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Building and Fire Codes Training

Understanding Braced Walls course announced
Multiple locations
Multiple dates

The DHCD Training and Certification Unit has announced a six-hour course designed to teach building officials, plan reviewers, and building inspectors the new and extensive regulations concerning wall bracing for residential construction. The material is derived from the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R 602.10, as amended by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

For more information, contact the Training and Certification Unit at (804) 371-7180 or frances.robinson@dhcd.virginia.gov, or visit the Training and Certification On-line system

Building and Fire Codes Training News:
AIA seminars announced
The Virginia Society American Institute of Architects (AIA) will be presenting two seminars this spring, which are open to the code enforcement community, as basic building blocks of code enforcement education. The seminars focus on the basic concepts of the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and the design professional’s utilization of the code in all facts of their job.

2006 IBC Fundamentals: Non-Structural Provisions Seminar
2006 IBC Fundamentals: Solving Means of Egress in Commercial Buildings

Registration is $170 for AIA member, $200 for non-members. For more information, contact Jim Walker at: jwalker@aiava.org or (804) 644-3041, ext. 207.

Additional Information >> PDF
Registration >> URL
AIAVA Site >> URL

2006 IBC Fundamentals: Solving Means of Egress in Commercial Buildings

International Code Council Instructor Mike Perrone will provide information on requirements for means of egress, including practice solving problems from a set of plans for a four-story commercial building related to each egress issue. Registration is $170 for AIA member, $200 for non-members.

April 25, 8:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
PSA-Dewberry
8401 Arlington Boulevard, Fairvax, VA

May 2, 8:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Clark Nexsen
6160 Kempsville Circle, Norfolk, VA

May 30, 8:15 a.m. – 4 p.m.
First Baptist Church
2709 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA

Additional Information >> PDF
Registration >> URL
AIAVA Site >> URL

The Training and Certification Office (TCO) is pleased to announce a new Training and Certification Online System. Prospective and current code enforcement personnel and others seeking certification are now able to:

view the upcoming academy schedule and other related training offerings;
apply for training;
view and print individual training and certification records; and
download related forms and schedules.

With the online system, applicants for academy programs will now receive electronic notification of attendance status as well as pertinent program logistics. It is now necessary for applicants to have access to e-mail. The online system provides more information on establishing an e-mail account if needed.

The Training and Certification Office (TCO) within the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Division of Building and Fire Regulation provides training, certification and accreditation for code enforcement personnel throughout the Commonwealth.

Training:
Training, mandated by the Virginia Certification Standards, is provided through DHCD’s Virginia Building Code Academy (VBCA). VBCA training courses are targeted for personnel who are required to obtain certification in order to enforce the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), and Virginia Amusement Device Regulations (VADR).
VBCA courses run in multi-day formats and are held at locations throughout the Commonwealth to ensure thorough and convenient training opportunities for the state’s code enforcement personnel.
A complete course listing and descriptions can be found by visiting the online system .
Examples of offerings include:

Core
Advanced Official
Property Maintenance
Plan Review
Mechanical Inspection
Electrical Inspection
Plumbing Inspection
Building Inspection, and
Amusement Device Inspection

Certification:
Certifications required to enforce the building and fire codes are issued by DHCD as mandated by the Virginia Certification Standards. All candidates for certification must demonstrate successful completion of all course and exam requirements as defined by the Virginia Certification Standards. A complete listing of certification titles and related requirements can be found on the Training and Certification Matrix.
Certifications are issued in the areas of:

Virginia Certified Officials
Building Inspector
Fire Inspector
Plans Examiner
Elevator Inspector
Amusement Device Inspector

Additional Information:
Eligibility for participation in the DHCD administered training and certification programs is unrestricted. However, preference for enrollment is given to those persons from local jurisdictions that require the training for certification for their jobs.
In some cases applicants from the private sector and from jurisdictions not participating in the levy program will be invoiced for the full costs of the training program which currently ranges from $125 for a one day training program to $850 for a four day training program.

Code Connections Newsletter:
The Code Connection newsletter is a periodic publication developed and distributed by DHCD to keep clients and interested parties aware of the latest news related to building code, fire code, training, certification, and other code enforcement matters.

For more information
For information or questions on training, certification, accreditation, and the Code Connection newsletter, contact: tco@dhcd.virginia.gov.