By Roslyn Ryan
Editor

As the Acting Building Inspector for Powhatan County, Ralph Shelton doesn’t see houses quite the way your average person sees them. The rickety deck someone built, the one clinging to the back of the house by a few rusty nails? That makes Shelton’s blood run cold. The homes with electrical hazards left over from do-it-yourself wiring jobs? More potential disasters

These are just some of the things that Shelton deals with on a daily basis in his quest to make sure the buildings in Powhatan are as safe as possible. To help further that cause, and to help raise awareness of building safety, Shelton and the Powhatan County Building Department are celebrating Building Safety Week from May 5 through 11.

Across the nation, communities will promote the use and understanding of building safety and fire prevention codes to protect life and property. The theme is “Building safety, where you live, work and play.”

The week highlights not only the rules home builders should follow but also the work Shelton and his fellow building inspectors do to enforce those rules.

“The important work we do is often overlooked until a catastrophic tragedy occurs,” said Shelton. “When building safety and fire prevention experts inspect buildings during and after construction, we help ensure that those places are safe.”

Powhatan’s Buildings Inspections office currently employs a staff of eight, led by Kevin Zoll. Either Zoll, or inspectors Ginger Tyler, Jeff Compton or Rick Clark must sign off on all construction work done in the County, whether it is new 5,000 square foot home or a simple addition. Plan reviewer Bill Duttweiler and Shelton work to make sure all plans submitted to the office adhere to strict building codes.

How strict? “The way I was brought into it, it’s black and white in the Code book,” said Shelton, explaining that he and his inspectors never set out to give builders a hard time but must adhere to the Codes the way they are written.

To Shelton, the work they do is about more than just checking items off a list. Many of the things they look for “are life safety issues,” said Shelton. That includes the things people might already be aware of—making sure decks can support the loads they will have to carry, making sure that electrical outlets are safely installed with ground fault circuit interrupters—and the things they might not realize are important, such as having visible house numbers posted where emergency vehicles can see them.

Making the public aware of these things is what Building Safety Week is all about, said Shelton.

Building safety week, which has been observed since 1980, is sponsored by the International Code Council, a membership organization dedicated to building safety and fire prevention. Powhatan County is an active member of ICC, which develops the codes used in constructing residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.

Shelton’s first tip for anyone looking to undertake a building project, whether they are professional builders or weekend warriors delving into a home improvement project, is to go to the zoning department first to ensure it is legal to proceed.

Next they must obtain a building permit from his office, which requires the place to be reviewed for safety and code compliance.

It is this step, Shelton says, that many people are not aware of.

In addition to Shelton’s efforts to promote Building Safety Week, which will include spreading the safety message to local school children, the County Board of Supervisors has also come out in support of the measure.

On April 9, 2008, the Board announced a proclamation recognizing Building Safety Week at its regular monthly meeting.

The proclamation not only recognized local building and fire prevention officials for their dedication, but asked all County residents to do their part to ensure the safety of all buildings in Powhatan.

Top 5 ways Building Codes protect you and your family

5. Scald protection: Building safety codes require that showers be equipped with anti-scald valves to prevent injury.

4. Ground Fault interrupters (GFI): Building safety codes require GFIs in kitchen, bath and outdoor outlets. They turn off the power to the outlet before someone can be harmed by an electrical short in the circuit.

3. Emergency escape and rescue openings: Building safety codes require all basements and bedrooms to have at least one emergency escape and rescue opening to the outside.

2. Stair rails: Building safety codes address the size and space of stair railings to prevent children from falling through stair railings or getting their heads stuck. They also protect the general population by regulating the height of stair guards.

1. Smoke detectors: Building safety codes require smoke detectors outside of each bedroom on each story of a home, including basements, to warn occupants of smoke and fire.

Information provided by the International Code Council

Who needs Building Codes?
We all do –whether in our homes, offices, schools, stores, factories or places of entertainment. We rely on the safety of structures that surround us in our everyday living. The public need for protection from disaster due to fire, structural collapse and general deterioration underscores the need for modern codes and their administration.

How reliable are they?
Most aspects of building construction –electrical wring, heating, sanitary facilities—represent a potential hazard to building occupants and users. Building codes provide safeguards. Although no code can eliminate all risks, reducing risks to an acceptable level helps.

What is a building Code?
Practically, it is the government’s official statement on building safety. Technically, it is a compendium of minimum safety standards arranged in a systematic manner (codified) for easy reference. It embraces all aspects of building construction—fire, structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical.

What if I want to do a building project myself?
Building departments have pamphlets and brochures explaining, in detail, how to obtain permits and design and construct a safe building

Why should minimum safety codes apply to my own house?
For several reasons:

• For your personal safety, and that of your family and the guests invited into your home. • To ensure the economic well-being of the community by reducing potential spread of fire and disease. • For the conservation of energy • To protect future home purchasers who deserve reasonable assurance that the home they will buy will be safe

Local building departments provide a range of services beyond the usual plan review and building inspection process. These range from administration of planning and zoning laws to housing maintenance inspection, nuisance abatement and a number of their related ancillary duties. Visit your local building department and get acquainted with the people who make it work.

Provided by the International Code Council