| Building Safety Week in the United States is May | | | | International Code Council (ICC), along with other |
| 5 - 11, 2008, to promote the achievements and | | | | code development associations like the National |
| benefits of building and fire protection codes. I'll | | | | Fire Protection Association (NFPA), create the |
| bet some readers right now are rolling their eyes | | | | building safety and fire prevention codes that |
| at what appears to be another marketing ploy of | | | | address all aspects of construction. This includes |
| creating a "recognized" day of the year (in this | | | | items such as structural soundness of buildings, |
| case an entire week) to get you to buy | | | | reliability of fire prevention and suppression |
| something. I understand the sensitivity, but let me | | | | systems, plumbing and mechanical systems, and |
| share with you why I am jumping on the | | | | energy efficiency and sustainability. To ensure |
| bandwagon to recognize and even promote | | | | buildings are safe requires the active participation |
| Building Safety Week. (I promise there are no | | | | of property owners, building safety and fire |
| greeting cards or gifts required) Building Safety | | | | prevention officials, architects, builders, engineers, |
| Week was first observed almost 30 years ago in | | | | and others in the construction industry. |
| 1980. Since that time, local governments, building | | | | This year's Building Safety Week is especially |
| departments and fire departments have | | | | meaningful to supporters of residential fire |
| dedicated this week to raise public awareness on | | | | sprinkler use as the International Building Code |
| best building safety practices and to recognize the | | | | (IBC) is at the center of attention with proposed |
| important role that building and fire prevention | | | | code changes pending that would require fire |
| codes have in standardizing building safety for | | | | sprinklers to be installed in all residential structures. |
| everyone. | | | | The recent US Fire Administration's official |
| The theme of this year's program is, "Building | | | | endorsement of these residential fire sprinkler |
| Safety Where You Live, Work and Play." This | | | | requirements has fueled the intensity of this |
| theme is intended to send the obvious message | | | | debate. |
| that most people spend a majority of their time | | | | In greater numbers than ever before, fire |
| inside some type of structure so the topic of | | | | prevention departments across the United States |
| building safety deserves a moment of your time. | | | | are utilizing Building Safety Week to raise public |
| For most people, when you enter a house or | | | | recognition and support for the use of residential |
| building you're not thinking about whether it is | | | | fire sprinklers. Although we have achieved a high |
| properly constructed and safe. This fact alone is a | | | | standard for building quality in the United States, |
| testament to the high level of trust we place in | | | | there are still some proven fire protection |
| our building and fire prevention codes and the | | | | benefits commonplace in commercial buildings, that |
| assumption we have that our public servants are | | | | are still missing from that building we value |
| properly updating and enforcing these codes. | | | | most...our home. |
| The sponsor of Building Safety Week, the | | | | |
