Ready to Train; Courses and Curriculum

With the right backgrounds under your belt, and an understanding of the different qualification levels related to the job, let’s take a look at the training that Officials go through, to take the leap from curious about the Code – to enforcing it.

In our Province, training and educational development is handled through the Nova Scotia Building Officials Association – or NSBOA; as the governing body representing all Building Officials – if you’re looking to become qualified, you’ll need to work through their professional studies program, completing a wide number of courses – on a variety of subjects.

For example; part of being a Building Official means understanding the legislation that enacts the Code – so, an introductory Legal course is part of that training. Building Officials also need to communicate with industry, creating reports, completing inspections, and participating in discussions about Code compliance – so a Communications course is also included.

Because they also need to understand the different applications of the Code, courses also cover topics like Plumbing (as it applies to Houses), HVAC – or Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (as it applies to Houses), Energy Efficiency in Building Design, Design requirements for Houses, and Design requirements for Small Buildings (including structure, fire protection, and exiting – and where those requirements differ from Building type to Building type), and the requirements of Barrier Free Design – so that all people are able to access and use those spaces.

As we’ve mentioned previously, the more complicated the building – the more complex the requirements within the Code are that apply to it. Officials working towards higher levels of qualifications will need to undergo education about these differences – through a series of three courses; Large Buildings, which covers the general requirements for all buildings over three Storeys, and regardless of use, Classification and Construction, which covers distinguishing those different uses, how different building occupancies interact, and the specific per-use requirements that come with those Occupancies, and finally – Complex Buildings, which covers some of the most complicated components and types of Buildings, including life safety systems, hazardous materials, and post disaster (Buildings that are meant to hold up even in the worst situations – like hospitals and fire stations).

Finally – understanding the Code requirements also means being able to assess if a given set of drawings shows enough information – and shows it correctly – to ensure that Buildings as built (or at least as proposed to be built) will meet those Code requirements. Since reviewing permit drawings is a large part of the Officials workload – A course on Small, and Large Building Permit Examination rounds out the complete course list.