Everything the code office does is for safety, protection, conservation
Cont’d Education credit
Ever since New York State adopted the “Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code” in 1984, training, passing a State exam, annual re-certification along with continued education has been required for all Code Enforcement Officers throughout the state.
This past week was the annual in-service continued educational training conference held in Lake Placid for the Northern Adirondack Code Officials.
Nearly 250 code officers, fire marshals, a few professional engineers, a couple of architects, a few elected officials were there as well and plenty of Department of State officials.
Large cities, small towns to really tiny villages were represented. We all had one basic commonality… The State Codes, enforcement, administrative responsibilities and challenges.
Having been involved in codes even before the major transition in 1984, these educational conferences can be sometimes a little dry, depending on the instructor and the topic.
Topics like proper plan review, structural analysis and documentation, energy code requirements, fire safety features, sprinklers, alarms, exiting requirements, material testing and listing, construction safety, duties and responsibilities, legal aspects, hazardous materials, construction debris… the topics are seemingly endless.
For Code Enforcement Officers that work inside the Adirondack Park only, most will likely never
have to deal with any building taller than forty-feet.
That’s the maximum allowable building height inside the Park.
Unless the Code Officer has had work experience outside the park, he/she will most likely never deal with major apartment buildings, high-rise structures, big box stores, major industrial facilities or any of the so many other types of occupancies and use classifications that are found elsewhere.
But there is no doubt there are plenty of mixed occupancies, multiple residential buildings, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotel/motel, gas facilities, propane facilities… again a complete mix of old and new.
However, by far, the most common structure most Code Officers deal with, inside the Park, is a single family dwelling.
This year’s training agenda was very much geared to single family issues.
A little mix of other topics, but very much tuned into what most Code Officers deal with on a day-to-day basis relative to single family dwellings.
After each day of class, everyone would scatter in different directions around Lake Placid for dinner and entertainment. That’s the “fun” part of the conference.
However, choosing to just stay at the hotel and use their dining facilities with a small group of other enforcement officers and state reps proved to be very rewarding.
We shared common problems and issues. Compared notes on how we approach different situations. Discussed the day’s lessons, and there was plenty to discuss.
For any contractor or homeowner who thinks this, or any other code office, is being over bearing, asking for ridiculous plans, documentation or inspection requirements, you better hang on to your hats.
There is so much that we as Code Officers should be doing, it’s scary.
All of it is for general life safety, energy conservation, environmental protection and consumer protection.
This year was particularly interesting because it was so related to the vast majority of what we do.
But it also made an impression that this office needs to reach out better to homeowners and contractors alike.
If you guys don’t know, we can’t expect you to understand.
Maybe a series of evenings offering some presentations and Q&A sessions would be a good place to start.
Knowledge and Understand-ing… And don’t shoot the messenger!
