Linn County is celebrating Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council to promote building safety.
Building Codes Protect You
Building codes are there to protect you and your loved ones and to help ensure safety in the spaces where you live, work, and learn. Modern homes and buildings incorporate the latest building codes and are designed to minimize the possibility and effects of fire, flood, storms, and other risks. Linn County follows the building codes set by the International Code Council, which are the most widely used and adopted set of building safety codes in the U.S. and around the world.
As we prepare ourselves for the increased severity and frequency of natural disasters, building safety is even more important. When adopted and enforced, building codes can save lives, save billions of dollars, and protect property for generations to come.
Building Codes Save Money
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), one of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard our residents and our communities against disasters is to adopt and follow hazard-resistant building codes. Since 1980, the average number of billion-dollar disasters has been six per year, but from 2016 to 2018, the number jumped to 15 per year (PDF). If all new buildings across the U.S. were built to modern editions of the International Building Codes, the country would save more than $600 billion by 2060. Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes—and the officials who enforce the codes—are essential to helping communities become affordable, resilient, and energy efficient and minimize the risks of death, injury, and property damage in the event of a disaster.
Linn County’s Role
Building safety professionals are the silent defenders of public safety. Linn County’s Planning & Development code officials and permit specialists protect our community through their commitment to building safety. They are constantly training and keeping up with the latest codes and standards. Two of Linn County’s building code inspectors have earned the Master Code Professional Certification from the International Building Code Council. This is the highest level of certification and earning this certification takes years of studying and work. There are only 900 people in the world who have earned this certification, and two of them are here in Linn County working to keep us safe.
Visit Linn County’s website to find information about building safety for your home, including decks, stairs, pools, remodels/additions, solar panels, smoke alarms, inspections, and more!
Additional Information
Learn more at www.buildingsafetymonth.org.