The presentation “Protect Your Assets The WUI Way” was developed to provide an overview of the successes of the Wildland Urban Interface code enforcement program. It has been in effect for over 16 years and we can quantify the building survival rates that occurred since its implementation. The presentation will describe the benefits of planning in a geographical location and how choosing building products conscientiously will create benefits for fire event survival.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the impacts of climate change on the built environment from empirical data.
2. Comprehend the cascading effects that weather and the natural environment cause on the built environment.
3. Understand how site conditions affect the survivability of structures in the built environment. Understand WUI Standards
4. Learn what building components can be utilized in a building design for the best cost benefit per square foot for disaster recovery.

George Psaledakis, AIA, NCARB

George E Psaledakis has volunteered as a firefighter / engineer for his local community and has in-the-field experience fighting wildland fires and participated in multiple strike team deployments. George has observed firsthand the survival of structures during a fire storm.
He was a carpenter and for the last 40 years, has been practicing architecture. His experience as an architect has provided him with the insight to perform efficiently as a forensic evaluator in the built environment. George is a registered architect in California and 5 other states. George is employed at Jax Kneppers Associates, Walnut Creek performing the duties as a Senior Project Manager. His responsibilities include forensic evaluations of most building types, repair recommendations, complete architectural services, and construction administration.