FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2009
Contact: Alisa Cour, Bureau of Development Services 503.823.4017
Portland, OR - When you enter a house or building, most likely you're not thinking about whether it is properly constructed and safe. Fortunately, your local safety experts at the Bureau of Development Services think about building safety and fire prevention every day.
To help raise awareness of building safety, the Bureau of Development Services is celebrating Building Safety Week from May 3 - 9, 2009. This year's theme is Building Safety: Where You Live, Work and Play.
To mark this important event, the Bureau of Development Services will host an open house for the public and staff on Tuesday, May 5th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm at 1900 SW 4th Avenue, 1st Floor in Portland.
The open house will include:
- A Building Safety Week Proclamation signed by Commissioner Randy Leonard and BDS Director Paul Scarlett
- Refreshments
- Tours of the Development Services Center where the public can learn more about the permit history of their property from our records that date back to 1905, as well as talk with staff about construction projects they may be interested in working on
"Building safety is our number one concern," said Paul Scarlett, Bureau of Development Services Director. "During Building Safety Week and all year long, building safety and fire prevention officials are here to help protect you and the community by making sure that the places you live, learn, work and play are safe."
Building safety and fire prevention codes address all aspects of construction from structural soundness of buildings to the reliability of fire prevention and suppression systems to plumbing and mechanical systems to energy efficiency and sustainability. The dedicated inspectors, plans examiners and staff of the Bureau of Development Services are here to ensure structures are constructed safely for Portland's citizens.
Be sure to check out the BDS Blog at www.portlandonline.com/bds during Building Safety Week for helpful tips and information on how building safety codes save lives and protect property.
About the Bureau of Development Services (BDS):
The City of Portland's Bureau of Development Services (BDS) promotes safety, livability and economic vitality through the efficient and collaborative application of building and development codes. In 2008, BDS staff issued 10,000 development permits, performed 193,000 permit inspections and processed 977 land use reviews for residential and commercial properties. For more information, visit our website at www.portlandonline.com/bds or call Alisa Cour at (503) 823-4017.
