March 8th, 2018
by Tara Lukasik

The New Hampshire Building Officials Association (NHBOA) recently recognized students from the NHTI, Concord’s Community College (formerly known as New Hampshire Technical Institute) as they completed an 18-credit-hour Building Inspector/Plans Examiner (BIPE) Certificate Program.

Pictured (left-right): NHTI Architectural Engineering Technology Department Head Liaquat Khan, Dennis Page, Matt Cole, Nick Codner, Russ Bookholz, Brad Anderson, Michael Hagan, and NHTI Vice President of Student Affairs Steve Caccia.

The program was developed to provide instruction in the International Codes, plan review and document reading, construction laws and state authority enforcement mechanisms, and generalized inspector skills highlighting soft skills and department organizational skills. NHTI is a participant in the International Code Council’s High School Technical Training Program.

NHBOA members provide instruction and mentoring to the students.

The NHTI, Concord’s Community College began offering a curriculum in 2015 that prepares building inspectors and plans examiners to critically examine permit applications and plans for residential, commercial, and other building types to ensure their construction is conducted in accordance with relevant building codes.

After reading the report concerning the potential shortage of code officials in the coming years, NHBOA members Bruce Buttrick and Tedd Evans decided to take action and approached NHTI with a proposal, and the college agreed to pursue the concept of a training/certificate program for future code officials.

“As our profession begins its retirement exodus from this industry, many openings will be coming, especially in New England,” added Tom Johnson from the town of Durham, N.H. “This certificate is supported by the New Hampshire Building Officials Association, the International Code Council and eventually the New Hampshire Municipal and Town Managers Associations.”

Last year, NHTI and NHBOA honored the first six graduates of NHTI’s three-semester BIPE Certificate Program.

About the Author
Tara Lukasik
Tara Lukasik is an editor for the International Code Council, working out of its Western Regional Office in Southern California. Starting with the International Conference of Building Officials as the managing editor of its Building Standards Magazine, she has more than 25 years of experience in writing and editing feature content and advancing digital newsletters and magazines from conception to completion. She is currently putting her experience to good use managing the Code Council's Building Safety Journal and its BSJ Weekly newsletter, which connects construction professionals with the Code Council community and the latest industry news and resources. A California native, she enjoys volunteering in her local community and exploring the Golden State with her husband and three spoiled dachshunds. Follow her on Twitter @ICCTLukasik and Linkedin at linkedin.com/in/taralukasik.