How does your jurisdiction teach contractors?

[Darren Emery]

As a license issuing authority, I believe it is part of our job to help the contractor community learn and understand the codes as adopted.

I'm wondering what successful methods other Building Depts have found for communicating, teaching, and training contractors? "Get a code book and read it" only goes so far. The concepts behind the code, the local interpretations, and the regional focus on the adopted codes all come into play.

For the first time ever in our jurisdiction, we're requiring CEU hours for general contractors to renew their license at the end of the year - so this is a hot topic around here.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[cda]

One city I worked in invited contractors and all for monthly meetings

To go over code sections and ask any questions

Worked a little, they are busy

We have information lines on different subjects accessible on line, handout or email.. Works a little

 

[Keystone]

That is a bold move by your jurisdiction to require CEU’s for business license renewal.

If you supply the facilities, coffee and doughnuts I’ve had Gastite, Simpson and Weyerhaeuser put on free seminars for combined groups of inspectors and contractors.

All of your big companies will put on a seminar for free however you need to expect those to be geared at their products. In addition to a “product seminar” what you can do, preferably before the product seminar while you have attention your bldg dept office can speak about one specific code section that is a frequent code violation out in the field and how that code section should be handled. Photos, do not forget photos as they are worth a million words.

 

[my250r11]

Around here and I assume most places everyone wants to do it as cheap as possible. This conflicts with code compliance. Our state hasn't required CEU's for contractors yet. I will admit we have a few that do their homework. In general though we teach with correction notices. If they are on site during inspection, I try to explain w/o taking to long as I always have somewhere to be next.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

As a for profit 3rd party inspection company we do nothing for free. Contractors are not licensed in my area. Never met one that owned a code book. There are plenty of on line courses and there was and will be again (I hope) in person classes again that the contractors can take. The state also has discounted code classes that are partly paid for by a fee on permits that the contractors pay for, but I never met a contractor at all the classes I ever attended. The contractors seem to prefer to learn by their mistakes.

 

[Darren Emery]

Around here and I assume most places everyone wants to do it as cheap as possible. This conflicts with code compliance. Our state hasn't required CEU's for contractors yet. I will admit we have a few that do their homework. In general though we teach with correction notices. If they are on site during inspection, I try to explain w/o taking to long as I always have somewhere to be next.

Has been the same here for many decades. Not an efficient way to teach though - for either side!

 

[Mark K]

In California and I imagine some other states Contractors are licensed by the state and thus local jurisdictions cannot place any conditions on license renewable.

It is not the building departments job to train contractors although it would be useful if building departments to share their interpretations of the code along wih a list of frequent violations.

My sense is that most contractors, and in particular those that need it most, will not participate in the efforts to train contractors.

 

[rktect 1]

Man, I would love to require ceu's for our electrical, mechanical and general contractors. Our state licenses plumbers.

 

[Joe.B]

I don't know about how to achieve large scale education through a department, I handle it on a personal level by being nice and treating my job as a service to the community. I encourage people to call me with questions and when they do call I answer the questions. I'm willing to say "I don't know, but I'll look it up for you." I've learned a lot by being willing to help others learn. After three years of this approach I have built a solid foundation and our city went from being the bad apple to being the icing on the cake. That's what I recommend, teach your crew to take a public service/customer service attitude and make sure they have the time to actually help the builders instead of flying in and out calling their work crap. If an inspector doesn't have time to look up a code for somebody then how can they teach the community?

 

[Glenn]

My online school, BuildingCodeCollege.com is designed to serve exactly what you are asking for. We target the entire construction industry for code education, not just code authorities. Our fees are incredibly low in order to support our mission in education. There is ZERO third party marketing and the site is focused entirely on non-bias code education.

We offer On-Demand Courses and Live Webinars. ICC and AIA approved.

Our sponsored webinar program may interest you. An organization "sponsors" a webinar for their members, friends, etc. This means they get promoted on the website as a partner in our mission for education, and they get a coupon code to distribute for free enrollment in the webinar. Sponsorship of a 90-min webinar starts at only $450 for 100 people to attend and goes up to 450 attendees for only $750. BuildingCodeCollege.com handles everything. You just share your coupon code and share our education!

So... offer an olive branch of education to your contractors and designers for a minimal investment. Take the first step in showing them how important education is, before requiring it.

You can see how this looks right now at www.buildingcodecollege.com/webinars

Reach out to me if you think my small business, built from within the code industry, can assist you in reaching your community.

 

[SCBO1]

I once did a coffee and donuts, after hours meeting when we proposed the adoption of new codes. Had a great turnout on a cold winters day. Had good questions and comments, some bitchin and grinning was expected. But we all sang "kum by ya" together, it was spiritual!

Had two contractors request that I order code books for them, we got a better price and they prepaid. But overall it was a good way to get some deck building issues ironed out which we we're having issues with at the time.

Also introduced the major code changes.

 

[Darren Emery]

I don't know about how to achieve large scale education through a department, I handle it on a personal level by being nice and treating my job as a service to the community. I encourage people to call me with questions and when they do call I answer the questions. I'm willing to say "I don't know, but I'll look it up for you." I've learned a lot by being willing to help others learn. After three years of this approach I have built a solid foundation and our city went from being the bad apple to being the icing on the cake. That's what I recommend, teach your crew to take a public service/customer service attitude and make sure they have the time to actually help the builders instead of flying in and out calling their work crap. If an inspector doesn't have time to look up a code for somebody then how can they teach the community?

This... all of this. Well said!

 

[Darren Emery]

My online school, BuildingCodeCollege.com is designed to serve exactly what you are asking for. We target the entire construction industry for code education, not just code authorities. Our fees are incredibly low in order to support our mission in education. There is ZERO third party marketing and the site is focused entirely on non-bias code education.

We offer On-Demand Courses and Live Webinars. ICC and AIA approved.

Our sponsored webinar program may interest you. An organization "sponsors" a webinar for their members, friends, etc. This means they get promoted on the website as a partner in our mission for education, and they get a coupon code to distribute for free enrollment in the webinar. Sponsorship of a 90-min webinar starts at only $450 for 100 people to attend and goes up to 450 attendees for only $750. BuildingCodeCollege.com handles everything. You just share your coupon code and share our education!

So... offer an olive branch of education to your contractors and designers for a minimal investment. Take the first step in showing them how important education is, before requiring it.

You can see how this looks right now at www.buildingcodecollege.com/webinars

Reach out to me if you think my small business, built from within the code industry, can assist you in reaching your community.

Thanks, Glenn - I'll certainly consider this option. I did take a quick look on your website but did not see the one topic we're currently focusing on in our jurisdiction: Braced Wall Panels. Any plans to tackle that one in the near future?

 

[Glenn]

Thanks, Glenn - I'll certainly consider this option. I did take a quick look on your website but did not see the one topic we're currently focusing on in our jurisdiction: Braced Wall Panels. Any plans to tackle that one in the near future?

I have an old class Building Codes for Building Garages that includes a piece on braced walls, but that's it at the moment, and it's not updated for Online quality yet. I am working with other instructors now to produce new courses for BCC. Hopefully in the future, I will have something. Send me an email to glenn@buildingcodecollege.com and I can send you a list of Live Webinars I have available.

 

[steveray]

Simpson has done some great wall bracing stuff for us for free, but I would always reccomend Glenn...Really does a great job!

 

[ICE]

I applaud the effort and wish you success.