title: Building codes: An often overlooked determinant of health.
abstract: Although the vast majority of the world's population spends most of their time in buildings, building codes are not often thought of as 'determinants of health'. The standards that govern the design, construction, and use of buildings affect our health, security, safety, and well-being. This is true for dwellings, schools, and universities, shopping centers, places of recreation, places of worship, health-care facilities, and workplaces. We urge proactive engagement by the global public health community in developing these codes, and in the design and implementation of health protection and health promotion activities intended to reduce the risk of injury, disability, and death, particularly when due to poor building code adoption/adaption, application, and enforcement.
authors.affiliation: Independent Public Health Advocate & Consultant, Gatineau, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chauvin
authors.affiliation: Jake Pauls Consulting Services, Silver Spring, MD, USA and Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jake
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pauls
authors.affiliation: Public Health Nurse, Injury Prevention Program, City of Hamilton Public Health Services, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strobl
mesh_terms: D002028:Building Codes / Q000592:standards*; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000592:standards; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000592:standards; D064890:Social Determinants of Health / Q000592:standards*