May in Seattle heralds Building Safety Month, a time to spotlight the significance of strong, safe structures and give props to the hardworking pros who keep the public out of harm's way. With its plethora of aged buildings and the looming threat of earthquakes, Seattle is especially tuned in to the importance of this month's message.
To significantly bolster community safety, the city focuses on retrofitting Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URMs), which dot the cityscape. As detailed by the City of Seattle, these vintage structures are particularly susceptible to earthquake damage, their old brick facades lacking the steel braces and anchor bolts that are standard in newer constructions. This year's Building Safety Month theme, "Game On," is apt, as it underscores the teamwork between government, builders, and citizens to create a safer Seattle.
Progress is already underway, with five buildings securing the "retrofitted status" in the city's database of URMs, thanks in part to revised regulations in 2024 that eased the financial burden on property owners. It's hoped that a slew of 200 buildings might follow suit, joining the ranks of retrofitted properties that can stand up to the seismic challenges native to the region.
The unsung heroes in this ongoing effort are the building inspectors, men and women who tirelessly check and double-check structural integrity and code compliance to prevent potential disasters. As the City of Seattle notes, these individuals serve to both educate and enforce, assisting builders in understanding complex codes and ensuring existing buildings stay up to code. Their role is particularly critical following disasters, when quick, accurate assessments of damage are crucial.
