Every May, we’re presented with a crucial opportunity to reflect on building safety and its profound impact on a nation’s ability to protect communities and prioritize preparedness. International Building Safety Month, a global initiative, is a beacon of awareness about robust building codes and resilient infrastructure. This initiative, which aligns with Prometheus’ values and our overarching mission to create safer communities, underscores the global significance of our work. As our world grapples with increasingly devastating natural disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, an increased need for stringent building standards and codes that effectively address our current challenges has become apparent.
Mission Possible
This year, the International Code Council (ICC) has chosen “Mission Possible” as a theme for Building Safety Month. This theme emphasizes our opportunity to progress toward lofty yet achievable goals despite the immensity of the task at hand. To make it as easy as possible to participate and show your support, the ICC has created a 5-week initiative to help spread the word about Mission Possible:
Week One (May 1-5): Understanding the Mission
This weekly theme, which aims to make building safety approachable, kicks off the celebrations for the month. It begins with an overarching introduction that acknowledges the important ways building safety impacts us all.
Week 2 (May 6–12): Preparing a Building Safety Plan
This weekly theme highlights the importance and value of educational resources that address water and fire, sustainability and resiliency, and disaster preparedness. You can access downloadable brochures from the ICC featuring safety tips and best practices to spread throughout your community.
Week 3 (May 13–19): Learning from the Pros
This weekly theme aims to help you learn more about building safety professionals, their work, and how they serve communities worldwide. Plus, share or gather information about how to become a safety professional.
Week 4 (May 20–26): Engaging Your Community
This weekly theme acknowledges the importance of advocating for building safety in your community and provides actionable tips on how to do so. Plus, there are resources to help get kids involved in learning more about building safety and related careers.
Week 5 (May 27–31): Celebrating Success in Building Safety
This weekly theme helps highlight individuals and communities making a difference through building safety and encourages you to consider promoting Building Safety Month using turnkey assets from the ICC.
Constructing Resilient Communities
The overarching concept of resilience lies at the heart of Building Safety Month, which aligns closely with our goal of disaster-proofing the future through risk reduction. By now, society has recognized that resilient infrastructure isn’t merely about constructing buildings; it’s about creating communities that can withstand and recover from the unexpected. Especially in regions prone to seismic activity or tsunamis, resilient building codes can mean the difference between life and death or devastation and recovery. Now more than ever, residents are looking for a sense of security that allows them to trust the infrastructure surrounding them.
Earthquakes and tsunamis have the potential to wreak havoc on cities and communities of all sizes, often causing widespread destruction and devastating loss of life. By implementing and enforcing more stringent building codes, nations can work towards significantly mitigating the impact of events like these, protecting citizens and valuable infrastructures simultaneously. In doing so, we can reduce the loss of valuable life while mitigating the financial devastation that often follows after a natural disaster.
Reinforced building codes can effectively dictate the design, construction, and maintenance standards for structures big and small, helping nations ensure that communities can withstand the unpredictable forces of nature. More specifically, advanced engineering techniques and cutting-edge materials can enhance a building’s ability to withstand seismic activity and flooding. Flexible building designs and seismic retrofitting techniques can help structures bend and sway when disaster strikes or as the earth’s surface moves, reducing the risk of collapse. Nations can also prioritize elevated buildings and flood-resistant materials to minimize damage in coastal areas when storms surge. Investing in these fortifications is a vital piece of the natural disaster preparedness puzzle, allowing nations to prioritize safety upfront rather than devastating recovery down the line.
Examples of disaster resistant architecture. Left: Earthquake resistant building utilizing struts to reduce vibration. Right: A home being raised to avoid damage from high waters during a flood
Impacting Net Zero
As the world grapples with an urgent need to address climate change, building safety allows us to combine resilience and sustainability. The concept of ‘Net Zero’ recognizes the importance of reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the environmental impact of infrastructure. Improved building codes can actually play a crucial role in making progress toward this goal by incorporating energy-efficient designs, renewable energy, and green building practices into codes and plans.
By embracing resilient and sustainable building codes, nations’ leaders can enhance their communities’ safety and preparedness. At the same time, individual communities can meaningfully contribute to broader environmental goals. Investing in resilient and energy-efficient structures aligns with sustainable development principles, contributing to long-term resilience over time and allowing organizations big and small to contribute in tangible ways.
Building Safety Month encourages us to reflect on and prioritize effective building codes and infrastructure innovations. Prometheus believes that by investing in robust building codes and proactive solutions that prioritize sustainability, we can build more resilient communities and face challenges head-on. We’re committed to helping nations of all sizes commit to building a world where safety and sustainability go hand in hand.
Video Source: United Nations Net Zero Coalition
Show Your Support for Building Safety
We not only encourage but we rely on organizations, community leaders, and community members alike to learn more about building safety in their own communities. Explore the ICC’s helpful Building Safety Month resources – including weekly themes and milestones, video content, and downloadable guides – and contribute to a safer tomorrow by helping to spread the word. Your role in this is crucial, and we believe that together, we can make a significant difference.
It's never too late to participate and amplify these messages - let's prioritize resiliency during Building Safety Month and beyond!
Your participation is not just welcomed, but it’s crucial. The ICC offers a wealth of turnkey marketing materials, social posts, and resources for your organization to use year-round or to help you plan for future Building Safety Month celebrations. These resources are designed to streamline your organization’s Building Safety Month campaign, making it easier to get involved and make a difference. We value your contribution and believe that your efforts can help us achieve our shared goal of building safer communities.
