During the week of May 7-13, 2006, the City of Santa Clarita will take part in the worldwide observance of Building Safety Week. Building Safety Week seeks to raise public awareness about building safety by promoting the use, enforcement, and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect lives and property. The theme of the 2006 Building Safety Week is “Building a Safer World Together.” In celebration of Building Safety Week, the City will be hosting an open house with members of the Building and Safety Division.

 

On Tuesday, May 9, 2006, from 8:30 am to 10:00 am at City Hall, building inspectors, engineers, and plans examiners will be on hand to explain the importance of building permits, inspections, and building codes to ensure safe construction. All members of the community are invited to come and ask questions about building safety. Attendees will be able to look up the permit history of their home and check out sample construction plans for houses and commercial buildings. There will also be information available highlighting different areas of building safety, including tips on flood cleanup, mold prevention, and disaster preparedness. City Hall is located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard and the open house will be held in the Century Room on the first floor. Special informational bulletins will also be available at the Building and Safety Public counter.

 

“Building and code officials are here year-round to help the public understand building safety issues,” said Ruben Barrera, City Building Official. “Do-it-yourself projects have become increasingly popular so it is especially important for residents to work with the City to make sure new construction is in compliance with building safety and fire codes. Building Safety Week is meant to serve as a reminder of the importance of working with each other to ensure safety in our community.” The importance of regulating and enforcing building codes is often overlooked until a tragedy occurs. Building code regulations in the City help to make certain that homes, schools, offices, and other buildings are safe. Codes address all aspects of construction including structural integrity, fire safety, energy conservation, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, accessibility, and maintenance. By inspecting buildings both during and after construction, the Building and Safety Division ensures that buildings in the community are safe places to live, work, play, and learn. The City of Santa Clarita’s Building and Safety Division also enforces building maintenance regulations, reviews building plans and issues building permits. Building Safety Week, first observed in 1980, is sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation, an organization dedicated to lessening the devastating effects of natural disasters and other building tragedies worldwide by promoting ideas, methods, and technologies which encourage the construction of durable buildings and homes. The City of Santa Clarita, Building Department, is an active member of the International Code Council. The International Code Council develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings.