Page 29 - Green Builder May-June 2018 Issue

CREDIT: DVIDSHUB/FLICKR [HURRICANE SANDY IMAGE] Disaster deterrent. The

ICC’s goal is to develop
model codes and
standards for the design
and construction of
more-resilient homes—
ones that can fare better
than this victim of the
annual Atlantic
hurricane season.

ROLE MODELS Codes become a calling for this enforcement officer

EBECCA BROWN REMEMBERS THIS ADVICE while growing up:
“It’s important to find a job that makes you happy.”
She knows she’s found it as a code official, and that’s why
R she’s spreading the news about her job to children attending
Alston Bailey Elementary School in Summerville, S.C.
Brown, a plans reviewer for Dorchester County, S.C., made the
presentation on residential code safety last year as her contribution to
the International Code Council’s Building Safety Month. She hopes to make
the presentation again to students at 13 elementary schools in her school CREDIT: ICC
district and another three elementary schools in a neighboring district.
“Enforcing codes is the invisible profession,” she says. “When we do our Going back to school. As a code official, Rebecca Brown found a job
jobs right, nothing happens. I really like that saying, because it’s very true.” that makes her happy. Now she wants grammar school students to
As a handout to the Austin Bailey students, Brown renovated an old know about career opportunities in the field.
ICC coloring book. Instead of “Codie the Cougar,” it features “Safety Sam,” took on the same role for the entire state.
“Safety Sara” and “Safety Scott,” who invite their readers to go on “A Safe Brown left the statewide position to return to work for Dorchester
Home Scavenger Hunt!” County government and to invest more time in raising her children. “I’m
As part of the “hunt,” youngsters are encouraged to check the egress proud of the work I do, and I’m proud [my children] understand that the
window in their bedrooms, as well as the number and placement of smoke importance of my job is to keep them safe,” she says.
and carbon monoxide alarms, fireplace safety, handrail safety, electrical When the International Code Council created the new Emerging Leaders
outlets and family fire escape plans. The back of the coloring book includes Membership Council, (ELMC), county building official Melissa Hopkins
a checklist of 16 safety actions and a “Certificate of Safety.” recommended Brown to serve on the ELMC Advisory Committee.
“I hope they take these books home to go on the scavenger hunts with Her focus now is on raising her children, becoming more involved in her
their parents and learn something,” she says. state ICC chapter and someday serving on a code action committee.
When the economy took a tailspin in 2010, Brown became a code She said the advice about finding a job “that makes you happy” has
enforcement officer in Edisto Beach, S.C. For three years, she soaked up served her well.
everything she could, from codes to planning and zoning, but the hour-plus “The best way I can explain it is comparing it to going to the department
commute took a toll. store to buy a pair of pants. I tell them you don’t buy the first pair of pants
She took a code enforcement job in Summerville and later served as you see, right?” she said. “No, you try on a few and pick the best one. I’ve
town building official and fire marshal for the town of Moncks Corner. She tried on several careers and I picked the one that fits me best.”
then worked as a third-party inspector for the office of state engineers
and office of school facilities for southeastern South Carolina, and later Reprinted courtesy of ICC. Story has been edited for length.

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