Public safety is being repeatedly tested as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters threaten Texas residents. Luckily one of the Lone Star State’s First Preventers, Ravi Shah, of Carrollton, Texas, has made it his life’s work to prevent harm before disaster occurs. Shah, Director of Urban Development for the city of Carrollton, was recently elected to the International Code Council Board of Directors.

“Buildings standing don’t make headlines, but the people who keep them standing should,” Shah said. “I am committed to educating the public on the crucial work of Code Council members, First Preventers, who work daily to save lives and protect property.”

First Preventers are those many unheralded code officials who check and double-check code compliance. First Preventers, and the building and fire safety codes they enforce, play a major role in saving lives, protecting property and reducing recovery costs often paid for by taxpayer dollars.

“When buildings perform well and have no structural or design problems, there are no headlines, so the public is understandably unaware,” Shah said. “But the critical safety role played by code officials to prevent risk of injury to families, businesses and school children is cause for celebration.”

Shah was honored earlier this year with the Code Council’s inaugural Profile Award as an outstanding First Preventer for his leadership role in the building safety industry. He also was named Texas Building Official of the Year in 2000.

“Ravi’s passion for building safety makes Carrollton and the world a safer place,” said International Code Council CEO Rick Weiland. “His commitment to providing a safe environment speaks well of the community he serves every day.”

Shah manages the planning, permitting, inspections and transit-oriented development for Carrollton. A certified building official, he is President of the Building Officials Association of Texas and Vice Chair of the Texas Industrialized Building Code Council. Shah holds Architecture and Business Administration degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington.