Welcome to Week 2 of Building Safety Month 2023!

The City of Coeur d’Alene Building Department is recognizing May as Building Safety Month which is an international campaign to raise awareness about building safety.

Welcome to Week 2 of Building Safety Month 2023!

Who are Building Safety Professionals?

While you’re probably very familiar with what your local police and fire departments do, you may be less familiar with building safety professionals.  In that way, building safety professionals are the silent defenders of public safety.

Here are a few things you should know:

• Building safety professionals include building inspectors of all kinds, building officials, plans examiners, permit technicians, fire marshals and more.
• Building safety professionals are constantly training and keeping up with the latest codes and standards.
• Their knowledge spans every aspect of the life of a building – from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the roof – and everything in between.
• Many building safety professionals have experience as architects, engineers, contractors or even government officials.
• There are many paths available to become a building safety professional.

What Do They Do?

Building safety professionals provide guidance and advice to architects, engineers and contractors to help them bring building projects to life while ensuring safety for occupants and residents.  They also help keep existing buildings safe by conducting inspections and adopting the latest building codes.  They are community-oriented and dedicated to making the world a safer place.

When to Call a Professional

Always check with your local building department before beginning home improvement projects.  Requirements vary, but most building departments require permits for home improvement projects, including electrical, mechanical, structural or plumbing work.  Follow-up inspections provide a measure of safety to protect your life and property.

Code officials ensure that building codes are followed by:

• Conducting site inspections
• Providing code interpretation support and consultations
• Advising on renovations and rebuilding
• Issuing building plan and permit approvals

What are some ways building safety impacts you at home?  Join the Building Safety Month conversation – tag the International Code Council on social media, and use #BuildingSafety365 to help spread the word!

Click the link below for more information on “Do I Need a Permit?”