Celebrating building safety

The city of Calabasas Building and Safety Division is joining with building departments across America to celebrate Building Safety Week from May 6 through 12.

First observed in 1980, Building Safety Week seeks to raise public awareness of building safety by promoting the use, enforcement and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect lives and property. "Building Smarter . . . for Disasters and Everyday Life" is the theme of Building Safety Week 2007.

We often say that people don't pay attention to building safety issues until a disaster occurs. But building and fire codes affect you and your loved ones every day. Inspectors, plan reviewers and others in the city of Calabasas Building and Safety Division work to ensure that the structures you and your families live, work, attend school, worship and play in are safe. By doing our jobs each day, we provide the first line of defense from building disasters. We are silent defenders who are seldom seen but work daily to ensure safety in the built environment.

Local activities during Building Safety Week include an open house at Calabasas City Hall, 26135 Mureau Road, Calabasas, on Thurs., May 10. The Building and Safety staff will be on hand to answer questions and explain the importance of permits, inspections and building codes to ensure safe construction. The public will also have the opportunity to view their property file and pick up helpful handouts pertaining to building permits. I encourage the public to get involved in these activities to learn more about the work of the city of Calabasas Building and Safety Division. Together we can learn to build smarter, for disasters and everyday life.

The city of Calabasas Building and Safety Division is a member of the International Code Council, an association that develops the most widely adopted building safety and fire prevention codes in the nation. Building Safety Week is sponsored by the International Code Council Foundation, an organization dedicated to changing the devastating effects of natural disasters and other building tragedies at home and around the world. Sparky Cohen Building official, City of Calabasas