May is Building Safety Month

Building Safety Month is an international campaign by the International Code Council that is celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety, and we are recognizing this important month right here in Bryan. Building Safety Month reinforces the need for the adoption of modern, regularly updated building codes, and helps individuals, families, and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

This year’s Building Safety Month focuses on five themes:

• Understanding The Mission
• Preparing a Building Safety Plan
• Learning From the Pros
• Engaging Your Community
• Celebrating Success in Building Safety

Preparing for natural disasters, building and maintaining sustainable neighborhoods and communities, and promoting safe and healthy environments is a top priority. Disaster mitigation through the adoption and enforcement of building codes is one of the best ways for communities to prepare and protect against future disasters. Homes and buildings that are built in compliance with building safety codes and the officials who enforce the codes are essential to helping communities minimize the risks of death, injury, and property damage in the event of a disaster.

• Learn more about Building Safety Month

In Bryan, the city has seven full-time building inspectors and four plan examiners who work to ensure new construction and building renovations follow the city’s adopted building codes for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy conservation, fuel gas, and fire safety.

Over the last two decades, Bryan has experienced substantial growth and development. The primary goal during this period has been to expedite the issuance of permits, usually within one to two weeks, and ensure that requested inspections are promptly conducted, either on the same day or the next business day.

This work could not be done without the following Development Services staff:

• Chris Mushinski, plumbing inspector – 32 years
• Derrick Williams, plumbing/mechanical inspector – 17 years
• Jerry Fagan, building inspector – 15 years
• James Tinsley, combination building inspector – 1 year
• Mike Sangl, combination building inspector – 2 years
• Mike Olivarez, electrical inspector – 1 year
• Peter Michelena, combination building inspector – 1 year
• Greg Cox, chief building official – 21 years

To assist with ensuring that building plans are code compliant before structures are built or improvements are made, the city has four plan examiners:

• Craig Tepera, plan examiner – 23 years
• Karen Lahde, plan examiner – 20 years
• Josh Hall, plan examiner – 3 years
• Kenny Johnson, plan examiner – 5 years

Permits and inspections would not be possible without the assistance of the following support staff:

• Charmaine McKinzie
• Megan Hancock
• Paige Jackson
• Lauren Hovde
• Karen Rudasill
• Cheree Peters
• Aniki Blanchard
• Kaylee Neuman

Building Codes

• Learn more about the city’s currently adopted codes.

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