Florida
Building Commission
January
2012 Education POC Meeting Minutes
Telephone Conference Call Number 1-888-808-6959,
Access Code: 7975951832
In Person Attendance: Room 250L, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee,
Florida
January 18, 2012
POC Members Present: Jeffrey Stone (Chair), Jon Hamrick, Herminio Gonzalez,
Ken Gregory, Scott Mollan
POC Member(s) Absent: Drew Smith
Meeting Attendees Identified:
FBC Commission Chair Richard Browdy
Ila Jones Med Kopczynski
Cam Fentriss Roy Pollack
Michael Clark Joe Belcher
Meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. ET, January
18, 2012
1. Review
and approval of the January 2012 Agenda
Motion: To approve as submitted
Motion: Ken Gregory
Second: Jon Hamrick
Approved Unanimously
2. Review
and approval of November 2011 Minutes
Motion: To approve as submitted
Motion: Ken Gregory
Second: Jon Hamrick
Approved Unanimously
3. Review
pending accreditor applications for recommendation to the Commission
None Pending
4. Review
pending advanced accredited courses for recommendation to the Commission
Course: Advanced False Alarm Reduction Methods
Provider: STAY SAFE ENTERPRISES, LLC
Accreditor:
Alarm Association of
Florida
BCIS
Course Number: 497.0
Discussion – Commissioner Hamrick stated that
it was his opinion this course did not meet the 50% threshold [9B-70.002 (4)
(k)] regarding building code related content.
Cam
Fentriss stated that she contacted the training provider for this course, Mr.
Roy Pollack, gave him this meeting contact information and asked him to
participate in the meeting. Mr. Pollack was present at the meeting and the
Chair asked for his response.
Mr.
Pollack stated this course was approved years ago by the FBC, as course number 60.0.
He further stated that as a resubmission, he felt that the information in this
course tied directly to the Florida Building and Fire Codes. He then listed
many examples relating to false alarm reductions, that again he felt related
directly to the Florida Building Code.
Commissioner
Hamrick stated that when this course was approved, the current 50% threshold
did not exist in rule language. The Chair asked Mr. Pollack if he would modify
the course to meet the 50% threshold. Mr. Pollack said he would modify his
course appropriately.
Commissioner
Gregory asked Mr. Pollack, “If an alarm was installed according to Florida
Building Code, would that reduce the number of false alarms, or is it something
else like operator error?” Mr. Pollack responded saying false alarms are caused
by both, substandard installations and operator error. Commissioner Gregory
also asked, “If an alarm was installed according to the Florida Building Code,
would this course fix possible installation issues?” Mr. Pollack stated that he
thought it would. Commissioner Gregory then stated that he agreed with
Commissioner Hamrick regarding the modification of this course.
Chairman
Stone asked the Education Administrator how this should be handled
administratively. Michael Clark stated that the Ed POC could deny approval, or
defer approval until the 50% threshold is met. The POC members chose to defer
approval of this course. Mr. Clark also stated that after this course was
modified, it would have to be accredited again.
Motion: Course approval based on the
FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida
Building Code related content is deferred until the 50% threshold regarding
building code related content is satisfied.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
Course: Advanced Floodplain Requirements 2010
Florida Building Code
Provider: Building Officials & Inspectors
Educational Association
Accreditor:
JDB Code Services,
Inc.
BCIS
Course Number: 491.0
Motion: Course approved based on the FBC
accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building
Code related content.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
Course: PERMITS AND PLANS APPROVALS ADVANCED
MODULE
Provider: Training Licensing Center, Inc.
Accreditor:
BCIC LLC
BCIS
Course Number: 496.0
Motion: Course approved based on the FBC
accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building
Code related content.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
5. Review
administratively approved updated courses for recommendation to the Commission
None Pending
6. Review self affirmed updated courses for recommendation to the
Commission
None Pending
7.
Review/discuss draft language regarding Rule 9B-70.002 (3) (a) (d) (e) (f) (g),
F.A.C., which includes the various types of course approvals, specifically
addressing the “no changes” and “affirmation of revision…” categories.
The Chair
asked Cam Fentriss to give the background information regarding this agenda
item.
Cam stated
that all of the language regarding the rule changes is located in the Education
Administrator’s report. The new changes (which have not been previously
reviewed by the Education POC) are in bold, with the other changes (which have
been reviewed by the Education POC) represented by underlines and
strikethroughs. Cam further stated that changes have been made only in section
(3), but the entire rule is included for clarity. Cam pointed out that in
subsection (3) (a), the term “advanced” should stay because currently the POC
is only reviewing advanced courses. She also pointed out that changes in
subsections (3) (d) and (3) (e) are technical to more accurately reflect the
accreditation process.
Med
Kopczynski asked if accreditors approve courses or recommend courses for
approval. Cam responded by saying that accreditors recommend courses for
approval, then the Education POC reviews and recommends those courses for
approval, then the FBC approves those courses. Cam further stated that she
wanted to remind all accreditors that when they accredit a course, that means
they are accrediting the entire course, which means all course materials that
the student will use or see. She stated that there have been some recent
situations where courses were accredited, but the exam was not included in the
accredited materials, which means it is incomplete---which means that the
Education POC will not recommend it for approval.
Med
Kopczynski stated that he felt some training providers were not as competent as
they should be, and consequently are difficult to work with because of that
incompetence. Cam stated that it is the accreditor’s job to make sure that
provider’s are doing what they are supposed to be doing, and if they are not,
then their course should not make it through the accreditation process.
The Chair
asked Med if he has found out later that a provider has changed their course to
something other than what it was initially accredited as. Med said that he
wasn’t aware of any changed courses, but that he wouldn’t be aware because he
only sees and accredits what is given to him.
The Chair
asked if there was any more discussion about the proposed rule language changes
from the POC members. No discussion followed so a motion was asked for by the
Chair.
Motion: To approve proposed language changes to Rule 9B-70.002 (3) (a) (d) (e) (f) (g), F.A.C.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved Unanimously
8. Education Administrator’s activity report,
as follows…
Cam Fentriss
reported the following to the POC. She specifically pointed out the date
changes for future meetings in 2012, which are located under item “E”. Cam
stated that these changes were needed for administrative purposes, and that
everyone should change their calendars.
A. Provided administrative support for FBC Education POC
for November 21, 2011 meeting
B. Drafted minutes for FBC Education POC November 21,
2011 meeting
C. Prepared agenda for FBC Education POC meeting on
January 18, 2012
D. Inquiries from the public November 10, 2011 to January
9, 2012 as follows:
9
inquiries: 4 telephone; 4 emails; 1 telephone and email
Category of inquirers:
2 Engineers 2
Contractors 1 Electrical Contractor
1 Interior Designer 1 Provider 1 Information on licensure as a Building
Official
1 Member of the public
Types of Inquiries:
1 Provider questions (Renewal
of courses, course approval notification)
1 General Code course
4 Core Course
1
Construction lien law
1
Licensure
1
Manufactured housing
E. Date changes for 2012
Education POC Meetings – There is a need to change the posted dates for
Education POC meetings to ensure sufficient time for preparing courses within
the deadline for inclusion on the committee agenda. Please note the changes for
2012 as listed below:
Current Dates New Dates FBC Plenary Session
Mar. 21 (Wed) March 26 (Mon) April 3 (Tue)
May 30 (Wed) June 4 (Mon) June 12 (Tue)
July 25 (Wed) July 30 (Mon) August 7 (Tue)
September 27 (Thu) October 1 (Mon) October 9 (Tue)
November 19 (Mon) No change (holiday) December 4 (Tue)
E. FBC Education POC Agenda Item 7 for review and
discussion of proposed draft changes for two course update/modification
mechanisms commonly known as “reviewed, no change” or “self-affirmed” for
updating or making a technical change to a course.
Below
please find a draft revised from the last Education POC meeting. The portions with proposed changes that have NOT yet
been reviewed by the Education POC are in bold. Explanations for the new proposed
changes:
- Subsection
(3)(a): The proposed strike of "advanced" and subsequent POC
approval of change to "advanced or other" is proposed to stay
with current rule language because the POC is only reviewing advanced courses.
- Subsection
(3)(d): The proposed changes in this subsection are technical to more
accurately reflect the accreditation process.
- Subsection
(3)(e): The new proposed changes in this subsection are technical to more
accurately reflect the accreditation process.
Please note that the entire
rule has been included here (but only subsection (3) has proposed
changes). This is just for complete information.
9B-70.002
Commission Approval and Accreditation of Advanced Building Code Training
Courses.
(1)
Approval of Course Accreditors. The Commission shall approve persons to serve
as accreditors of advanced training courses. Persons desiring to be accreditors
shall apply using the Register Accreditor function and associated online
screens, Form FBC-ED-001, effective September 10, 2010 adopted herein by
reference and available from the Building Code Information System at
www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_tporgapp_dtl1.aspx. Applications shall be
accompanied by an application fee of $100.00. Applications shall be approved by
the Commission if the applicant has demonstrated five years of Florida Building
Code expertise in the field for which approval is sought, or equivalent as
specified below, or possesses an active license issued pursuant to Section
471.015, 481.213, or 481.311; Chapter 489, Part I or II, F.S.; or a standard
certificate issued pursuant to Section 468.609, F.S. Accreditors approved by
the Commission under prior versions of this rule are authorized to continue
accreditation of building code courses. Equivalent expertise or proficiency
under this provision shall include:
(a) A
four year college degree or graduate degree in the field for which approval is
sought;
(b) A
letter verifying work experience in the field for which approval is sought from
a person who supervised the applicant;
(c) A
letter verifying employment and specific position of the applicant in the field
for which approval is sought from the applicant’s employer; or
(d)
For an accreditor application submitted to accredit only accessibility courses,
demonstrated proficiency acceptable to the Commission as a subject matter
expert in the field of accessibility.
(2)
Revocation of approval as an accreditor.
(a)
Any accreditor shall have his/her approval status revoked for any of the
following reasons:
1.
Knowingly providing a fraudulent application to the Commission, when applying
for accreditor status;
2.
Suspension or revocation of a trade license submitted to the Commission as part
of the initially approved accreditor application, which was not reported to the
Commission at the time of suspension or revocation;
3.
Failure to effectively and/or accurately accredit courses, specifically
relating to the correctness of the course building code content references;
4.
Failure to remove him/herself from any “conflict of interest” situations, such
as accrediting courses in which the accreditor has a financial interest; or
5.
Failure of the accreditor to cooperate with a Commission ordered investigation.
(b)
The Commission may suspend the approval status of any accreditor based on any
provision of paragraph (2)(a) of this rule, until such time as the accreditor
demonstrates that the accreditor’s status is currently in compliance with the
requirements of this rule.
(c)
The Commission shall initiate an investigation based on a written complaint
submitted by any substantially affected party and containing substantial
material evidence of a violation of this rule.
(d)
The Commission shall clearly post the status of an investigation on its
website, the Florida Building Codes Information System,
www.floridabuilding.org.
(3)
Training Provider Registration and Requirements.
(a)
Training providers approved by the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation who desire Commission approval and accreditation for advanced
building code courses shall register with the Building Code Information System
using the Register Training Provider function and associated online screens, Form FBC-ED-002,
effective September 10, 2010, adopted herein by reference and available from
the Building Code Information System at
www.floridabuilding.org/ce/ce_tporgapp_dtl1.aspx, and pay a registration fee of
$25.00.
(b) Registered training providers shall submit materials and
information pertaining to courses for which Commission accreditation and
approval is sought utilizing the Submit a Course Application function and
associated online screens, Form FBCED 2003-03, effective September 10, 2010,
adopted herein by reference and available from the Building Code Information
System at www.floridabuilding.org.
(c) The provider shall select an approved accreditor and
shall provide payment for services directly to the accreditor. The accreditor
selected shall meet the criteria for independence identified in paragraph (d)
and shall be listed with the expertise in the field for which approval is
sought.
(d) Upon submittal by a training provider, the selected
accreditor shall receive an e-mail notification from the Building Code
Information System at www.floridabuilding.org and shall review the materials
provided by the provider in accordance with the criteria identified herein. The
accreditor shall complete the application by providing comments containing the
results of the accreditor’s review and approving or denying accreditation of
the course updating the accreditation approval status on the
Building Code Information System. An accreditor may not approve for
accreditation a course application that is not complete and accurate as
specified in subsection (4). The accreditor shall also provide a
certification of independence that attests the person or entity does not have,
nor does it intend to acquire or will acquire, a financial interest in the training
provider seeking accreditation.
(e) The Building Code Information System
www.floridabuilding.org shall assign an accreditation number to the application
upon submittal. The application shall be accredited completely and placed in
the “Pending FBC Action” file on the Building Code Information System at
www.floridabuilding.org no later than 23 calendar days prior to the next
scheduled meeting of the Florida Building Commission. The Commission
shall finalize t The accreditation process will be finalized utilizing
the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org and notify the
provider and accreditor will be notified within 3 business days of the
Florida Building Commission’s action on the applications. If a provider
has not taken any action on a submitted application in 180 days, the Commission
may withdraw the application.
(f) On or before the effective date of changes to the Florida
Building Code, providers shall either designate on the Building Code
Information System at www.floridabuilding.org that the course is not affected
by the code changes or update the existing accredited courses
affected by the code changes and submit for accreditation on the Building
Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org. If the course is not
affected by the code changes, the course’s status shall remain active. The
code version that initiated the update and reaccreditation process must be
noted on the application. Accreditation of revisions to approved accredited
courses shall be accomplished in the same manner as described in paragraphs (a)
through (f) hereof, except that only the revision submitted shall be
subject to review. and t These courses shall be approved
by the administrator of the education program subject to ratification by the
Florida Building Commission.
(g) If an approved accredited course is not affected by
the code change or requires revision to correct or update a reference,
table, diagram, or quoted provision of code, law, or administrative rule, the
training provider may submit the revised course and shall complete
Form FBC-ED-002, effective September 10, 2010, adopted herein by reference and
available from the Building Code Information System at www.floridabuilding.org.
The code version must be noted on the application. If a correction or update
is required, the training provider must list the exact change correction
or update, the specific location of the change correction or
update, and reason for the change in the course and affirm this is the only
change correction or update to the course. The changes correction
or update to the course shall be approved by the administrator of the
education program subject to ratification by the Florida Building Commission.
(h) A change to the delivery format of an approved accredited
course must be submitted for accreditation.
(4) Course Content and Accreditor Review. Accreditors shall
review courses submitted by registered providers to determine if the course
accurately presents the technical and administrative responsibilities reflected
in the current edition of the Florida Building Code, or future editions of the
Code if the accreditor is reviewing a course revised to comply with an updated
edition of the Florida Building Code in accordance with paragraph (3)(f) of
this rule or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida Building Code.
Accreditors shall not mutually accredit each others’ courses. The accreditor
shall determine if the course meets the following minimum criteria:
a) Course title and number. The word “advanced” and, if
appropriate, “internet” shall be in the title;
(b) Hours of credit;
(c) Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the
provider;
(d) Course description completely describing what the
particular course is designed to address;
(e) Course/learning objectives;
(f) Course time allotments for course content;
(g) Course outline and instructional methods – detailed
description of course content in sequence of how taught and methods used to
teach that content. The following instructional methods are authorized, but are
not limited to: exercises, quizzes, discussion groups, reading assignments,
projects, simulations and presentations;
(h) Code edition to which the course relates;
(i) Course references cited in the outline;
(j) Method of course evaluations;
(k) A minimum of 50% of the actual training materials content
shall be related to the Florida Building Code or Florida Statutes or rules
related to the Florida Building Code;
(l) Course materials shall accurately reflect the Florida
Building Code and other topics under the jurisdiction of the Florida Building
Commission; and
(m) Course materials provided to the attendee shall be
provided by the accreditor.
(5) Course Accreditation by the Florida Building Commission.
Accredited courses are to effectively and accurately address the technical and
administrative responsibilities in the effective execution of the Florida
Building Code or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida Building
Code.
(6) The Commission shall audit a minimum of 2% of all
accredited courses. The courses selected for audit may not be those of only one
provider or reviewed by only one accreditor. Any course submitted for
accreditation or re-accreditation determined to not accurately reflect the
current or adopted Florida Building Code edition; or Florida Statutes or rules
related to the Florida Building Code shall be reported to the Commission for
further action. All approved advanced building code courses must reflect the
current or adopted Florida Building Code edition; or Florida Statutes or rules
related to the Florida Building Code. Any courses accredited and determined by
audit or any means to not accurately reflect the current or adopted Florida
Building Code edition; or Florida Statutes or rules related to the Florida
Building Code or accredited by an accreditor outside the approved areas of
expertise shall have the accreditation revoked, the status of the course
communicated to the respective licensing board or boards, and the provider will
be required to file a new application for accreditation.
(7) In the event the Commission identifies areas or topics of
advanced building code education with an insufficient number of courses
available through existing resources, the Commission shall report the areas or
topics to the appropriate licensing board. If additional courses do not become
available within six months of notification to the licensing board, upon a
finding that the absence of course work in the identified subject area is
detrimental to the effective administration and enforcement of the Florida
Building Code, and funds are available in the Commission’s budget for course
development, the Commission will develop a minimum of one (1) course that will
be made available to training providers.
Rulemaking
Authority 553.841(2) FS. Law Implemented 553.841 FS. History–New 6-8-05,
Amended 4-30-07, 6-12-08, 3-4-09, 11-2-09, 1-9-11.
F. As of August 21, 2011, we have 198 training providers* and
12 accreditors
As of December 30, 2011, we have 371** approved courses (some
are likely obsolete)
*Increase in this number (from 112 in November, 2010 may be,
in part, based on how counted (system or manually)
** Up from 340 in August, 2011
9.
Identify future POC member discussion items
Commissioner
Gregory asked how the code changes will be handled (at the end of March 2012)
by the Education POC regarding course materials. He further asked if training
providers have to “actually do something” within BCIS, such as self affirming
that a course’s content has not changed.
Cam Fentriss
stated that the Education Administrator would develop the procedure to handle
this situation, and actively send it to both accreditors and providers.
10.
General public comment
No public
comment was offered.
11.
Summary and review of meeting work products/action items, assignments, and next
steps
No new
assignments were handed out.
Adjourn (Adjourned at 10:36 am.)
Motion: To adjourn
Motion: Ken Gregory
Second: Jon Hamrick
Approved Unanimously
Motion: To approve proposed language changes to Rule 9B-70.002 (3) (a) (d) (e) (f) (g), F.A.C.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved Unanimously
The Education POC considered and recommends the
following:
The following new courses are recommended for approval:
Course: Advanced False Alarm Reduction Methods
Provider: STAY SAFE ENTERPRISES, LLC
Accreditor:
Alarm Association of
Florida
BCIS
Course Number: 497.0
Discussion – Commissioner Hamrick stated that
it was his opinion this course did not meet the 50% threshold [9B-70.002 (4)
(k)] regarding building code related content.
Cam
Fentriss stated that she did contact the training provider for this course, Mr.
Roy Pollack, gave him this meeting contact information and asked him to
participate in the meeting. Mr. Pollack was present at the meeting and the
Chair asked for his response.
Mr.
Pollack stated this course was approved years ago by the FBC, as course number
60.0. He further stated that as a resubmission, he felt that the information in
this course tied directly to the Florida Building and Fire Codes. He then
listed many examples relating to false alarm reductions, that again he felt
related directly to the Florida Building Code.
Commissioner
Hamrick stated that when this course was approved, the current 50% threshold
did not exist in rule language. The Chair asked Mr. Pollack if he would modify
the course to meet the 50% threshold. Mr. Pollack said he would modify his
course appropriately.
Commissioner
Gregory asked Mr. Pollack, “If an alarm was installed according to Florida
Building Code, would that reduce the number of false alarms, or is it something
else like operator error?” Mr. Pollack responded saying false alarms are caused
by both, substandard installations and operator error. Commissioner Gregory
also asked, “If an alarm was installed according to the Florida Building Code,
would this course fix possible installation issues?” Mr. Pollack stated that he
thought it would. Commissioner Gregory then stated that he agreed with
Commissioner Hamrick regarding the modification of this course.
Chairman
Stone asked the Education Administrator how this should be handled
administratively. Michael Clark stated that the Ed POC could deny approval, or
defer approval until the 50% threshold is met. The POC members chose to defer
approval of this course. Mr. Clark also stated that after this course was modified,
it would have to be accredited again.
Motion: Course approval based on the
FBC accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida
Building Code related content is deferred until the 50% threshold
regarding building code related content is satisfied.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
Course: Advanced Floodplain Requirements 2010
Florida Building Code
Provider: Building Officials & Inspectors
Educational Association
Accreditor:
JDB Code Services,
Inc.
BCIS
Course Number: 491.0
Motion: Course approved based on the FBC
accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building
Code related content.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
Course: PERMITS AND PLANS APPROVALS ADVANCED
MODULE
Provider: Training Licensing Center, Inc.
Accreditor:
BCIC LLC
BCIS
Course Number: 496.0
Motion: Course approved based on the FBC
accreditation process that only verifies the accuracy of the Florida Building
Code related content.
Motion: Jon Hamrick
Second: Ken Gregory
Approved
Unanimously
Note: This
document is available in alternate formats upon request to the Department of
Community Affairs, Codes and Standards, 255 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, Fl.
32399, (850) 487-1824.