Davidson’s Decades of Volunteer Work Earns 2024 Community Service Award

Exemplary service, including extensive volunteer training to code officials, has earned Robert Davidson the 2024 Community Service Award, presented during the International Code Council’s 2024 Annual Conference in Long Beach, California.

The Code Council’s Community Service Award recognizes outstanding service that promotes public health, safety and welfare. From his early involvement in the code development process, Davidson has consistently worked to enhance the safety of the built environment.

Currently managing partner of Davidson Code Concepts, LLC, Easley, South Carolina, Davidson is a retired New Jersey Fire Marshal who commanded the Fire Safety/Special Operations Division and supervised the Fire Safety Bureau and the Office of Emergency Management. His position included assessing hazardous material risks, response plan development and mitigation of hazardous material incident impacts.

Sharing Code Knowledge Within the Industry

Over the past 38 years, Davidson has volunteered countless hours of instruction and free training to code officials in all aspects of codes and standards including firefighting, building code, fire code, OSHA compliance, rescue, health, safety and housing code compliance.

At the heart of his efforts is a simple yet powerful goal: to give back and serve as a mentor to others in the field.

“I have been fortunate to have been able to be heavily involved in the code development process both as a code official and now as a consultant, which provides me insight on why language has been added to codes and standards and the intent,” said Davidson. “Providing the training allows me and my associates to share that knowledge.”

He said codes and standards can’t have their intended effect unless those who use and apply them have the requisite knowledge.

“Sharing the knowledge helps code officials successfully apply the various requirements,” said Davidson. “It helps the designers and users who are pursuing and/or operating regulated projects. Getting the information out to the users of the codes and standards is even more important in today’s quickly changing technological world.”

A Commitment to Community Service

Driven by his passion for the Code Council’s mission, Davidson has been a longtime leader in the code development process.

“I grew up in a household where community service was pursued,” said Davidson. “I became a volunteer fire and EMS responder at the age of 16. Even after I transitioned to career positions, I still maintained volunteer memberships over the years.

“Though I retired career wise, mentally I never left the fire service or code enforcer community,” he said. “My deepest friendships are with people from those fields, currently on the job and retired. My participation with, and contributions to the code development process is guided by the connection to my previous emergency response and code enforcement roles.”

In 2005, Davidson gained national recognition serving as chair of the Code Council’s International Fire Code® Development Committee. He served as chair of the Subchapter III Subcommittee (NJ Uniform Fire Code technical provisions) for the New Jersey State Fire Safety Commission, Codes Advisory Council from 1993 until 2017. He also served on the Code Council’s Fire Code Interpretation Committee along with numerous other committees. 

Davidson has also been a Code Council Honorary Member since 2011 and is a member of the Code Council’s Fire Code Alarm Action Committee and the ICC Ad Hoc Committee on Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Benefitting the Greater Industry

Davidson got involved with the Code Council over 25 years ago.

“When I became active with the Code Council’s process in 1999, the message from leadership was always ‘outreach,’” said Davidson. “Reach out to others in the code and fire service communities to encourage them to participate for the strength of the organization, improved code language and for the personal enrichment of the new members.”

He was one of several fire service leaders from around the country led by Code Consultant Jim Tidwell who approached the Interim Code Council Board for permission to create the International Fire Code Council (IFCC) to encourage increase fire service participation with organization activities.

“During any training program, I encourage attendees to participate in the process with the code action committees and the code development process even if they can only do so virtually,” said Davidson. “I encourage them to work with their chapters and if they have an idea about a code change, to put the proposal in—many times others see the proposal and run with it.”

He said free training helps the work to be put into the code development process, produce results in the field and provides an opportunity to encourage greater membership participation.

Awards Recognize Industry Impact

Adding the Code Council’s Community Service Award to his latest achievements, Davidson said he has been fortunate over the years to receive awards for his service to organizations and their members.

“It is a humbling honor to be recognized by my peers in the organization, that what I do does make an impression,” he said. “They are all high points in my codes and standards life.”

Past honors also include the Code Council’s 2006 Fire Service Award, recognizing untiring support of and dedication to professional code enforcement and the fire protection profession, and Middlesex County and State of New Jersey Fire Prevention Inspector of the Year awards.

To learn more about the Code Council’s annual awards, click here.