We used the IR camera on location in this crawlspace inspection video course.

[Nick Gromicko]

http://www.nachi.org/advancedcourses.htm

[James H. Bushart]

Huh?

An "advanced" course on something a home inspector must know on his very first inspection?

Please explain.

[Nick Gromicko]

Jim, I don't think knowing how to use an IR camera to detect defects during an inspection of a crawlsapce is

something a home inspector must know on his very first inspection

[James H. Bushart]

Your course description does include IR as a part of the course, while disclaiming that IR by itself does little. I didn't interpret that to mean that IR is a significant part of your course. If it is, then I apologize for my misunderstanding.

[Nick Gromicko]

It's not. The course is advanced so it has lots in there: IR camera use, moisture meter use, possibly unknown inspection techniques, personal protective equipment, building standard compliance, tic tracer use, infectious diseases contracted in crawl spaces, mold, radon, structural concerns, undermining, access code requirements, HVAC duct issues particular to crawl spaces, WDO, better report writing techniques, etc.

Our www.nachi.org/advancedcourses.htm series leaves nothing out and covers a broader bandwidth in greater depth than what one would need to know to simply perform an inspection to SOP.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

It's not. The course is advanced so it has lots in there: IR camera use, moisture meter use, possibly unknown inspection techniques, personal protective equipment, building standard compliance, volt sensor use, infectious diseases contracted in crawl spaces, mold, radon, structural concerns, undermining, access code requirements, HVAC duct issues particular to crawl spaces, WDO, better report writing techniques, etc.

Our www.nachi.org/advancedcourses.htm series leaves nothing out and covers a broader bandwidth in greater depth than what one would need to know to simply perform an inspection to SOP.

Most of what you are teaching (as determined from your post, above) is what most home inspection associations, including ours, purposefully excludes from the SOP. Possibly for good reason. I suppose "advanced" defines its applicability...?

This does not "exceed" the SOP, but simply adds things that are not normally considered to be part of a regular home inspection by NACHI, ASHI, or NAHI.

Accordingly, I go back to my original statement.

[Nick Gromicko]

Your orignial statement

something a home inspector must know on his very first inspection

is opposite of your recent post

what most home inspection associations, including ours, excludes

No?

[Nick Gromicko]

Anyway, the correct answer is... BOTH.

Our www.nachi.org/advancedcourses.htm series covers that which

a home inspector must know on his very first inspection

but also includes

what most home inspection associations, including ours, excludes

.

For example, no SOP requires one to use an infrared camera or to pull back rim band insulation and check for plate bolt positions.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by gromicko

Your orignial statement is opposite of your recent post

No?

No.

We exclude from our SOP those things that are not a part of a regular home inspection. A home inspector, on his first inspection, must be able to inspect in accordance with the SOP...completely.

He will not need...as a new inspector or as an experienced inspector...to perform services not included in the SOP in order to inspect a crawlspace.

Inspecting a crawlspace...as per the NACHI, ASHI, or NAHI SOP...has nothing to do with radon, mold, code requirements, or WDO --- nor is there anything unique about these areas in terms of a crawlspace (as opposed to basements or other parts of the structure) in which they could be present.

These are additional services offered for additional fees by those qualified to perform them...in addition to and not a part of a regular home inspection.

[Nick Gromicko]

Correct. An inspector

will not need

to know any of that stuff or own any of those gadgets to perform an inspection to SOP.

Some may want to know more though.

[John McKenna]

Advanced Course = "at a higher level in training or knowledge or skill; "

Thanks Nick.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Advanced Course = "at a higher level in training or knowledge or skill; "

Thanks Nick.

Is learning how to tie a bowtie while learning how to inspect a sump pump...more knowledge, as Nick says....or higher knowledge...as John says. They are not the same thing. I would go along with Nick's description.

My point is that, at a minimum, a first day home inspector in his first crawlspace (for pay, in which he is totally responsible for his report) should be able to identify and describe the conditions of everything found in the crawlspace he inspects. This is what the SOP requires.

There is no "higher level", "next step" or "advanced" manner of doing this.

There are "additional" things you can do while you are in the crawlspace....such as measure radon, look for WDO, test for and identify mold, etc.....but these are all seperate and additional (not "advanced") services.

Are there "advanced" courses? Sure. Identifying and describing foundation cracks and trust splits is a basic HI skill. Learning to what extent they can be related, the various causes, the variances in severity --- this is "higher" knowledge that would come from an "advanced" course.

So...when I saw what was called an "advanced" course on crawlspaces but found nothing there to "advance" one's knowledge to a "higher level" of crawlspaces...I asked my question.

[Joe Farsetta]

Ummm...

Radon does NOT get measured in a crawlspace. It gets measured in the lowest LIVING or LIVABLE area of a structure.

A crawlspace fits into neither category.

Ummm... volt meters?

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by jbushart

Is learning how to tie a bowtie while learning how to inspect a sump pump...more knowledge, as Nick says....or higher knowledge...as John says. They are not the same thing. I would go along with Nick's description.

My point is that, at a minimum, a first day home inspector in his first crawlspace (for pay, in which he is totally responsible for his report) should be able to identify and describe the conditions of everything found in the crawlspace he inspects. This is what the SOP requires.

There is no "higher level", "next step" or "advanced" manner of doing this.

There are "additional" things you can do while you are in the crawlspace....such as measure radon, look for WDO, test for and identify mold, etc.....but these are all seperate and additional (not "advanced") services.

Are there "advanced" courses? Sure. Identifying and describing foundation cracks and trust splits is a basic HI skill. Learning to what extent they can be related, the various causes, the variances in severity --- this is "higher" knowledge that would come from an "advanced" course.

So...when I saw what was called an "advanced" course on crawlspaces but found nothing there to "advance" one's knowledge to a "higher level" of crawlspaces...I asked my question.

Instead of advanced courses, would it be better to call them something else?

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

Instead of advanced courses, would it be better to call them something else?

Call them what they are. Basic courses for people who might, someday, want to be a home inspector and refresher courses for the rest of us.