Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers Course

 
Welcome to InterNACHI's free, online Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers course. Developed originally by InterNACHI's Russell Meyers.


Goal:

The goal of this course is to teach the inspector how to evaluate foundation walls and piers, including new innovations in the foundation and concrete industries. 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
  • identify the components that constitute foundation walls and piers;
  • describe and evaluate masonry cracks and indications of settlement;
  • inspect for indications of structural failure; and
  • identify innovations in cement and concrete systems. 

Course includes:

  • 19,498 words;
  • student book;
  • inspection and writing assignment;
  • research and writing assignment;
  • 32 quiz questions in 3 quizzes; 
  • a 30-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool); 
  • instant grading; and
  • a downloadable, printable Certificate of Completion.


Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers Course

Course # 3408

nachi.org/wallsandpierscoursereleased2008

Activity

Assignments

Estimated hours for the average student

Academic Engagement

Reading online course instructional material at 140 words per minute.

2.3

Taking quizzes

1.0

Taking the exam

0.9

Conducting a directed and independent inspection study performed according to the Standards of Practice, including the development of an inspection report

4.0

Submitting an inspection and writing assignment

0.5

Submitting a research and writing assignment
0.5

Total

9.2



Preparation

Studying and reviewing instructional material in preparation for taking quizzes and exam 

2.0

Reading the downloaded student course book including taking the quizzes with the book
2.0
Reading, research, and studying related to completing the research and writing assignment

4.0

Studying and preparing for inspection processes according to a Standards of Practice, including capturing and storing digital images with a camera or device, making observations, evaluating conditions, deducing, formulating opinions, communicating observations in written form, attaining competency in performing inspections and using an inspection checklist or software and other inspection tools in producing a report. 
10.0

Total

18.0




Sub Total

27.2

Overall Total


27.0 hours

2.7 CEU

 
 
And, in keeping with InterNACHI's commitment to Continuing Education, this course is open and free to all members and can be taken again and again, without limit.
 
Reminder to members: InterNACHI's Code of Ethics 1.10 requires that you comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where you conduct business. InterNACHI's courses and Standards generally exceed the Standards of Practice that you are required to abide by locally. 
 
  1. Introduction 
  2. Definition of Terms
  3. Masonry
  4. Masonry Cracks
  5. Bricks and Mortar
  6. Settlement
  7. Cracking
  8. Above-Ground Masonry Walls
  9. Structural Failure
  10. Brick Veneer Walls
  11. Fire Damage
  12. Vapor Barriers
  13. Innovations: Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC)
  14. Innovations: Cement Substitutes
  15. Innovations: Cement Admixtures
  16. Innovations: Concrete Aggregate Substitutes
  17. Innovations: Concrete Footing and Pier Forms
  18. Innovations: Concrete Waterproofing Systems
  19. Innovations: Fibrous Concrete Reinforcement
  20. Flashing Products – Manufactured Roof and Pan
  21. Formwork for Ventilated Concrete Slabs
  22. Foundation Drainage Panels
  23. Foundation Flood Vents
  24. Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations (FPSF)
  25. ICF Walls – Wood Fiber Composite Forms
  26. Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF)
  27. Manufactured Housing Disaster-Resistant Pier
  28. Manufactured Housing Ground Anchor Systems
  29. Masonry and Concrete Adhesives
  30. Modular Block Retaining Wall Systems
  31. Plastic Ductwork Systems
  32. Precast Concrete Foundation and Wall Panels
  33. Pumice-Crete
  34. Steel Foundation Systems
  35. Wood Foundations
  36. Prefabricated Storm Shelter
  37. Water-Resistant Polyethylene Subfloor Systems
 

Upon completion of this course and passing of the 25-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool), the student can download and print their own Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name.

The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log.

Members will need their username and password. If you have forgotten your password, CLICK HERE (instant response) or email fastreply@internachi.org and request it (don't forget your name).

InterNACHI... #1 in inspection education.

InterNACHI® Members:

Take the free, online Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers course now (free to InterNACHI members).

Not a member yet?

Join today for access to this and thousands of other InterNACHI® membership benefits.
 
 



Some features which make InterNACHI's courses superior to existing continuing education options:
  • The course is free for all InterNACHI members.
  • The course is written in pure XHTML code for quick loading. The course loads fine on old computers and loads fast, even with dial-up.
  • The course is designed using a hierarchal menu coupled with a sequential page navigation. This provides the student with the option to easily repeat areas of weakness.
  • The course permits the student to start, stop and restart any part of the course as often as desired.
  • There are a variety of images within the course, including diagrams, illustrations and photos.
  • The illustrations can be enlarged for clearer viewing by clicking on them.
  • The text is integrated into InterNACHI's Inspector Glossary. Rolling over blue-colored terms provides their definition.
  • The final exam uses multiple-choice questions that reference the images.
  • The course's quizzes and final exam have numerous advantages over traditional exam systems:
    1. The course, quizzes and final exam incorporate built-in intelligence which identifies and strengthens each student's unique subject weaknesses.
    2. Not only is each question weighted with regard to score, but each answer is weighted, as well as the correctness of each answer being weighted.
      1. Answers to easy questions are weighted such that the student is penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly, but rewarded modestly for answering correctly.
      2. Answers to difficult questions are weighted such that the student is rewarded, in terms of score, for answering correctly, but not penalized for answering incorrectly.
      3. Answers to questions regarding basic safety, or questions every inspector should know the answer to, are weighted such that the student is severely penalized, in terms of score, for answering incorrectly.
  • Upon passing the final exam, the student can print out a Certificate of Completion which is auto-generated in their own name.
The student's (InterNACHI member's) information is recorded on InterNACHI's servers for membership compliance verification, and automatically logs completion into InterNACHI's online Continuing Education log.




InterNACHI® Members:

Take the free, online Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers course now (free to InterNACHI members).

Not a member yet?

Join today for access to this and thousands of other InterNACHI® membership benefits.