By Wayne Snell, BOAT Vice President, City of Irving In building safety, technical knowledge matters. It always will. A strong understanding of codes, construction methods, life safety principles, and enforcement authority is essential to the work. But technical knowledge alone does not fully explain why some Building Officials are respected, trusted, and ultimately more effective … Read more
Our BOAT Constitution and By-Laws contain opportunities for your involvement. While the BOAT depends on the leadership, energy and efforts of its current board members, achieving a greater level of success and accomplishments depends on membership participation. I encourage you to consider volunteering to serve on one of our standing committees. Your participation and service … Read more
By Nathan Gonzales, BOAT Director-at-large, City of Crowley Have you been considering a return to school to finish that degree you’ve put off until the time is right? Today’s degree programs have seen a massive revamp in recent years with a focus on working professionals. Many courses have been shortened to an 8-week format, allowing … Read more
When communities think about life safety, they often picture firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical personnel. While those professionals respond when something goes wrong, plans examiners and building inspectors are the first preventers—the professionals who work behind the scenes to ensure buildings are designed and constructed to protect occupants before an emergency ever occurs. Through … Read more
By Greg Holt, BOAT Director-at-Large, City of Georgetown I am currently in the process of adopting the 2026 National Fire Protection Association 70, National Electrical Code (NEC)for the City of Georgetown. Adopting any new code cycle is a significant undertaking. It requires time, education, and collaboration, and there will always be questions and sometimes resistance … Read more