Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day

Codes, defined as "a collection of regulations adopted by a city to govern the construction of buildings" by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, and safety measures for building are nearly as old as buildings themselves. In 1758 B.C., King Hammurabi of Babylon, chiseled design and construction instructions along with the penalties for poor work quality into rock. Much later, but still nearly 400 years ago, the United States created the first building codes in the nation to adhere to fire safety laws. This code, which dictated permittable roofing materials, was the beginning of a rich system of specific codes established in America.

Each year, the construction and critical infrastructure industries celebrate National Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day on September 1 to recognize the important work these staff do to keep people safe.