Palm Bay earns historic International Accreditation Service recognition

The Building Department of the city of Palm Bay, Florida, is the first in the United States to be recognized in the Building Department Recognition program by the International Accreditation Service (IAS).

The International Accreditation Service is an independent, non-profit accreditation body that has been providing accreditation services since 1975. The IAS recognition is for building and code enforcement departments, as well as third-party companies who have demonstrated a commitment to service, safety and continuous improvement. Building departments are assessed for permitting, plan review, inspection and property maintenance code enforcement services. Departments that can demonstrate that they meet the requirements are awarded the IAS Building Department Recognition Certificate that provides evidence the department is operating at an elevated level of efficiency and technical quality.

“We are excited for the city of Palm Bay’s Building Department to be the first recognized in the U.S. under our new Building Department Recognition program,” said Mike Bouse, program manager for IAS. “The department’s staff demonstrated that they are committed to the public safety, customer service and eager to set goals that will benefit both their department and the city they serve.”

Throughout the IAS review process, the building department of the city of Palm Bay demonstrated success in developing and implementing a quality management system that included service goals for timeliness, quality and staff professionalism in the delivery of permitting, plan review and inspection services.

“We are elated with our building department recognition,” said Valentino Perez, building official for the city of Palm Bay. “We consider this recognition as a step towards obtaining full accreditation in the near future. We are committed to increasing the public’s confidence in the services we provide and at the same time obtaining a higher public profile for department personnel and as an organization.”

The IAS Building Department Recognition program is based on requirements in the IAS AC 418 Recognition Criteria for Building Departments, Code Enforcement Departments and Third Parties Providing Building and/or Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Services®. The criteria was developed by IAS using a process that involves input from building industry professionals in an open public hearing.