5 Ways Building Safety Professionals Use Artificial Intelligence

By: Joan O’Neil and Ed Cilurso

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve as a transformative technology, it’s increasingly supporting building safety professionals both in the field and behind the scenes. AI integration into the industry empowers professionals and organizations by providing enhanced tools to assess data, improve processes and enhance overall safety measures.
Every May, the International Code Council’s Building Safety Month campaign raises awareness about the role of building codes in keeping us all safe. Week 5 of this year’s campaign looks at how to use AI and other technologies for benefits, which include:

1. Improved access to data
AI doesn’t replace human expertise; it equips professionals with faster access to information. Building safety professionals can leverage AI-powered systems to perform high-powered searches of regulations, case studies and building codes in seconds, helping them make quicker and more informed decisions in the field. The International Code Council’s AI Navigator is one example. This tool provides real-time access to a wealth of code-related information, helping code officials and building inspectors identify relevant codes efficiently. AI Navigator usage increases every month, and it has become the top feature within Digital Codes Premium.

2. Enhanced risk prediction and prevention
AI has the power to transform how building safety professionals predict and prevent risks by quickly analyzing vast amounts of historical data on building materials, past structural failures and environmental conditions. AI can spot patterns and provide risk assessments, enabling professionals to identify vulnerabilities before they lead to potentially dangerous situations. This predictive capability helps professionals proactively address potential risks, ultimately reducing accidents and building-related incidents.

3. Real-time monitoring and response
AI, when paired with real-time sensors, offers rapid updates on building performance. This is particularly important for large or complex structures where manual monitoring could miss potential problems.
With AI, issues such as structural stress, environmental hazards or equipment malfunctions can be diagnosed quickly. This responsiveness allows building safety professionals to take corrective actions, minimizing potential damage and ensuring buildings remain safe.

4. Streamlined maintenance and inspection
Traditional building inspections and maintenance can be time-consuming, with the potential for errors in documenting issues. However, AI-powered platforms can help inspect difficult-to-reach areas, process images and detect possible signs of structural issues or code violations. For building safety professionals, this can lead to faster and more accurate assessments, with AI tools providing a valuable layer of data verification. Additionally, automated reporting reduces the administrative burden on inspectors and allows for more informed decision-making.

5. Faster plan reviews and permitting
The introduction of AI tools into plan reviews and permitting processes has the potential to revolutionize these tasks. AI can quickly scan drawings and documents for compliance with building codes and regulations, flagging items that may require further attention. This can allow building safety professionals to complete plan reviews and issue permits more quickly.

Using AI tools during plan reviews can:

• Reduce assessment approval time by automating a portion of the process
• Accelerate initial assessments and increase bandwidth to process additional applications
• Standardize measurements and reporting on submissions
• Increase customer satisfaction and create a better customer experience.

By embracing AI and other emerging technologies, building safety professionals can streamline processes and make information more accessible. These innovations ensure professionals can access and apply critical information when and where they need it.

Joan O’Neil is executive director of Content & Services, International Code Council and Ed Cilurso is project lead on AI Navigator, International Code Council.