Governor Proclaims May as Building Safety Month; Resilient Communities Start with Building Codes
WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 6, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Rick Snyder today issued a proclamation declaring May as Building Safety Month to highlight the importance of building permits, inspections and code compliance in Michigan’s built environment. “Resilient Communities Start with Building Codes” is this year’s theme, with the first week emphasizing, “Don’t Get Burned, Build to Code.”
“Effective building codes and enforcement helps to ensure that structures in our communities are built for strength in times of natural disaster or fire,” said Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Chief Deputy Director Shelly Edgerton. “Structures built to code and code enforcement offer a level of safety and resilience that the public deserves and has come to expect.”
The state’s building safety and fire prevention codes address all aspects of construction, such as structural soundness of buildings, reliability of fire prevention and suppression systems, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems, 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 top five fire-safety topics most frequently identified with home fire deaths are smoke alarms, escape plans, child fire safety, older adult fire safety (cooking and heating) and careless smoking, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
Smoke alarms are required by the Michigan Residential Code to be in every Michigan home. Install at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom, or outside of sleeping areas and on each level of multi-level homes. Test smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries once a year. Smoke alarms with long-life batteries will work for up to 10 years; without changing the battery. Get new smoke alarms every 10 years.
Have an escape plan and practice it twice a year so everyone in the family knows how to get out fast. Know two ways out of every room in case of fire and designate a meeting place outside of the home. Once out, stay out.
Cook safely by never leaving cooking unattended. A serious fire can start in seconds. Don’t wear loose clothing while cooking. Keep towels and pot holders away from the range. Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave home.
Space heaters and fireplaces require extra caution. Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from kids, pets and anything that can burn. Look for heaters with an auto-off safety feature which would cut power to the unit should the heater tip over. A fireplace screen should be large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
Smoking is the number one cause of preventable home fire deaths. If you smoke, never leave a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe unattended; put smoking materials out immediately if you feel drowsy. Never smoke in bed.
According to the Bureau of Fire Services, National Fire Incident Reporting System, the top six areas where residential fires started in Michigan (2014) were:
- Kitchen = 1,322 fires, 7 deaths, 78 injuries
- Living Room = 712 fires, 12 deaths, 16 injuries
- Bedroom = 469 fires, 3 deaths, 38 injuries
- Garage = 489 fires, 1 death, 12 injuries
- Laundry Area = 336 fires. 3 deaths, 5 injuries
- Basement = 403 fires, 3 deaths, 4 injuries
“While we have no way of totally eliminating fire or natural disasters, building codes and local code officials are the first line of defense toward reducing or eliminating the damage they cause,” said Bureau of Construction Codes Director Irvin J. Poke. “The importance of having a strong building code is most evident after a disaster.”
LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes and Bureau of Fire Services work together 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.
This 35th year of Building Safety Month is celebrated worldwide and is sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC), a membership association dedicated to building safety, fire prevention, and energy efficiency. The ICC develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Michigan uses the International Codes, with Michigan amendments, for code enforcement throughout the state.
For more information, go to the Bureau of Construction Codes website at www.michigan.gov/bcc or the Bureau of Fire Services as www.michigan.gov/bfs.
Contact: Jeannie Vogel 517-373-9280
Agency: Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
