FLAGSTAFF — In May 2021, the city of Flagstaff’s Building Safety Section will participate in the 41st annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. This year’s campaign, “Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building Codes Save,” will be held virtually this year, raising awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.
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 year’s campaign themes are: Week One, May 1-9, Energy Innovation; Week Two, May 10-16, Training the Next Generation; Week Three, May 17-23, Water Safety and Week Four, May 25-31, Disaster Preparedness.
“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,” said city of Flagstaff, Building Official, Amy Palmer. “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.”
With an extensive history dating back to 2200 B.C. and the Code of the Hammurabi, king of the Babylonian Empire, building codes have protected the public for thousands of years. The regulation of building construction in the United States dates back to the 1700s. Today, the International Codes, developed by the 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.
Learn more about Building Safety Month at www.buildingsafetymonth.org or join the conversation on social media using #BuildingSafety365.