The Jack A. Proctor Virginia Building Code Academy is pleased to announce the 2015 Code Change Training schedule is now online and open for registration.  The Academy will initially offer five live classroom sessions across the state with more to follow as needed. In addition, the training will be available online through the VBCA Learning Center in early fall as well as webinars to be offered later this year. For more information or to register for training visit https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/BFR/Main/LogOn.aspx . Contact the VBCA office with questions at (804) 371-7180.

The Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling contractors Association of Virginia is holding continuing education classes in Manassas this weekend.  Classes are required for license renewal.  As of April, licenses for tradesmen will expire three years from the date of issuance by the Board for Contractors.

The DPOR Board is required to sync the expiration date of a tradesmen license, which is currently on a two-year cycle, to update to the Uniform Statewide Building Code, which are typically on a three-year cycle.  The change will take effect upon the renewal of each license.

To register for classes complete the form provide below and submit to PHCC of Virginia.  Contact and mailing information is on the form.

CEU courses 2018 (1)

Mark your calendars and save the date!

The next Property Maintenance Committee meeting will be held in the beautiful City of Charlottesville at “City Space” 100 5^th Street NE, Charlottesville, VA on June 29, 2018.

We’ve reserved the space to accommodate our meeting and two training’s from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

We’re honored to have our own Ms. Michelle Coward of Richmond giving a presentation on “Derelict and Vacant Buildings”.

We’ll also have a presentation by Mr. Percy White, Gang Prevention & Intervention Coordinator from the City of Alexandria’s 18th District Court Service Unit to give a presentation on “Human Trafficking”

Lunch will be provided so please RSVP

If you have questions or want to RSVP to reserve a spot and lunch please contact committee co-chairs Earl Weaver earl.weaver@richmondgov.com

or Philip Pugh Philip Pugh Philip.Pugh@alexandriava.gov. If no response please email Patricia Carrington at carrington@charlottesville.org

 Drive safely, we look forward to seeing you!

The Virginia Building Code Academy is offering a one-day onsite inspection course on June 8, 2018 for potential inspectors.  The course will be held in Fairfax, VA and students will tour the Celebrate Fairfax midway.

This course will serve as a prerequisite to the 2019 Spring four day Amusement Device training course.   It is designed to support the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials ( NAARSO) experience requirement for all exam candidates.  This course will also serve as 8 hours of continuing education for DHCD.

Please share this information with your staff immediately as the seats are limited.   Register at our online registration site

https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/BFR/Main/LogOn.aspx

ONLY 5 Days Left to Go!   

Virginia Fire Prevention Association

2018 Spring Training Conference and Annual Meeting

May 21 – 23, 2018

Attendees are encouraged to bring your code books to enhance the IFC, IBC and Active Shooter Courses in order to work through “code issues” throughout these programs.

Course handouts are available for your review, pre-printing or downloading at the links provided below.  Copies of the ICC Programs will not be provided as part of the conference attendance. 

Don’t forget our social and networking event will be held on Monday, May 21st at 5pm. BBQ and Refreshments will be provided.  Find a partner and enter our annual Corn-hole Tournament being held during this event!

Our Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 22nd at 5pm.  We welcome your attendance and active participation in the organization!

Make sure you bring a few extra dollars to participate for our daily 50/50 raffle.

All NEW VFPA Merchandise will be available for purchase at the event.  This will also include a special item to celebrate our 50th anniversary!

Copies of the ICC Program Handouts can be found below:

2012_Hazmat_Provisions.pdf

Flammable Finishes PowerPoint 3-5-14 4up.pdf

2012 IBC Use of Fire and Smoke Separations-4up.pdf

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released NFPA 3000^TM (PS), Standard for an Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program to help communities holistically deal with the fast-growing number of mass casualty incidents that continue to occur throughout the world. Serving as the first of its kind, NFPA 3000 provides unified planning, response and recovery guidance, as well as civilian and responder safety considerations.

“The NFPA 3000 process, from start to finish, has been an exceptional example of emergency responders and other safety-focused practitioners swiftly coming together to provide invaluable perspective and address a significant threat in our world,” NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley said. “The proactive, integrated strategies recommended and defined in NFPA 3000 will go a long way in helping communities plan, respond and recover from active shooter and hostile events.”

This marks only the second time in NFPA’s 122-year history that they have issued a provisional standard. Provisional standards are developed in an expedited process to address an emergency situation or other special circumstance.

After the Pulse Nightclub massacre in June of 2016, Chief Otto Drozd of Orange County Fire in Florida requested that NFPA develop a standard to help authorities come together and create a well-defined, cohesive plan that works to minimize harm and maximize resiliency. NFPA responded by establishing the NFPA Technical Committee on Cross Functional Emergency Preparedness and Response. In mid-April, NFPA 3000 was issued by the NFPA Standards Council, making it the first consensus document related to active shooter and hostile events.

The 46-member Technical Committee responsible for NFPA 3000 is NFPA’s largest startup Committee, to date, with representation from law enforcement, the fire service, emergency medical services, hospitals, emergency management, private security, private business, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice, and many more. Committee members provided job-specific insight and real world observations from mass killings at Mandalay Bay Resort, Pulse Nightclub, Sandy Hook Elementary, the Sikh Temple, the Boston Marathon, and other less publicized events.

NFPA 3000 helps entire communities organize, manage, communicate, and sustain an active shooter/hostile event preparedness, response, and recovery program. In addition to offering NFPA 3000 via a new digital subscription – which will be updated automatically when the next edition becomes available – NFPA is offering an Online Training Series (the first of three courses are available now); a downloadable checklist; a readiness assessment document; and fact sheet for authorities to learn more about establishing a proactive, collaborative active shooter/hostile event program.

Some have asked why NFPA would be the organization to develop an active shooter standard. “For more than a century, NFPA has facilitated a respected consensus process that has produced some of the most widely used codes and standards in the world including more than 100 that impact first responders. Our purview goes far beyond our fire safety efforts as evidenced by our ongoing work to address new hazards with professionals in public safety, emergency management, community risk, electrical services, the energy sector, engineering, the chemical and industrial industries, healthcare, manufacturing, research, the government, and the built environment. The recent increase in active shooter incidents and the fire service involvement in them warranted NFPA’s standards development expertise, and the timely development of NFPA 3000,” Pauley said.

Governor Northam recognizes May 2018, as Building Safety Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia by issuing Building Safety Month Proclamation.

Virginia Fire Prevention Association

2018 Spring Training Conference and Annual Meeting

May 21 – 23, 2018

OFFERING TWO TRAINING TRACK OPTIONS! 

Honoring all Building Safety Professionals in the Commonwealth of Virginia

On May 4, 2018, the Honorable Delegate Israel O’Quinn, Deputy Majority Whip Virginia House of Delegates, presented Mr. James Moss, Grayson County Building Official, with a proclamation that calls to the attention of our citizens that the Virginia House of Delegates, does hereby recognize May 2018 as Building Safety Month in the Commonwealth.

​May is Building Safety Month, and during a recent ceremony at the Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, Prince William Chairman Corey Stewart explained that this recognition serves to remind people of the importance of ordinances and building regulations.

Stewart told the story of the Iroquois Theatre Fire in Chicago that killed at least 603 people on Dec. 30, 1903. Those deaths were the direct result of building codes that weren’t up to par, said Stewart. Fire escapes at the theater were insufficient. Most of the 30 exit doors were locked and the doors opened inward, which prevented people from opening them in the press of the crowd. “These types of incidents led to the development of the international fire code and building code that we have today,” Stewart said.

Cindy Davis, deputy director of the Division of Building and Fire Regulation with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, also spoke at the event and said that Virginia is known for its comprehensive building code and that Prince William County officials share the knowledge and expertise to make sure building codes are met. “The leadership in Prince William puts you and your locality in the spotlight statewide and nationally.”

Davis went on to say that it’s hard to say how many lives are saved because of safe buildings, but safe buildings do prevent disasters. “You cannot quantify what does not happen, so the importance of what you do every day is rarely recognized.”

Bryan Soukup, the government relations regional manager for the International Code Council, echoed Davis’ comments. “It’s important because building code officials and fire officials are first defenders and our silent protectors. When building and fire code officials do their job right, nothing happens.”

For more information about the many agencies that work closely together to ensure the safety of the buildings in Prince William County, visit www.pwcgov.org/dds.