For Immediate Release: 5/10/2013 County’s Department of Permitting Services Marks Building Safety Month; Free Deck Maintenance Inspections Offered In observance of May as Building Safety Month, the County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS) is educating residents about building safety and sustainability issues and sharing ideas for making structures more energy efficient and durable. Building Safety Month is an international celebration of safe and sensible structures. Each week, DPS is focusing on a different theme: • Week one, May 6-12 — Fire Safety & Awareness • Week two, May 13-19 — Disaster Safety & Mitigation • Week three, May 20-26 — Backyard & Pool Safety • Week four, May 27-31 — Energy & Green Building Information on any of the themes is available online at www.iccsafe.org/BSM or at the DPS office, 255 Rockville Pike, 2nd Floor, Rockville. Also as part of National Building Safety Month, DPS is once again offering free deck maintenance inspections – through May 31 only — for single-family detached homes, three-story or less townhouses and duplex dwellings. The program excludes four-story townhomes, condominiums and apartments. The inspections are available for all Montgomery County residents, with the exception of those residing in the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg. The inspection will include a checklist for homeowners to help them maintain a safe and sound structure. Most decks require annual maintenance to ensure a long life. Requests will be honored as the inspectors’ workload allows, and residents will be contacted before the inspection is performed. To schedule a deck maintenance inspection, contact the Montgomery County Customer Service Center at 311 or 240-777-0311. # # # Release ID: 13-141 Media Contact: Gail Lucas 240-777-6267 or Reggie Jetter240-777-6275

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