Department of Safety and Professional Services Celebrates National Building Safety Month by Establishing Sustainable Building Council, Opening Applications

Madison, Wis. –  Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dawn Crim recognized National Building Code Safety Month by opening applications to the Wisconsin Advisory Council on Building Sustainability. This new advisory council will work closely with the Commercial Building Code Council, Uniform Dwelling Code Council, and Plumbing Code Advisory Committee to identify code updates that will expand opportunities for the construction industry to more quickly and affordably transition toward sustainable materials, systems, and practices.

Innovations in the construction industry  are a key component of Governor Tony Evers’ historic Clean Energy Plan, which was released last month and calls for a modernization of buildings in its four key strategies for moving Wisconsin toward a clean and reliable energy future. In addition to modernizing building codes, Evers’ plan calls for funding and support to move toward electrification and other sustainable energy sources.

Crim says evaluating and identifying opportunities in building codes is an essential step in moving the construction industry toward clean energy. “Integrating clean energy goals directly into our building codes while also incorporating incentives creates a clearer path toward more sustainable and resilient design, systems, materials, and practices,” Crim said. “Our environment is evolving in a way that exacerbates existing risk and creates new ones. Safe, resilient communities need modern codes that reflect changing circumstances and emerging mitigation strategies.”

Wisconsin’s Council on Building Sustainability will review all building and construction codes and provide recommendations on changes that would increase safety, resiliency, and sustainability. This will include, but is not limited to, considerations of expanding allowable use of new building materials (e.g. mass timber), the expansion of alternative energy capability, and the creation of incentives that encourage climate-smart design and construction.

The department invites interested individuals with experience in construction, sustainable regulation, clean energy, or related fields to apply to serve on the council. More information, including an application to serve, is available HERE.

About DSPS: The Department of Safety and Professional Services issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, runs the state fire prevention program, and maintains the award-winning Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With five offices and 250 employees throughout Wisconsin, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.

About Building Safety Month: Building Safety Month is an annual, worldwide public awareness campaign presented by the International Code Council. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of building codes in ensure safe spaces to live, work, and learn. More information is available HERE.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.