Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety. The month serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of building codes, standards, and regulations in creating safer and more resilient communities.
As a company dedicated to government software solutions, Accela recognizes that effective building safety measures protect citizens, preserve property values, and contribute to sustainable development.
The Critical Importance of Building Safety
Building safety isn’t just about passing inspections; it’s about protecting lives. Structures built according to current codes and standards are better equipped to withstand natural disasters, prevent fires, and provide safe environments for occupants.
According to the International Code Council, modern building codes have reduced disaster-related property damage by up to 87% compared to areas with outdated or no codes.
Technology’s Role in Building Safety
Digital transformation has revolutionized how jurisdictions manage building safety:
- Permit management systems streamline applications and approvals
- Mobile inspection tools enable real-time documentation and faster processing
- Cloud-based plan review accelerates development while maintaining safety standards
- Data analytics help identify compliance trends and focus resources where needed most
How Accela Supports Building Safety Initiatives
Local governments using modern permitting and inspection software can more effectively:
- Process permits efficiently while ensuring code compliance
- Track inspection histories and violation patterns
- Provide transparency to residents and contractors
- Adapt quickly to code changes and emergency situations
Deschutes County facilitated a high influx of incoming planning and building applications with a digital SaaS solution to optimize internal processes. The county can track permit processing time, process more applications with fewer resources, deliver citizens complete visibility into requests, optimize inspector productivity with mobile technology, and more.
Building Resilient Communities Together
Building safety is more critical. Communities with robust building departments and modern technology infrastructure can better protect their citizens through:
- Proactive code enforcement
- Streamlined emergency response
- Efficient disaster recovery processes
- Data-driven planning for future resilience
Looking Forward
This Building Safety Month, we encourage all stakeholders—government agencies, builders, property owners, and citizens—to recognize the value of building codes and the professionals who enforce them. Through continued innovation and collaboration, we can create safer, more sustainable communities for generations to come.
By investing in modern tools and processes for building safety, jurisdictions demonstrate their commitment to citizen welfare and community resilience. Accela is proud to partner with governments nationwide in this essential mission.
