The International Code Council is celebrating National Building Safety Month by reminding Americans of the importance of construction codes.

President Barack Obama signed a proclamation April 29 denoting the month of May as a 31-day celebrating of building safety.

"Building Safety Month is the perfect time to focus on the dedicated building safety professionals who are working hard every day to protect citizens in the built environment," said International Code Council board of directors President Alex Olszowy III.

Olszowy works for the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government in Lexington, Kentucky.

"We are very pleased with the support and public visibility given to building safety — and those professionals in the industry working to ensure it — including support by ICC member jurisdictions, ICC chapters, and recognition by presidential and municipal proclamations," he said.

Started by the council in 1980, the month-long campaign during May reminds of the importance of updating building codes and why they need to be enforced.

"Addressing resiliency in the built environment and urging all Americans to learn more about how they can contribute to resiliency at home and in their communities — including disaster mitigation, water quality and conservation, energy efficiency, fire and wildfire prevention — is what Building Safety Month is all about," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims. "We thank all the ICC members and chapters who hold public safety events this month and recognize the generosity of our sponsors who make building safety a priority."