Apfelbeck Earns Fire & Life Safety Award

Altamonte Springs, Fla., Building/Fire Safety Division Chief Anthony “Tony” Apfelbeck is the recipient of the 2012 Excellence in Fire & Life Safety Award, which is sponsored by the International Code Council (ICC) and the Fire & Life Safety Section (FLSS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The award honors those who have dedicated themselves to saving lives and property through the development of codes, fire-prevention practices and leadership techniques, and is presented annually during Fire-Rescue International at 2 p.m., Aug. 2, in room 610 of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

“Through active involvement in code development and service on several ICC committees, Anthony Apfelbeck demonstrates his sincere commitment to public and firefighter safety,” said ICC CEO Rick Weiland. “He has authored or co-authored hundreds of code change proposals, changes to Florida state statutes and IAFC position statements addressing home rule code adoption authority, consumer fireworks and residential sprinklers.”

As a division chief, Apfelbeck serves as the fire marshal and building official. His expertise includes code management, plan review, inspection, code compliance and fire investigation. He holds a host of ICC, Florida and Center for Public Safety Excellence licenses and certifications including Certified Building Official, Certified Fire Marshal, Fire Instructor and Chief Fire Officer Credential.

“I believe he [Apfelbeck] has been the driving force behind many, if not all, of the recent FLSS initiatives,” said nominator Adolf Zubia, South Carolina State Fire Marshal. “Without his energy, passion and initiative, the section would not have produced the positive results.”

The International Association of Fire Chiefs represents the leadership of over 1.2 million firefighters and emergency responders. IAFC members are the world’s leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its members to exchange ideas and uncover the latest products and services available to first responders.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe and sustainable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.