Code Check Seminars

The International Residential Code (IRC) is a comprehensive book including prescriptive residential codes for building, energy, mechanical, fuel gas, plumbing, and electrical. Code Check offers seminars on each of the last 3 editions of the International Residential Code (IRC). Whether you are interested in the 2006 IRC, 2009 IRC, or the 2012 IRC, we have seminars on the entire book. Seminars can be customized to include State amendments. One-day seminars are offered on the individual topics within that code and we also offer a 3-day comprehensive seminar covering the entire book. We also offer seminars that cover the major changes from one edition to another.

Topics include design criteria, limitations of the prescriptive codes, building location & setbacks, light & ventilation, room dimensions, safety glazing, garages & carports, emergency escape, egress, guardrails, smoke alarms, fire-resistive construction, fire protection, protection against decay & termites, windows & doors, interior & exterior wall coverings, roof coverings, and roof drainage.
This seminar is available as a full day or a half day.

Topics include environmental & geologic factors, soils, footings, site location, foundations, seismic & wind anchorage, drainage, dampproofing & waterproofing, slabs, wood floor framing, deck construction, under-floor areas, wood wall framing, steel framing, wind and seismic bracing, CMUs, ceiling framing, trusses, attic spaces, masonry fireplaces & chimneys.
This seminar is available as a full day or a half day.

Topics include general mechanical requirements, air conditioning, electric heating, ventilation, ASHRAE requirements, exhaust systems, ducts, combustion air, boilers & hydronics, fuel oil storage, oil piping & equipment, gas appliances, gas appliance venting, chimneys, and gas-burning appliances.
This seminar is available as a full day or a half day. The full-day seminar includes gas pipe sizing and calculations.

Topics include general plumbing requirements, trenches, pipe support, materials acceptance, fixtures, water heaters, water supply & distribution, drainage, sumps  & ejectors, vents, and traps.
The full-day seminar includes water pipe and drainage calculations.

This seminar covers residential electrical requirements, including services, clearances,  grounding, bonding, service and feeder calculations, branch circuit requirements, panels, overcurrent protection, GFCIs & AFCIs, boxes, wiring methods including cables and raceways, receptacles, lighting, switching, appliances, swimming pool wiring, and hydromassage bathtubs.
One day (7 hours)

This seminar is available in 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day versions, and can be customized to your needs.
It provides in-depth explanations and examples of the electrical code, and is based on the original material in Code Check. It includes equipment approvals, listing & labeling, short-circuit currents, clearances, load calculations, branch circuit requirements, AFCIs & GFCIs, feeders, outbuildings, services, overcurrent protection, grounding, bonding, underground wiring, wiring protection, wiring methods, boxes, cords, receptacles, switches, lighting, panels, electric-resistance heating, appliances, air-conditioning, and generators. The one-day seminar is limited to the first four chapters of the NEC and to installations under 600 volts. The two-day seminar includes work with load calculations, conduit fill, motor calculations, photovoltaics, hazardous locations, standby systems, remote-control & signaling circuits, and swimming pools. The three-day seminar includes these and installations over 600 volts, industrial wiring, health care facilities, special equipment, fire pump equipment, and more example calculations.

This course is designed for employees who conduct electrical work on any voltages over 50 volts. NFPA 70E was created to provide a prescriptive and practical "concensis standard" to help with compliance of OSHA's generalized electrical codes of electrical safety.
The seminar includes the fundamentals of shock and arc-flash protection that are required by OSHA in order to comply with their required training of "qualified persons". These training requirements, include a worker's demonstrated understanding (testing is included in this course) of such concepts as shock and arc approach boundaries, lockout/tagout, safe practices and procedures. This seminar is taught by Redwood Kardon and is offered through Praxis Corporation. For the past five years Redwood has conducted these highly respected classes throughout the US. Typical customers employee 10 or more electrical workers and have included electrical contractors, industrial plants, military bases and
wind turbine farms. Arc-flash analysis is also available. 2 days.

This historical look at the development of electricity starts with the discovery of the properties of amber, and progresses to modern times. Each generation’s contribution to electrical theory is tied to the social and scientific advances of the times, along with explanations of the contributions of the major figures including Gilbert, Franklin, Galvani, Volta, Ampere, Ohm, Faraday, Edison, Tesla, Thompson, Stanley, Bell, de Forest, Shockley, and others. The history of the National Electrical Code is included, along with a look at the first commercial electrical products up to the equipment used in contemporary times. A brief preview of this seminar is available on our web site.
This very popular program can be presented in 2, 3, or 4 hour versions. The longer versions include greater depth on issues such as obsolete electrical panels, aluminum wiring, and the problems found in older houses.

An entertaining look at creative and innovative ways to avoid compliance with plumbing codes, common sense, or the principles of sanitation.
This seminar is very popular, and can be either a one or two-hour seminar.

This seminar discusses the “other” electrical code for existing homes, and how it may be used as a tool for preventing home electrical fires. Douglas Hansen is a member of the technical committee responsible for this document, and the presentation contains examples and explanations for each of the requirements of this document.
2 hours.

We have seminars available on updates in each cycle of the National Electrical Code. Whether  your jurisdiction has adopted the 2005, 2008, or 2011 NEC, we have a seminar that explains the changes that are going into effect in your area.
Available as 1-hour, ½ day, or full day.

An introduction to occupancy separations, fireblocking, draftstopping, and an explanation of the principles of building and fire codes. 2 hours.

This seminar discusses the history of glazing and the development of safety glazing standards and codes. It explains the different types of glazing and the requirements for hazardous locations subject to human impact. It discusses the reasoning behind the different requirements as well as recent code changes.
2 hours.

This seminar examines some of the most common mistakes in new construction, along with instructions on how to avoid them. 1 hour.

A thorough overview of the electrical devices used by homeowners, including receptacles, GFCIs, switches, dimmers, lights, fans, and built-in appliances, including air conditioning. The different testing techniques and instruments are demonstrated, along with an explanation of the possible findings and their meanings.
2 hours.

Topics include types of enclosures, mounting, grounding & bonding, terminals, knockouts, twist-outs, circuit identification, bus bars, circuit breakers, AFCI breakers, GFCI breakers, interchangeable breakers, breaker orientation, wiring space, conductor identification, wiring methods, handle ties, terminals, multiwire circuits, older panels, problematic brands of equipment, fuses, new code changes, and more.
Available in either a 2-hour or ½ day format.

This class explains the workings of these protective devices and the changes to the product standards that have been made since their introduction. It includes the code requirements for circuits and outlets requiring such protection, and the recent code changes. This seminar explains why, when, and where these devices are found. 2 hours.

Text: Electrical Inspection of Existing Dwellings, by Douglas Hansen
This comprehensive program cover electrical inspection and procedures for a home inspector. The seminar is available in versions based upon specific sets of association standards, and is also available as a custom seminar for states which have adopted their own standards.
1 day (7 hours)

A thorough discussion of the properties of conductors and the history and development of aluminum building wiring, with particular emphasis on the problems that arose with aluminum nonmetallic sheathed cable. It includes the various solutions that have been devised, including the latest connectors, and opinions from industry advocates, manufacturers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Association standards of practice. 2 hours.

A program to clear up the confusion surrounding one of the most important topics of electrical inspection, with distinctions between line side and load side grounding and bonding, theory and practical application, and the materials and methods used. ½ day.

A look at the different types of gas fired appliances, including Category I (gravity and induced draft), Category II, Category III (tankless water heaters), and Category IV (condensing forced-vent furnaces), as well as direct-vent appliances. It discusses gas combustion, combustion air requirements, vent connectors, materials, chimneys, vent termination, and multiple appliances vented in common. The seminar includes practical examples and applications to situations commonly found by home inspectors.
2 hours.

This presentation is an introduction to photovoltaic systems and inspection techniques, and other on-site power systems, including generators. 2 hours.

This seminar explains Ohm’s law and the fundamental principles required to understand voltage drop, as well as the use of equipment to test for voltage drop. 1 hour.

An introduction to 3-phase systems, commercial wiring methods and equipment, and inspection techniques. This seminar is intended for experienced inspectors wishing to branch into inspection of larger or more complicated systems. 1 day (7 hours)