Building Safety Month May 2010: Commemorating a 30-Year Legacy of Leadership State's Code Enforcement of Safe and Sustainable Construction Protects Michigan's Residents, Homes, and Businesses

Contact: Mario L. Morrow 517-373-9280

Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

April 29, 2010 - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued a proclamation declaring May as Building Safety Month 2010 in Michigan. This year's theme "Building Safety: Commemorating a 30-Year Legacy of Leadership" highlights four areas during the month: Energy and Green Building; Disaster Safety and Mitigation; Fire Safety and Awareness; and Backyard Safety. The month-long observance aims to increase public understanding of the importance of building safety and the resources available for protecting lives and property.

"Public safety is our number one concern," said Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth Director, Stanley "Skip" Pruss. "Our building code and fire prevention officials work year-round to ensure that buildings constructed throughout our state are safe, sustainable, and energy efficient." Building safety and fire prevention codes in Michigan address all aspects of construction, such as structural soundness of buildings, reliability of fire prevention and suppression systems, electrical, mechanical and plumbing 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, and others in the construction industry, as well as property owners.

"The critical role of building and fire codes and code officials is often overlooked until a catastrophic tragedy occurs," said Bureau of Construction Codes Director Irvin J. Poke. "Building safety and fire prevention experts inspect buildings during and after construction to help to ensure that the places where we live, learn, work, worship and play are safe."

Poke said that as more people are becoming do-it-yourselfers on home improvement projects, it's extremely important for homeowners to work with local building officials to make sure their residence fully complies with Michigan's construction codes.

First observed in 1980 as Building Safety Week, Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention and energy efficiency.

The International Code Council develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties, and states use the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council.

DELEG's Bureau of Construction Codes and Bureau of Fire Services work as a team to ensure that the built environment and the systems within are sound, safe, and sanitary; the public's health, safety, and welfare is protected; and that, through a coordinated program of code compliance, investigation and training, there is consistent application of standards. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/bcc.

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