DeSoto building inspection department highlights safety

by Daphne Brown of of DeSoto TODAY

During May 6-12, the city of DeSoto takes part in the worldwide observance of Building Safety Week, which seeks to raise public awareness about building safety-related issues.

Jack Thompson, the city's chief building official, said the goal is to promote the use, enforcement and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect lives and property.

“Building Safety Week is an opportunity to take pause in the industry and community,” Thompson said.

The theme of the 2006 Building Safety Week is “Building Smarter Š for Disasters and Everyday Life.”

“Building and code officials are here year-round to help the public understand building safety issues,” Thompson said. “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, he said. 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, mech, accessibility and maintenance.

By inspecting buildings both during and after construction, the building inspections department ensures that buildings in the community are safe places to live, work, learn and play in, he said. The city's building inspections department also enforces building maintenance regulations, reviews building plans and issues building permits.

In addition to himself, Thompson, who has worked in the profession for about 30 years, said his department consists of a senior inspector and a building permits clerk. The city contracts with a third party to handle its projects. Typically, he has four or five inspectors in the field.

“Basically, it's a virtual extension of our staff, bringing the total to as many as 10 staff members, at times, depending on the number of projects we have,” he said.

Currently, the city is handling more commercial inspections than residential.

“It really depends on the market,” Thompson said. “In past years, we've handled more residential inspections but now it's more commercial. There has been a decline in the number of single-family permits we've handled over the last few years, which means the slow transition into commercial is inevitable.”

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's Building Inspections Department, is an active member of the International Code Council. The International Code Council develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings.

For more information about Building Safety Week or issues related to building safety, contact the department at 972-230-9610.