Residential Structural Design for Home Inspectors Course

 
Welcome to InterNACHI's free, online Residential Structural Design for Home Inspectors Course.
 
 

Goal:

Welcome to InterNACHI’s free, online Residential Structural Design for Home Inspectors Course. This course will help the inspector learn how to perform phase, OverSeeIt inspections, and pre-drywall inspections on new residential buildings using fundamental structural principles and a comprehensive design approach to construction that draws on existing and innovative engineering technologies in a practical manner.  

 

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • present a sound perspective on North American housing relative to its history, construction characteristics, regulation, and performance experience;
  • provide the latest technical knowledge and engineering approaches for the design of homes to complement current code-prescribed design methods;
  • assemble relevant design data and methods in a single, comprehensive format that is instructional and simple to apply for the complete design of a home; and
  • reveal areas where gaps in existing research, design specifications, and analytic tools necessitate alternative methods of design and sound engineering judgment to produce efficient designs.
 

Course includes:

  • 19.0 InterNACHI® credit hours;
  • 101,009 words;
  • student book;
  • inspection and writing assignment;
  • research and writing assignment;
  • 192 quiz questions in 13 quizzes;
  • 70-question final exam (drawn from a larger pool);
  • instant grading; and
  • a downloadable, printable Certificate of Completion.

 

Residential Structural Design for Home Inspectors Course

Course # 3402

nachi.org/residential-structural-design-home-inspectors

Activity

Assignments

Estimated hours for the average student

Academic Engagement

Reading online course instructional material at 140 words per minute.

12.0

Taking quizzes

5.9

Taking the exam

2.1

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

25.0



Preparation

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

12.0

Reading the downloaded student course book including taking the quizzes with the book

12.0

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

38.0


Sub Total

63.0

Overall Total


63.0 clock hours

6.3 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. 
 
The course has been approved by:
 
The course covers the following topics: 
 
Introduction to Residential Structural Design
  • Introduction

Structural Design Basics 
  • Conventional Residential Construction
  • Industrialized Housing
  • Alternative Materials and Methods
  • Building Codes and Standards
  • Role of the Design Professional
  • Housing Structural Performance
  • Common Performance Issues
  • Housing Performance
  • Hurricane Andrew
  • Hurricane Opal
  • Northridge Earthquake
  • Summary
  • Quiz

Structural Design Concepts
  • Introduction
  • What is Structural Design?
  • Load Conditions and Structural Systems
  • Vertical Loads
  • Lateral Loads
  • Structural Systems
  • Load Path
  • Vertical Load Path
  • Lateral Load Path
  • Summary
  • Quiz

Structural Design Loads
  • General
  • Load Combinations
  • Dead Loads
  • Live Loads
  • Soil Lateral Loads
  • Wind Loads
  • Determination of Wind Loads
  • Steps 1 – 5
  • Special Considerations
  • Special Considerations
  • Building Durability
  • Tips to Improve Performance
  • Snow Loads
  • Earthquake Loads
  • Determination of Earthquake Loads on Houses
  • Seismic Shear Force Distribution
  • Special Seismic Design Considerations
  • Other Load Conditions
  • Quiz

Structural Design of Foundations
  • General
  • Material Properties
  • Concrete
  • Concrete Masonry Units
  • Mortar
  • Grout
  • Soil-Bearing Capacity and Footing Size
  • Footings
  • Simple Gravel & Concrete Footing Design
  • Concrete Footing Design
  • One-Way (Beam) Shear
  • Two-Way (Punching) Shear
  • Flexure (Bending)
  • Bearing Strength
  • Plain Concrete Footing Design
  • Flexure
  • Reinforced Concrete Footing Design
  • Shear
  • Flexure
  • Minimum Requirement
  • Lap Splices
  • Foundation Walls
  • Concrete Foundation Walls
  • Plain Concrete Wall Design
  • Shear Capacity
  • Combined Axial and Bending Capacity
  • Reinforced Concrete Design
  • Shear Capacity
  • Combined Flexural and Axial Load Capacity
  • Slenderness
  • Moment Magnifier Method
  • Interaction Diagrams
  • Minimum Concrete Wall Reinforcement
  • Concrete Wall Deflection
  • Concrete Wall Lintels
  • Flexural Capacity
  • Shear Capacity
  • Check Concrete Lintel Deflection
  • Masonry Foundation Walls
  • Unreinforced Masonry Design
  • Shear Capacity
  • Axial Compression Capacity
  • Combined Axial Compression & Flexural Capacity
  • Tension Capacity
  • Reinforced Masonry Design
  • Shear Capacity
  • Axial Compression Capacity
  • Combined Axial Compression & Flexural Capacity
  • Minimum Masonry Wall Reinforcement
  • Masonry Wall Lintels
  • Preservative-Treated Wood Foundation Walls
  • Insulating Concrete Form Foundation Walls
  • Slab on Grade
  • Pile Foundations
  • Frost Protection
  • Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations
  • Permafrost
  • Quiz

Structural Design of Wood Framing
  • General
  • Material Properties
  • Wood Species
  • Lumber Sizes
  • Lumber Grades
  • Moisture Content
  • Durability
  • Structural Wood Panels
  • Lumber Design Values
  • Adjustment Factors
  • Load Duration Factor
  • Repetitive Member Factor
  • Horizontal Shear Factor
  • Size Factor
  • Column Stability Factor
  • Beam Stability Factor
  • Structural Evaluation
  • Structural Safety Checks
  • Horizontal Shear
  • Compression Perpendicular to Grain
  • Combined Bending and Axial Loading
  • Compression and Column Stability
  • Tension
  • Structural Serviceability
  • Floor Vibration
  • Shrinkage
  • Floor Framing
  • Floor Joist Design
  • Subfloor Design
  • Wall Framing
  • Load-Bearing Walls
  • Non-Load Bearing Partition
  • Headers
  • Columns
  • Roofs
  • Conventional Roof Framing
  • Roof Trusses
  • Roof Sheathing
  • Gable-End Wall Bracing
  • Quiz

Structural Design of Roof Framing
  • Roof Styles
  • Roof Framing, Part 1
  • Roof Framing, Part 2
  • Roof Framing, Part 3
  • Quiz

Structural Design of Lateral Resistance to Wind and Earthquake
  • General
  • Overview of Whole-Building Tests
  • LFRS Design Steps & Terminology
  • The Current LFRS Design Practice
  • Lateral Force Distribution Methods
  • Tributary Area Approach (Flexible Diaphragm)
  • Total Shear Approach (“Eyeball” Method)
  • Relative Stiffness Design Approach
  • Shear Wall Design Approaches
  • Segmented Shear Wall Design Approach
  • Basic Perforated Shear Wall Design Approach
  • Enhancements to the PSW Approach
  • Basic Diaphragm Design Approach
  • Design Guidelines
  • Shear Wall Design
  • Wood Structural Panels
  • Portland Cement Stucco
  • Gypsum Wall Board
  • 1x4 Wood Let-In Braces and Metal T-Braces
  • Other Shear-Resisting Wall Facing
  • Combining Wall Bracing Materials
  • Shear Wall Design Capacity
  • Perforated Shear Wall Design Approach
  • Segmented Shear Wall Design Approach
  • Shear Capacity Adjustment Factors
  • Species Adjustment Factor
  • Nail Size Adjustment Factor
  • Opening Adjustment Factor
  • Dead Load Adjustment Factor
  • Aspect Ratio Adjustment Factor
  • Overturning Restraint
  • Shear Transfer (Sliding)
  • Shear Wall Stiffness & Drift
  • Perforated Shear Wall Load-Drift Relationship
  • Segmented Shear Wall Load-Drift Relationship
  • Empirical, Non-Linear Load-Drift Equation
  • Portal Frames
  • Diaphragm Design Values
  • Diaphragm Design
  • Shear Transfer (Sliding)
  • Diaphragm Stiffness
  • Quiz
 
Structural Connection Design
  • General
  • Types of Mechanical Fasteners
  • Nails
  • Bolts
  • Specialty Connection Hardware
  • Lag Screws
  • Wood Connection Design
  • Adjusted Allowable Design Values
  • Nailed Connections
  • Bolted Connections
  • Lag Screws
  • System Design Considerations
  • Sheathing Withdrawal Connections
  • Roof-to-Wall Connections
  • Heel Joint in Rafter-to-Ceiling Joist Connection
  • Wall-to-Floor Connections
  • Design of Concrete & Masonry Connections
  • Concrete or Masonry Foundation Wall to Footing
  • Friction Used to Provide Shear Transfer
  • Key Used to Provide Shear Transfer
  • Dowels Used to Provide Adequate Shear Transfer
  • Anchorage and Bearing on Foundation Walls
  • Bearing Strength
  • Evaluating Problems with Fasteners
  • Summary
  • Quiz


Upon completion of this course and passing of the final exam, 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.
 
Non-members may view only this first page of the course.
 
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.

 
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.
 

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