New Certification & Training Structure...Page 2 New Certification & Training Structure for Building...

New Certification & Training Structure

For Building Safety Codes Officers

Effective: October 3, 2016

New Certification and Training Structure for Building Safety Codes Officers

New Certification and Training Structure for Building Safety Codes OfficersThe Safety Codes Council (Council) is implementing a new certification and training structure for Building safety codes officers (SCOs). This booklet explains the new structure and the transition process, as well as answers some frequently asked questions.

The new certification structure was developed through consultation with the Building Sub-Council, Building SCOs, and organizations. In the summer of 2012, the Council consulted Building SCOs and their accredited employers about the proposed changes to the certification levels. The new structure approved by the Building Sub-Council reflects the feedback received through the consultation.

Changes to the Building SCO certification and training structure introduce a number of benefits for SCOs and accredited organizations. The new structure:

• establishes a more appropriate scope of practice for new Building SCOs;

• provides flexibility for Building SCOs and their employers by maintaining separate structural and HVAC certifications;

• simplifies and clarifies the scopes of practice for Building SCOs; and

• more closely aligns certification levels used in Alberta with those used for building officials in other provinces and territories.

The new structure will come into effect October 3, 2016. There will be a one-year transition period during which SCOs can take existing courses in order to transition to the new structure.

For certified Building SCOs, transition to the new certification and training structure is voluntary. Existing SCOs will be able to maintain their current certifications after the new structure takes effect.

More details on this change, including specific information for certified SCOs, current students, and prospective students, can be found on pages 3 and 4.

Council staff are available to answer questions and provide assistance specific to your situation. Please contact us at 780-413-0099 or 1-888-413-0099, or by email at [email protected].

New Certification & Training Structure for Building Safety Codes Officers

New Certifications and Scopes of PracticeThe new certification structure establishes new certification levels for Building SCOs. The training courses for Building SCOs have also undergone significant revision and reorganization. The new certification levels and their scopes of practice are described in the chart below.

Certification Scope of Practice

Residential(Residential housing except HVAC)

Houses within the scope of Article 9.10.15.1. (except HVAC systems), and garages and accessory buildings located on the same property as a house within the scope of Article 9.10.15.1 in the edition of the Alberta Building Code (ABC) in force.

Part 9(Part 9, except HVAC, and Part 10)

Buildings within the scope of Part 9 (except HVAC systems) and Part 10 in the edition of the ABC in force.

Part 3(All buildings except HVAC)

All buildings within the scope of the edition of the ABC in force, except HVAC systems. Includes medical gas piping systems within the scope of the ABC in force.

HVAC Residential(HVAC systems for residential housing)

HVAC systems for residential dwellings within the scope of sections 9.32 and 9.33 in the edition of the ABC in force. Includes hydronic heating systems within scope of Part 6 of the edition of the ABC in force.

HVAC All(All HVAC systems)

HVAC systems within the scope of Part 6, and sections 9.32 and 9.33 of the edition of the ABC in force. Includes medical gas piping systems within the scope of the ABC in force.

Medical Gas(Medical gas piping systems)

Prerequisite: Plumbing Group A and Gas Group A SCO certifications

Medical gas piping systems within the scope of the edition of the ABC in force.

Hydronic Heating(Hydronic heating systems)

Prerequisite: Plumbing Group A SCO certification

Hydronic heating systems within the scope of Part 6 of the edition of the ABC in force.

Implementation and Transition

Implementation and TransitionThe new Building SCO certification and training structure will be implemented on October 3, 2016, with a one-year transition period which ends October 1, 2017.

Upon implementation, the new certifications and the new courses will become available. The current courses will also be available during the one-year transition period. Anyone who wants to take current training courses must register in those courses before the end of the transition period. Students will be able to complete those courses after the transition period ends. After the transition period, only the new courses will be available for registration.

During the transition period, the Council will offer the current courses listed below at a reduced price of $200 per course to support current students as well as SCOs who voluntarily choose to transition to the new certification levels.

• Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances (#100033)

• Water-Based Fire Protection (#100050)

• Commercial Cooking Ventilation (#100052)

• Spray Painting Ventilation (#100053)

• High Rise Measures and Smoke Control Systems (#100054)

• Ventilation of Swimming Pools (#100055)

• Part 3 Subjects for a Level 3 SCO (#100039)

• Fire Alarm Systems (#100040)

• Exterior Acoustic Insulation (#100037)

• Medical Gas Piping Systems (#100038)

• Relocatable Industrial Accommodation (#100036)

If you are currently certified and would like to voluntarily transition to the new structure, refer to the charts on page 7 to find out which current courses you need to take.

Here’s what you need to know…As an SCOIf you are already certified as a Building SCO, transition to the new certification and training structure is voluntary. You can maintain your current certification until you retire without completing any additional training (aside from regular code update training). The new structure only applies to Building SCOs who decide to voluntarily transition and those who obtain additional certifications after the transition period ends.

The Council strongly encourages current Building SCOs to voluntarily transition to the new certification levels during the transition period. The benefit of transitioning before October 2017 is that you will be able to use current courses to be certified under the new structure. If you wait until after the transition period,


you will need to take new courses that are required for the new certification level you want to obtain. This may mean repeating some course content that was covered in the current courses.

Whether you decide to transition or not, you will still be required to take code update training and any other training mandated by the Building Sub-Council to maintain SCO certification.

As a Current StudentIf you have begun training but have not obtained certification before the new structure is implemented on October 3, 2016, you can register in the current training courses until the end of the transition period. After the transition period ends on October 1, 2017, only the new courses will be available for registration. Council staff are available to provide guidance on specific situations and what courses are required.

Students who obtain a current certification during the transition period can maintain that certification until they retire from the system unless they decide to voluntarily transition to the new certification structure or obtain additional certifications after the one-year transition period ends.

As a Prospective StudentStudents who begin taking training after the new structure is implemented on October 3, 2016, will be subject to the new certification structure and can only register for the new training courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What happens at the end of the transition period?After the transition period, all certified Building SCOs can maintain their certifications. For example, a Group B Level 1 SCO who decided not to transition to the new structure will be able to maintain Group B Level 1 certification until he retires. A Group B Level 1 SCO who decided to transition to the new HVAC All certification during the transition period will be able to maintain her new HVAC All certification.

Current training courses will not be available for registration after the transition period ends. Those who want to become Building SCOs, and Building SCOs who want to obtain additional certifications, will do so within the new certification and training structure.

2. How does the new certification and training structure streamline the training and reduce costs for students and employers?

• The new Residential and HVAC Residential certification levels require fewer courses to become certified as an SCO. This will allow an applicant to begin working as an SCO sooner.

• The new Hydronic Heating certification will allow Plumbing and Gas SCOs to perform inspections under the building code without the full course requirement needed to become certified as a Building SCO.

• The separate structural and HVAC certifications in the new structure will provide flexibility for Building SCOs and their employers.

Frequently Asked Questions

3. How do the new certification levels compare to those used in other provinces and territories?The new certifications are more closely aligned with the certification levels used in other provinces and territories. This approach is consistent with Alberta’s labour mobility obligations under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement and national Agreement on Internal Trade. This makes it easier for SCOs certified in Alberta to work in other provinces and territories.

4. How is certification and training for relocatable industrial accommodation changing? Currently, there is a stand-alone certification for relocatable industrial accommodation. An individual must already be certified as a Group A Level 1 Building SCO to be eligible for this certification.

A stand-alone certification for relocatable industrial accommodation is not offered under the new certification structure. Instead, this course is included in the training required for certification as a Part 9 Building SCO. This change simplifies the certification and training structure and provides Building SCOs with more awareness of the different systems and materials that they might encounter while conducting plans reviews or inspections of structures that fall within their scope of practice.

Please note that the relocatable industrial accommodation course is still available for individuals who do not want to become a Building SCO but require this training for other purposes.

5. How is certification and training for exterior acoustic insulation changing?Currently, there is a stand-alone certification for exterior acoustic insulation and an individual must already be certified as a Group A Level 1 Building SCO to be eligible for this certification.

A stand-alone certification for exterior acoustic insulation is not offered under the new certification structure. Instead, this course is included in the training required for certification as a Residential Building SCO. This change simplifies the certification and training structure and provides Building SCOs with more awareness of the different systems and materials that they might encounter while conducting plans reviews or inspections of structures that fall within their scope of practice.

6. How is certification and training for medical gas piping systems changing?Currently, there is a stand-alone certification for medical gas piping systems and an individual must already be certified as Group A Level 3 or Group B Level 3 to be eligible for this certification.

Under the new certification structure, Building SCOs will receive training on medical gas piping to obtain Part 3 or HVAC All certifications. The stand-alone medical gas certification will be maintained. Going forward under the new structure, only individuals certified as both Group A Plumbing and Group A Gas SCOs will be eligible to obtain this certification.

This change was made based on consultation with the Building and Plumbing Sub-Councils. Although the technical requirements for medical gas piping systems are included in the Alberta Building Code, these systems are closely related to the plumbing and gas disciplines.


This change gives accredited organizations flexibility to assign either a Plumbing and Gas SCO or a Building SCO to inspect these systems within their jurisdiction.

7. Why does the new certification and training structure include a stand-alone certification for hydronic heating systems?Currently, training for hydronic heating systems is required for Group B Level 1 certification and there is no stand-alone certification.

Under the new certification structure, hydronics training is required to obtain HVAC Residential certification. However, some accredited organizations currently require their Plumbing SCOs to be certified as Building SCOs for the sole purpose of inspecting hydronic heating systems. Establishing a new stand-alone hydronics certification supports accredited organizations that use this practice.

The new stand-alone hydronics certification will require Plumbing Group A certification as a prerequisite and will allow Plumbing SCOs to inspect hydronic heating systems without obtaining a full Building SCO certification. At the same time, Building SCOs can inspect hydronic heating systems if they have HVAC Residential or HVAC All certification. This change gives accredited organizations flexibility to decide who will inspect these systems within their jurisdiction.

8. How can an SCO find out more information or ask questions about the new certification and training?Contact the Council at 780-413-0099 or 1-888-413-0099, or by email at [email protected].

Courses Needed for Existing SCOs to Transition

Group A Level 1Current Certification Level

Part 9New Certification Level

Courses Required for Transition:• Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances• Relocatable Industrial Accommodation• Exterior Acoustic Insulation



Courses Required for Transition:• Group A Level 3 Courses• Relocatable Industrial Accommodation• Medical Gas Piping Systems• Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances• Exterior Acoustic Insulation

Courses Needed for Existing SCOs to TransitionIf an SCO would like to be certified under the new structure, the following information identifies the current courses needed to transition from their level of certification (e.g. Group A Level 1) to the most equivalent level in the new certification structure (e.g. Part 9). Transitioning to the new certification levels using the current courses ensures that you will not be required to repeat any previously completed training.

If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact us at 780-413-0099 or 1-888-413-0099, or by email at [email protected].


Group B Level 2Current Certification Level

HVAC AllNew Certification Level

Courses Required for Transition:• Group B Level 3 courses• Medical Gas Piping Systems


HVAC AllNew Certification Level

Courses Required for Transition:• Medical Gas Piping Systems



Courses Required for Transition:• Relocatable Industrial Accommodation• Medical Gas Piping Systems• Solid-Fuel Burning Appliances• Exterior Acoustic Insulation


Hydronic HeatingNew Certification Level

No Courses Required for Transition.

#1000, 10665 Jasper Avenue N.W.Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3S9

Phone 780.413.0099 / 1.888.413.0099Fax 780.424.5134 / 1.888.424.5134

safetycodes.ab.ca

New Certification & Training Structure...Page 2 New Certification & Training Structure for Building...

Documents

Transcript of New Certification & Training Structure...Page 2 New Certification & Training Structure for Building...