Category: Education

Learn the principles and practices of earthquake-resistant design of building structures and understand how these principles relate to code requirements. The International Building Code® (IBC®) now serves as the basis of legal codes of cities, counties, and states across the United States. The seismic design provisions of the 2015 IBC, based on those of ASCE 7-10, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, are the specific focus of this course. The ground motion maps and parameters used in seismic design as well as the importance of the soils at the site of the structure in seismic design are discussed. An overview of the seismic design provisions of the 2015 IBC/ASCE 7-10 is presented in a manner that is understandable to a broad audience.

Effective Writing is vital to your career as an inspector, notices of violation, letters and reports are public documents that may be read by your supervisors, attorneys, judges, citizens, design professionals, contractors and reporters. What you write can become the basis for appeal hearings and criminal and civil trials but also could prevent cases from going to court. Your inspection reports and notices of violation will compel a property owner to take action. Your writing skills can help to advance your career.

This seminar addresses the necessary soft skills for success as an inspector, those non-technical traits and behaviors that enhance an inspector's ability to interact with others and to successfully carry out their job duties. These include people skills such as effective communication, diplomacy and customer service, but also include skills for problem solving, professionalism, integrity and time management. In addition to a solid understanding of the technical provisions of the codes, developing appropriate soft skills are essential in pursing the goal of safe, healthy and durable buildings for the community. Developed specifically for construction inspectors in all disciplines, the topics covered are equally important to all employees of public service agencies including permit technicians, plan reviewers, managers, building officials and fire code officials. The information is also beneficial for developing policies and procedures to promote consistent and fair inspection practices while improving communications and public relations.

Topics include:

• Principles of code administration for achieving safe buildings
• General approaches to inspection
• Getting along
• Customer Service
• Ethics
• Effective Communication

This institute will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a plan review referencing the 2015 International Residential Code and the structural and nonstructural provisions of the International Building Code. At this five-day institute, you will learn to effectively perform structural and nonstructural and residential plan reviews. You will also learn how to increase your efficiency in determining if a given set of plans and specifications complies with the applicable 2015 International Codes (I-Codes). A step-by-step process to perform specific plan reviews and receive detailed checklists to accurately review plans for code-compliant buildings will be presented. The first two days will focus on performing a residential plan review. Day three will focus on performing a structural plan review. Days four and five will focus on performing a nonstructural plan review. Each participant will receive all necessary reference materials.