Who are building safety professionals? Building safety professionals work in the public and private sectors. From city inspectors to design professionals and contractors, there are many layers to enforcement and maintenance of building safety. Building safety professionals include building inspectors of all kinds, building officials, plans examiners, permit technicians, fire marshals and more. Building safety professionals are constantly training and keeping up with the latest codes and standards. Their knowledge spans every aspect of the life of a building – from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the roof – and everything in between. There are many paths available to become a building safety professional. Many building safety professionals have experience as architects, engineers, contractors or even government officials.

7 Building Safety Professionals Employed by the City:

1. Building Inspectors - the City employees inspectors with certifications, training and experience in a variety of building aspects including residential construction, commercial construction, plumbing, mechanical and energy. Building inspectors visit construction sites to ensure that projects are being constructed per the approved plans and in compliance with the various codes and regulations adopted by the City.
2. Building Official - the City employees one building official who oversees the Building Division. The Building Official manages development by administering, interpreting, and maintaining application and enforcement of our codes and regulations. Our Building Official also provides guidance and training to various building safety professionals.
3. Permit Technicians - our technicians are vital to the timely processing and management of development and permits by making sure the necessary permits are submitted with the required information and plans as well as scheduling inspections and processing payments.
4. Fire Marshal - our Assistant Fire Chief is also our City's Fire Marshall who works to ensure that projects incorporate the necessary fire prevention and safety design elements. The Fire Marshal also completes commercial occupancy inspections and facilitates public fire safety programs and trainings.
5. Engineers - our Public Works Department employes engineers and engineering technicians to inspect and review construction within the City's right-of-way including streets, sidewalks and tree lawns.
6. Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement Officers - the City's property maintenance and code enforcement officers conduct inspections and visual audits of property throughout the City to ensure that property and structures are maintained in good condition and in compliance with adopted regulations and standards.
7. Plans Examiners - plan review is a vital part of the permitting process. Trained professionals review all construction documents and designs to ensure that projects conform to our adopted codes, regulations and standards. Plans examiners review architectural, structure, civil, mechanical, plumbing, and life-safety drawings as well as the specifications and calculations for the designs.

3 Types of Building Safey Professionals You Might Hire:

1. Architects are trained and licensed to design projects. Many construction projects completed are required to be designed, signed and sealed by a licensed architect under our adopted codes and requirements by the State of Missouri.
2. Engineers are trained and licensed to design projects as well. There are many types of engineers, some will run structural calculations and designs while others will work on civil and site engineering.
3. Contractors are licensed to build and complete the projects. Contractors could be licensed to work on carpentry, plumbing, mechanical or more.

What do building safety professionals do? Building safety professionals provide guidance and advice to architects, engineers and contractors to help them bring building projects to life while ensuring safety for occupants and residents. They also help keep existing buildings safe by conducting inspections and adopting the latest building codes. They are community-oriented and dedicated to making the world a safer place.

Building Safety Professionals:

• Protect the public through their commitment to building safety.
• Enforce code compliance to empower and educate partners to embrace and integrate safety standards in their work.
• Ensure that buildings are constructed to withstand the stress of everyday use.
• Perform safety checks that protect your home from emergencies before fire, flood or disaster strike.
• Support economic development by making our buildings studier, and therefore longer lasting.

When might you interact with building safety professionals?

4 Tips When Starting a Construction Project:

1. Speak with the Building Division to understand if the scope of work requires a permit.
2. Engage a design professional and/or a licensed contractor to discuss and design the project.
3. Be sure to check references and history to ensure your contractor is licensed and capable of performing the work.
4. Familiarize yourself with the permit and required inspections for your project so that you can track progress.

Building Safety Professionals and the Permit Process:

1. The Permit Technician helps applicants submit the necessary permit documents and plans.
2. The Plans Examiner, Building Official, Planner and Engineers review the permit documents and plans for compliance and send review comments to the applicant. Depending on the type of permit and scope of work, the building safety professionals completing the plan review changes.
3. The Permit Technician will issue the permit to the applicant once the plans are compliant with all regulations.
4. The Building Inspectors will complete inspections and site visits as construction is underway to ensure that the project is completed in accordance with the approved permit and plans.

Building Safety Professionals and Property Maintenance:

1. Property Maintenance and Code Officers perform regular site visits to identify code violations and maintenance issues for residential and commercial properties throughout the city. If violations exist, the officer will send notice to the property owner of the violation and necessary steps for abatement.
2. The Inspectors and Permit Technicians will help property owners understand the steps to abating violations and bringing the property or structure into compliance.