May is Building Safety Month and the Town of Wake Forest Inspections Department is launching the observance with a “Building Safety Month Kick-Off Event” on Saturday, April 30. The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town & Country Hardware, 910 Gateway Commons Circle.
The kick-off event will include free hot dogs (while they last), games, prizes, and the Wake Forest Fire Department’s Fire Safety House. The Fire Safety House is used to teach children how to safely evacuate their home in the event of fire.
Inspections staff will also be on hand throughout the event to answer questions about building safety, best practices, and the building permit process. Area residents are invited to come out and learn about the services the department offers, including Express Residential Plan Review, and talk one-on-one with town inspectors about building safety, codes, and inspections as they pertain to common residential projects, such as decks, kitchen and bath remodels, and screened porches.
In addition to Saturday’s kick-off, the Inspections Department will help raise awareness of building safety in Wake Forest by participating in several events and activities throughout May:
- May 7 – Meet in the Street, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; South White Street
- May 13 – Friday Night on White, 6-9 p.m.; South White Street
- May 21 – Home Depot, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; 11915 Retail Dr.
During the April 5 Wake Forest Board of Commissioners Work Session, Mayor Vivian Jones read a proclamation declaring May as Building Safety Month. As part of the month-long observance, the Inspections Department will offer informational displays, videos, and brochures in the ground floor lobby of town hall. In addition, area residents are invited to stop by town hall during normal business hours to speak with Inspections staff.
The goal of Building Safety Month is to increase understanding of building code safety and how it impacts public safety. To that end, each full week of the month will focus on a different aspect of building safety:
- May 1-7: Aging in Place: Building Solutions for all Ages;
- May 8-14: Home Safety: The Science Behind the Codes;
- May 15-21: Learn from the Past;
- May 22-28: Residential Fire Safety: Building Codes – A Smart Investment.
Building Safety Month is sponsored by the International Code Council, a membership organization dedicated to building safety and fire prevention. The International Code Council develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.
For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov and search “Building Safety Month” or contact Senior Code Enforcement Official Marvin Weathers at 919-435-9533 or mweathers@wakeforestnc.gov.
