Dialogue covered how communities monitor the safety of existing buildings, building codes and inspections, and guidance for building owners

(WASHINGTON, DC, August 19, 2021) – In light of the tragic condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, the National Institute of Building Sciences participated in and co-sponsored a building safety event in West Palm Beach with the International Code Council and Building Owners and Managers Association International on August 17.

The event – Ensuring the Safety of Existing Buildings – was hosted by the Building Officials Association of Florida. Dialogue focused on monitoring the safety of existing buildings, building codes and inspections, and how future catastrophic events can be avoided. The goal was to establish a channel for the building safety community to develop information to help inform policy makers as they consider questions raised by the collapse of the thirteen-story Champlain Towers South.

Carl Hedde, Head of Insurance Practice with One Concern, Principal of CGH Consulting, LLC, and Chair of the NIBS Board of Directors, said today’s building safety event comes at a critical time for the nation.

“Our communities depend on the safe and resilient performance of our structures,” Hedde said. “The existing building stock must be prepared to respond. We must protect these assets.”

The NIBS team participated in the day-long event. They include Anne Ellis, PE, FACI, F.ASCE, Executive Director with the Charles Pankow Foundation, a professional engineer, and incoming Chair of NIBS, who served as a panelist on a discussion around current building codes and standards that relate to structural safety, existing buildings, and property maintenance. Drew N. Rouland, MBA, PMP, Vice President of NIBS, moderated a panel on the current process for building inspections, including guidelines for frequency and how they are performed.

Event participants included representatives from non-profit, academic and private organizations, as well as local leaders from Florida, and experts from the code enforcement, building, construction, design and real estate communities. The International Code Council plans to follow up today’s event with a virtual meeting for a national audience this fall.