DPS NEWS

International Building Safety Month Underway

Updated Building Codes Support Mitigation and Disaster Discovery Funding

 The 42nd Annual Building Safety Month is being observed this month around the world in an effort to raise awareness of increased building safety. The theme for this year’s campaign is Safety for All: Building Codes in Action.

Purposeful building codes and the officials who enforce them are essential to helping communities become affordable, resilient, and energy and water-efficient. Those benefits are especially important in light of the housing market, drought, and earthquake risk in Utah.

“Earthquakes are feared as one of nature’s most damaging hazards. They strike without warning,” says John Crofts, Utah Division of Emergency Management (DEM) Earthquake Program Manager. “Strong building codes mitigate earthquake risk and protect life, property, environment, and commerce. Strong building codes strengthen Utah communities and provide Utahns with a safer path for the future.”

Building Safety Month is presented and sponsored by the International Code Council. The Council hopes to raise awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.

“Many of our emergency management programs require the use of updated building codes to get the most funding for mitigation and disaster recovery,” says Kathy Holder, DEM State Hazard Mitigation Officer. “Implementation of higher standards of building codes saves lives and property.”

Each week promotes a different topic:
          Week 1: Planning for a Safe and Sustainable Tomorrow
          Week 2: Exploring Careers in Building Safety
          Week 3: Understanding Disaster Mitigation
          Week 4: Creating a Safe and Abundant Water Supply

Resources to support the observance of Building Safety Month can be found here.

As part of its recognition of Building Safety Month, DEM is promoting two free, relevant FEMA virtual training opportunities. The first is the Homebuilder’s Guide to Earthquake-Resistant Design and Construction on May 10. Register here.

The second, Building Codes Overview, is on June 7. Register here.

For further media queries, contact Division of Emergency Management Public Information Officer, Wade Mathews at wmathews@utah.gov.
                                                   ###

Utah Division of Emergency Management’s mission is “To unite the emergency management community and to coordinate the efforts necessary to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events.”