Sponsored By: InterNACHI

 

• Course description: Former commercial construction manager and long time commercial inspector Bob Davidson will conduct two days of commercial inspection management training utilizing the ASTM E-2018-08 Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments (“due diligence”) as our inspection process tool. The 2012 InterNACHI 2012 Commercial Standards of Practice will be covered and modifying the ASTM E2018 voluntary prescriptive guideline for smaller projects as well. This class will concentrate on the scope, organization and execution of a multi-discipline commercial inspection (Property Condition Assessment) with the end result being the Property Condition Report. This class will cover responsibilities, proposals, contracts, systems experts, field observers, interviews and more. Proper documentation is critical to complete a commercial inspection; however, budgets may restrict time thus investigation. This class will cover the use of photographs, representative samplings, extrapolation of findings and costs as well as sources for probable costs to remedy physical deficiencies. If you were ever thinking of getting into commercial inspections, or just want to check and see if what you are doing is standard of care, don’t miss this class.
  
• Goal: Upon completion of this class, students will be more knowledgeable regarding the facilitation of a commercial inspection and the various related systems and components they will encounter that differ from residential inspection. Students will also be more knowledgeable regarding the appropriate conditions observed that warrant recommendation of further analysis.
  
• Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the course students will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of:
  1. Nomenclature specific to commercial inspections
  2. Identify systems in commercial buildings and typical scope and proposals to commercial inspection clients
  3. Modifying the inspection scope to fit client’s needs
  4. Identify modalities and evidences of failure; installation, weathering and mechanical
  5. Common “defects” and recognition/reporting
• Books and Handouts:
  COA PowerPoint Presentation in PDF. Resources for ASTM E2018-08 Guidelines, CREIA and NACHI Commercial SOP, various sample proposals, contracts, reports, Commercial Building Owner’s Guide to Seismic Safety, all electronic download for students.
  All attendees will receive a copy of the 2012 InterNACHI Commercial Inspection Standards of Practice.
  
• Evaluation:
  Class participation, successful completion (70% or better grade) of online 50 question quiz for COA certificate program
  

Class Schedule

Timing: 16 hours

Class Presentation: PowerPoint presentation by Bob Davidson & Michael Casey
COA Commercial class outline per ASTM E2018-08 Recommended Guidelines and Scope
Day one: Review of ASTM E2018, intro to the business and nomenclature

1 Scope - 60 mins

• 1.1 Purpose
  
• 1.2 Objectives
  
• 1.3 Considerations Beyond Scope; other Commercial Standards of Practice (non-prescriptive)
  
• 1.4 Organization of The ASTM Prescriptive Guide
  
• 1.5 Multiple Buildings
  Representative sampling and extrapolation of findings
  
• 1.6 Safety Concerns

2 Terminology - 60 mins

• 2.2 Definitions
  
• 2.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard
  
• 2.4 Abbreviations and Acronyms
  

3 Significance and Use - 60 mins

• 3.1 Use
  
• 3.2 Clarification of Use
  
• 3.3 Who May Conduct a PCR
  
• 3.4 Principles
  
• 3.5 Prior PCR Usage
  
• 3.6 Rules of Engagement& contracts

4 User’s Responsibilities - 20 mins

• 4.1 Access
  
• 4.2 User Disclosure
  

5 Property Condition Assessments - 90 mins

• 5.1 Objective
  
• 5.2 PCA Components
  
• 5.3 Coordination of Components
  
• 5.4 Consultant’s Duties
  Modified ASTM E2018 inspections (smaller lower budget inspections)

6 The Consultant - 60 mins

• 6.1 Qualifications of the Consultant
  
• 6.2 Staffing of the Field Observer
  
• 6.3 Independence of the Consultant
  
• 6.4 Qualifications of the Field Observer
  
• 6.5 Qualifications of the PCR Reviewer
  
• 6.6 The Field Observer and PCR Reviewer May Be a Single Individual
  
• 6.7 Not a Professional Architecture or Engineering Service
  

7 Document Review and Interviews- 60 mins

• 7.1 Objective
  
• 7.2 Reliance
  
• 7.3 Accuracy and Completeness
  
• 7.4 Government Agency Provided Information
  
• 7.5 Pre-Survey Questionnaire
  
• 7.6 Owner/User Provided Documentation and Information
  
• 7.7 Interviews

Day one and two: Non-in depth discussion of building components

8 The Walk-Through Survey - 150 mins

Site Improvements

• Ingress / Egress
  
• Storm drains / surface drainage
  
• Parking lots
  
• Trash enclosures

Structural

• Tilt up, block-cmu, steel, concrete, wood frame information
  
• Seismic issues for commercial building owners (CA handout)
  
• Different types of foundations
  
• Panelized roof systems
  
• Fireproofing
  

Plumbing

• Grease interceptors
  
• Fire suppression systems
  
• Roof drains
  

Roofing

• Modified Bitumen ad Built-up
  
• Single ply (EPDM, PVC, etc.)
  
• Ballasted and adhered/fastened
  
• Flashings
  

HVAC

• Large air handlers
  
• Central plant systems
  
• Air intake, makeup air
  
• Ventilation
  
• Variable volume dampers, etc.
  
• Unitary systems
  

Interior

• Ingress / egress
  o Stairwells
  o Hallways
  o Exiting path of travel
  
• Acoustic grid ceilings
  
• Conveyance systems
  
• Occupancy ratings
  
• Vertical transportation
  

Electrical

• Transformers
  
• Three-Phase panel boards and wiring methods
  
• Motor controllers
  
• Clearances
  
• Infrared Survey
  
• GFPE devices
  

Review of typical reports

Day Two: Reports, Costs to Cure, other considerations and marketing

Advertising - 30 mins

• Apartment owner.com
  
• Commercial Association of Realtors
  
• Building Owners and Managers Association
  
• Web site
  
• Other inspectors
  
• Review of typical proposals, marketing materials
  
• Offering additional services
  

8 Field Survey - 60 mins

• 8.1 Field Observer Objective
  
• 8.2 Frequency of Observation of repeated components
  
• 8.3 Photographs
  
• 8.4 Scope
  
• 8.5 Additional Considerations
  

9 Opinions of Probable Costs to Remedy Physical Deficiencies - 60 mins

• 9.1 Purpose
  
• 9.2 Scope & Sources
  
• 9.3 Opinions of Probable Costs Attributes, ranges vs. single number
  

10 Property Condition Report - 90 mins

• 10.1 Format
  
• 10.2 Writing Protocols
  
• 10.3 Documentation
  
• 10.4 Credentials
  
• 10.5 Executive Summary
  
• 10.6 Purpose and Scope
  
• 10.7 Walk-Through Survey
  
• 10.8 Document Reviews and Interviews
  
• 10.9 Additional Considerations
  
• 10.10 Opinions of Probable Costs
  
• 10.11 Qualifications
  
• 10.12 Limiting Conditions
  
• 10.13 Exhibits
  

11 Out of Scope Considerations - 40 mins

• 11.1 Activity Exclusions
  
• 11.2 Warranty, Guarantee, and Code Compliance Exclusions
  
• 11.3 Additional/General Considerations
  

Annex A1 - 30 mins

• A1.1 Multifamily Properties
  
• A1.2 Commercial Office Buildings
  
• A1.3 Retail Buildings
  

Appendix X1 - 30 mins

• X1.1 Qualifications
  
• X1.2 Verification of Measurements and Quantities
• X1.3 Research
  
• X1.4 Flood Plain Designation
  
• X1.5 Recommended Table of Contents
  

Appendix X2 - 90 mins

• X2.1 Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act
  
• X2.2 Overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
  (ADAAG)
  
• X2.3 Variable Levels of Due Diligence
  
• X2.4 Definitions of Terms Specific to Understanding the Americans with
  Disabilities Act
  
• X2.5 Presentation of Opinions of Probable Costs
  
• X2.6 Tier I: Visual Accessibility Survey
  
• X2.7 Tier II: Abbreviated Accessibility Survey
  
• X2.8 Tier III: Full Accessibility Survey
  

Robert Davidson Bio:
I am a partner and inspector at Davidson Inspection. Our company has provided inspections in southern California since 1994. We provide commercial and residential physical inspections, course of construction inspections, photovoltaic quality control inspections, energy audits, intrusive investigations, problem identification and documentation services.

I am also Co-Owner and Partner of InspectRite Inc., a multi inspector corporation located in San Diego providing similar services as noted above plus other services too numerous to list here. InspectRite has been in business since 2008.

I am an inspector member of the California Real Estate Inspection Association since 1994, and have served on the state CREIA board of directors and am past President of the San Diego chapter of CREIA. I am Master CREIA inspector #82 and ASHI Certified Inspector #250606.

I have been active in teaching property inspection classes since 2498 and have taught with Inspection Training Associates (ITA), Kaplan Professional Schools, The ASHI School and Casey O’Malley Associates

.pdf version.