by Michael O'Brian on October 20, 2009
Car 54 Where are You
We have received lots of emails on where is the International Code Council bulletin board (forum) is. Well to tell you the truth, its complicated. I have found it by googling the terms ICC bulletin board but it doesn’t have the same feel as the old board. Oh and by the way, you must be a member.
I am trying to get on top of it to help you all out but I can’t log in to ask questions.
Wait, there is good news, Inspector911.com is here for you and our forum (AKA code questions) is here for you and it’s free. Take a look at our forum (bulletin board) today and start loading up the questions and giving your advice.
PS, if you have some information help out your fellow inspectors and add a comment below
by Michael O'Brian on September 28, 2009
A Great Resource for Communities (Video Tutorial)
The International Code Council (ICC) working with Ecodes has made available multiple editions of the ICC code products for free. The services provides a free level and a paid level depending on the level of service you would like to have. This is a great resource for communities to utiilze when they offer a verision of their code as part of the adoption process.
For instance, a local building official was adopting proposing to the board that the new 2009 IBC be adopted. A council member asked if the code documents were easily accessible by the public? The building official highlighted they are always available for purchase, at the clerks office, and a free view is on the internet (referring to ecodes.biz).
The free codes do have some limitations. Only one section is available at a time, there are no search capabilities, and its hard to flip the pages. There is no doubt that the free ecodes come in quite handy if you are looking for the newest version or just looking at a document you don’t use regularly. [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on August 31, 2009
The Best Kept Secret with the National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association has been creating codes and standards longer then most of us have been alive. They have created a system that relies on thousands of volunteers to modify or create standards that affect the way we build buildings, install systems, or use materials.
One of the best resources created by the NFPA is allowing us free access into the codes and standards which many communities adopt and utilize. I have been a member of NFPA for many years and encourage all of you to join, although this resource may be well worth the membership costs!
You may be wondering how you can get access to free NFPA codes and standards. [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on March 15, 2008
What’s a code weenie? Well if you are an inspector most likely you know of one. These are the people that inspector’s turn to when they need help. A code weenie understands the intent of the code, they have participated in the code development process, and they have experience in administering the code and solving problems. The code weenie plays a key role in helping others in the complex world of code enforcement.
Starting this week we are finalizing our details and have a group of code experts that will help us give you that service (remeber we are about inspector helping inspectors). The group is made up of code professionals from around the United States that are a bunch of code weenies in their own rights. These are building officials, fire code officials, inspectors, plan reviewers, and consultants. We have put this group together so we can learn from their knowledge and experience.
Here’s how it works; each week we will review a problem that is presented to the code weenies based on your questions. Just email us your code question (try to be specific) and we will get the group to get an answer. Send your questions to help@inspector911.com and make sure you include your contact information. One item to include is the adopted code you are utilizing. This will play a key part in providing useful information.
The information presented by the group will always be our opinion. If you don’t think we are correct, we will give you the ability to provide comments in the discussion forums or blog posts. Remember to send us your questions regardless of how simple or complex you think they are. We as a community can learn together on these questions.
One last note, the talents of inspectors truly amazes me. You can see that the code weenie (hot dog, with arms, legs, a personality, and THE CODE) is in graphic form. These characters have been made available to us by one of our users, inspector, and building official Jim Rowell from Brighton MI. Thanks to Jim for his time and I am sure he will make us laugh a little with his graphic representation of the code weenie! (Check back on St. Pats Day!)
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