Town of Cary Inspections & Permits Department to HoST Open House FOR Building Safety Week 

“Building Safety Where You Live, Work and Play” is 2009 theme

CARY, NC – To help raise awareness of building safety in Cary and in recognition of Building Safety Week, the Town of Cary Inspections & Permits Department is hosting an open house on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the department located on the 1^st floor of Cary Town Hall at 316 N. Academy St .  During the Open House, guests will be able to tour the Inspections & Permits Department; learn about services the department offers at displays; and talk one-on-one with department employees.  Children are also invited to the event from 3:30-4:30 p.m. for a special program that includes a “collapsible house.”

Building safety and fire prevention codes address all aspects of construction, such as structural soundness of buildings, reliability of fire prevention and suppression systems, plumbing and mechanical systems, and 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.

“When building safety and fire prevention experts inspect buildings during and after construction, we help to ensure that the places where you live, learn, work and play are safe,” said Russ Overton, Director of Inspections & Permits.  “That’s why it’s important that everyone get permits where required.”

The open house follows the Town Council’s proclamation at its regular meeting on Thursday, April 30, officially recognizing Building Safety Week, which runs from May 3 through May 9, 2009 . As part of the observance, communities across the nation are promoting the use and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect lives and property. The theme for the 2009 observance is “Building Safety: Where You Live, Work and Play.”

“Public safety is our number one concern,” added Overton.  “During Building Safety Week and all year long, building safety and fire prevention officials are here to help protect you.”

Town of Cary staff will also join Lowe’s Home Improvement in celebrating Building Safety week on Friday, May 8 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Lowe’s store at 1920 NW Maynard Road .  Staff will answer questions at marked displays and provide informational brochures.  Building Safety Week, first observed in 1980, is sponsored by the International Code Council, a membership organization dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, of which Cary is an active member.  The International Code Council develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the International Codes—building safety codes developed by the International Code Council.

For more, visit Inspections & Permits at www.townofcary.org.

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