknowledgement of the effort performed to keep citizens safe in their homes and businesses.

To see a list of all the 2017 Building Safety Month proclamations, including both state and jurisdictional proclamations, please visit: https://www.iccsafe.org/about-icc/building-safety-month/2017-proclamations/

For more information on the Building Safety Month or the Suncoast Chapter of the ICC & BOAF, please contact Tim Moore at [email protected]