On Friday of last week, President Barack Obama issued an official Presidential Proclamation making May National Building Safety Month for the fifth consecutive year.
In his proclamation, the President stated,” Buildings across our country provide safety and shelter to our people. From high-rises that form our cities' skylines to ranch homes that blanket the countryside, our buildings offer places to gather and perform daily activities, and they must have sound, secure, and resilient structures. During National Building Safety Month, we recognize and pay tribute to those who ensure the safety and resilience of our Nation's buildings, and we reaffirm our commitment to upholding and abiding by strong and effective building safety standards.”
A number of governors and local officials throughout the nation have followed suit making May Building Safety Month in their respective states and local governments. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was among the many state governors adding their support to National Building Safety Month.
The President added this regarding building safety, “Maintaining the safety and resilience of our homes and buildings is imperative. By using disaster-resistant building codes and standards, resilient construction materials, and safe and performance-based design methods, we can safeguard the workplaces, houses, schools, and other facilities that provide us with space to grow, live, and learn.”
Additionally, President Barack Obama offered, “All people deserve to feel safe in the buildings we inhabit day in and day out. With care and attention, we can secure and protect the places we spend time in. This month, let us take action to safeguard America's homes, schools, and other buildings, and let us ensure those responsible for this important work have the tools and resources they need.”
Building Safety Month began as a public awareness campaign started by the International Code Council designed to bring attention to public safety issues including safe and sustainable structures through modern, standardized building codes and enforcement.
This year’s theme centers on Building Codes: Driving Growth through Innovation, Resilience and Safety. Each week of Building Safety Month spotlights a specific area of building safety. The weekly themes are as follows: Week One (May 2-8) Building Solutions for All Ages, Week Two (May 9-15) The Science Behind the Codes, Week Three (May 16-22) Learn from the Past, Build for Tomorrow Week Four (May 23-29) Building Codes: A Smart Investment.
For over 30 years the ICC has championed advances in constructing safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient buildings. Building Safety Month brings much needed attention to the important role code officials play in public safety and has the support of the President of the United States, governors, mayors, county executives and other government officials and construction industry professionals and building services contractors from across the country. National Building Safety Month positively impacts public safety by bringing awareness about how building codes improve our surroundings from where we live to where we work.
Buildings that achieve any level of LEED certification must be constructed to meet all applicable building codes and thus, building codes and National Building Safety Month is significant for all Facility Managers and their Building Services Contractor partners. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has spent many years working to halt the negative impact buildings can have on the people that occupy them and the neighboring environment. Building codes have been a significant part of addressing some of these impacts. Through the growing community of green building professionals and LEED, USGBC has demonstrated that better, greener buildings can significantly reduce energy consumption, water use and waste while at the same time reestablishing natural systems, improving indoor air quality and positively impacting the bottom line.
Here at Stathakis, we support safe, sound structures and practices that keep people safe and are as always, committed to partnering with our Facility Managers to help them achieve their LEED and Green Building goals.