Governor Dunleavy proclaims May as Building Safety Month

WASILLA— Governor Mike Dunleavy proclaimed May as Building Safety Month in Alaska.

“Our confidence in the resilience of these buildings can only be achieved through the dedication of vigilant building safety inspectors, fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, design professionals, laborers, and others in the construction industry who work year-round to ensure safe construction of Alaskan buildings,” Dunleavy stated in the proclamation.

The International Code Council and partners have spearheaded this worldwide campaign to promote building safety for over four decades.

This year’s campaign, “Safety for All: Building Codes in Action,” focuses on raising awareness about the importance and benefits of building codes to ensure public safety, according to a recent press release from the Department of Public Safety.

“The Alaska Department of Public Safety is committed to ensuring public safety in Alaska and preventing the loss of life and property from fire and explosion. One of our primary methods for ensuring that Alaska’s commercial structures are safe is through common sense building safety codes,” Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety Director Richard Boothby stated in the press release. “It’s everyone’s responsibility to create a safely built environment. We encourage anyone with questions about how to build or renovate fire-safe structures to get ahold of us.”

According to the press release, structures that are built in compliance with building safety codes and the officials who enforce the codes play a vital role in making communities become affordable, resilient, and energy-efficient.

Building Safety Month provides homeowners, government officials, and the public with the information and resources to protect the environment and prepare for the future.

This year’s campaign includes weekly themes. Week one is titled Planning for a Safe and Sustainable Tomorrow. Week two is Exploring Careers in Building Safety. Week three is Understanding Disaster Mitigation. The final week is called Creating a Safe and Abundant Water Supply.

For more information about Building Safety Month, visit buildingsafetymonth.org. Alaskans are encouraged to join the ongoing conversation on social media by visiting facebook.com/AlaskaStateFireMarshalsOffice.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com