When you enter a house or building, most likely you assume it is safe and was properly constructed in accordance with building codes. Fortunately, your local safety experts work hard to assure building safety and fire prevention every day. To help raise awareness of building safety, the Sussex County Building Department proudly celebrates Building Safety Month this May. The theme, “An International Celebration of Safe and Sensible Structures” highlights four areas: Energy and Green Building; Disaster Safety and Mitigation; Fire Safety and Awareness; and Backyard Safety.

Across the nation, leaders and communities are promoting the use and understanding of these topics to protect lives and property. A 2011 Presidential Proclamation declared May Building Safety Month across the country. During the last three years, nearly 6,000 people and more than 135 jurisdictions from across the United States have issued proclamations, declarations and letters of support for Building Safety Month.

“When building safety and fire prevention experts inspect buildings during and after construction, we help to ensure that the places where you live, learn, work, worship and play are safe,” said Sussex County Building Official, W. Travis Luter Sr. “The important work we do is often overlooked until a catastrophic tragedy occurs,”

Building safety and fire prevention codes address all aspects of construction, such as structural soundness of buildings, reliability of fire prevention and suppression systems, plumbing and mechanical systems, and energy efficiency and sustainability. To ensure buildings are safe requires the active participation of building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, builders, engineers, contractors and others in the construction industry, as well as property owners.

“Public safety is our number one concern,” said Luter. “During Building Safety Month and all year long, building safety and fire prevention officials are here to help protect you, your family and our community.”

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe and sustainable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.

Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation (ICCF), a non-profit subsidiary of the Code Council.

Please click here to go to the Applications/Forms page to view:

10 Important Tips to Remember for Green and Sustainable Building
10 Important Tips to Remember for Disaster Safety and Mitigation
10 Important Tips to Remember for Fire Safety and Awareness
10 Important Tips to Remember for Backyard Safety
Codie and Codette The Code Officials