CCPIA’s Commercial Building Structural Evaluation Course for Commercial Property Inspectors aims to teach the student how to evaluate the most common commercial building structures.
Structural Evaluation Online Course Overview
In this course, the student will learn about the fundamentals of a structural assessment for the common types of commercial structures, including homes converted into office spaces, buildings designed as commercial office buildings, motels, apartment buildings, warehouses, parking structures, retail spaces, restaurants, manufacturing structures, and industrial structures. The typical materials and framing systems used in commercial buildings are also discussed.
Determining Use and Occupancy
The first step in the design of a commercial building is to determine the building’s Use and Occupancy classification. This section discusses the importance of a building’s current and future use and its relation to IBC Section 302 Occupancy Classification and Use Designation. The student will learn how to determine a building’s Use and Occupancy classification and how to determine its live loads per IBC Table 1607-1.
Structural Design Basics
This section is an introduction to how a structure works. It compares a typical residential structure to different commercial structures to help the tradesman or home inspector transition to commercial structural inspections. Various loads paths and resistances are illustrated. Knowing the basic concepts of structural design can help inspectors better understand and evaluate commercial structures.
Inspection Methodology
This section teaches the student how to go about inspecting and reporting on a commercial structure. It covers the inspection procedure, including the pre-bid proposal, research and document procurement, and site observation. A Simplified Structural Evaluation Checklist is provided, and students apply the course material in a series of exercises to determine the structure type for various buildings (occupancy, wall type, visible building materials, structural type, vertical support system, lateral support system, or foundation type).
Continuing Education
International Code Council (ICC) has approved Certified Commercial Property Inspectors Association’s (CCPIA) Commercial Building Structural Evaluation Course for 0.40 CEUs. For more information, visit Commercial Building Structural Evaluation Course for Commercial Property Inspectors. This course is also eligible for InterNACHI® continuing education credits.
Additional Course Information
This is a self-paced course. There are quizzes throughout, and students are required to answer all quiz questions correctly before moving on to the next lesson. There is a final exam at the end of the course. The student has an unlimited number of attempts but a time limit of two hours to complete the exam. Upon successful completion of the course and passing the final exam, the student will be able to download a Certificate of Completion, which is auto-generated in their own name.
InterNACHI’s Structural Issues for Home Inspectors Course and/or Residential Structural Design for Home Inspectors Course are the recommended prerequisites to this online CCPIA course.
CCPIA’s Structural Evaluation of Existing Buildings Online Course is ideal for commercial property inspectors, and students who have a background in home inspection and/or property/facilities management, as well as people in the commercial construction trades.