b"How Building Safety Needs Are ronments where safety is critical. Advancing Technology Innovations Have the requirements for building safety professionals changed with the adoption of new tools and technology?While information is now more accessible thanks to tools such as ICC Digital Codes, compliance calculators and AI-powered platforms, the job still requires a deep understand-ing of the technical material. Technology accelerates learn-ing and improves accessibility, but it does not eliminate the need for proper training, credentialing and ongoing educa-During Building Safety Month 2025, Joan ONeil, executivetion. vice president and chief knowledge officer at the Interna-tional Code Council, sat down with CE to share her expertOur goal is to make complex information easier to under-insights on how technologies like AI and building infor- stand and apply, so professionals can pass exams more effi-mation modeling are streamlining code compliance, acceler- ciently, stay code-compliant and keep communities safer. ating decision-making and equipping professionals with smarter tools. While Building Safety Month is an annualWhat do most people take for granted about building campaign to raise awareness about the importance of mod- safety? ern building codes, the International Code Council takes moments throughout the year to spotlight the future of build- There is a vast, often invisible ecosystem that keeps people ing safety. Poised for transformation, the industry is on thesafe, from the initial code development process to on-the-cutting edge of trends in artificial intelligence, digitizationground enforcement. Many professionals and average citi-and global collaboration.zens do not realize the enormous voluntary effort behind code development or the depth of technical expertise that How has building safety (technology, AI, awareness, tac- goes into ensuring buildings are safe. tics, guidelines) evolved over time? Building safety is not just about following rules; its about The building safety industry has long been driven by innova- protecting lives. Whether you are in a school, hospital or tion, from early computer-aided design tools to todays so- office building, youre benefiting from a complex, thought-phisticated building information modeling systems. BIM, infully designed system that exists largely behind the scenes. particular, revolutionized collaboration across disciplines by allowing architects, engineers and contractors to work fromIs there anything else youd like to add about where a shared digital model. Now, the rise of artificial intelligencebuilding safety is heading next? is pushing us even further, and the whole ecosystem is evolving.We are on the cusp of an exciting transformation. Over the next decade, we will see a rapid acceleration in new tools, AI helps professionals access and interpret vast amounts ofplatforms and innovations, especially as AI becomes more code information more quickly and accurately. For example,integrated into daily workflows. That also means building the Code Councils AI Navigator tool, which is built onsafety professionals will face more choices and complexity ChatGPT technology and trained specifically on our codewhen it comes to technology. content, enables users to ask complex questions and get trusted, highly accurate responses. While AI does not re- For more on how emerging technologies and global trends place the human expert, it certainly empowers professionalsare shaping the future of building safety, explore resources to work more efficiently and make informed decisions faster.and more insights at iccsafe.org. What is driving this evolution in building safety, particu- BY INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCILlarly in terms of modern technologies and externalThe International Code Council is the leading global source of stressors like climate events or material changes?model codes and standards and building safety solutions that include product evaluation, accreditation, technology, training, Todays professionals are navigating a fast-moving, complexand certification. The Code Council's codes, standards, and world. Natural disasters, climate-related risks and new con- solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable struction materials all demand information at a faster pace.communities and buildings worldwide.That means access to reliable information in real time is no longer a luxury: It is essential. Technology and AI are playing a vital role here, making in-formation more accessible and enabling predictive insights. AI can spot risk patterns and analyze historical data to in-form better decision-making, especially in high-stakes envi-20"