By Theresa Ficazzola
When we enter a building, we don’t give much thought to the building’s construction. We assume that the structure is safe because there are regulations in place to ensure that it is.
May is Building Safety Month, which was created over 40 years ago to raise awareness about safe, and now also sustainable, building construction. Even though things weren’t always this secure, you’d be surprised at how long ago people started looking at building safety.
In 1758 B.C., King Hammurabi of Babylon had this written in stone: “If a builder has built a house for a man and his work is not strong, and if the house he has built falls in and kills the householder, that builder shall be slain”. Even back then, the King was protecting his citizens from the work of shabby builders.
Early Building Problems Caused Havoc
As cities grew throughout civilization, structures moved from stone and mud to wood, which led to several massive fires, including the Great Fire of London in 1666, the Chicago Fire in 1871, and the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911, which later addressed code regulations for safer working conditions.
New Amsterdam, which was later called New York, instituted some fire safety regulations in 1625, along with specific codes for roof coverings. In 1865, New Orleans was the first city to enact a law requiring inspections of public buildings. Meanwhile, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 brought about more advanced structural building codes.
Building Codes Get Stronger
By the early 1900’s, insurance companies started petitioning for stronger building codes to reduce the amount of payouts they had to make on insurance claims from events and natural disasters like fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados.
Most building codes and regulations began at the local and city level. However, there wasn’t a central depositary or universal instructions for architects and engineers to follow in the U.S., and certainly not internationally.
The International Code Council is Born
The International Code Council (ICC), a nonprofit association focused on building safety worldwide, was created in 1994. It is the trusted source of model codes and standards that establish the baseline for building safety globally and create a level playing field for builders and manufacturers. It also develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient buildings.
The Solar Industry Also Has Safety Standards
The solar industry has its own set of rules and regulations for building safety, including standards and requirements for solar equipment, installation, licensing and certification. The U.S. Department of Energy ensures that this industry is following the appropriate safety standards, so if you’re considering solar for your home, feel secure in knowing that your house will still be structurally sound.
The green movement has also increased awareness about the benefits of sustainable buildings. In fact, in New York City, builders must incorporate green roofs or solar panel systems on all new construction.
SI Solar in New York and New Jersey
If you’re interested in solar power for your home, you should look for licensed electricians, reliable roofers (if you require a new roof to be installed before your solar panels) and a reputable solar provider. Frank Ficazzola, who owns SI Solar, is a NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) PV Installation Professional.
SI Solar has years of experience in the solar industry and works with skilled architects, electricians and installation crews to ensure that their jobs are completed expertly. It also arranges the necessary permits and inspections, so that your solar system operates safely, and monitors your system on an ongoing basis to ensure that the system continues to function properly over time.
Call SI Solar today to find out how you can benefit from the power of the sun with your own solar panels for your home in New York or New Jersey.
