hausdok

FORT COLLINS, COLO. Home Inspectors are now able to transform a standard laptop into a rugged laptop with the OtterBox Rugged Laptop Carrying Case, from Otter Products, LLC. Available in three customizable sizes, released throughout the year, this rugged case provides water, dust and drop protection. Case keeps laptops safe in any environment, for work or play. With a virtually indestructible polypropylene shell, the OtterBox Rugged Laptop Carrying Case is ready for any adventure. The first available case, the 7030, accommodates laptops with screens 14â€

Washington State Energy Code [502.1.6]; WSEC Builder's Field Guide, Page 2-3: Ground Cover. Six-mil black polyethylene or approved equal must be laid over the ground within all crawlspaces. The ground cover: Must extend to the foundation wall Seams must be lapped 12 inches. (See Figures 2.1 and 4.6) May be omitted if a minimum of 3-1/2 inch concrete slab is poured in the crawlspace That should do it for you. Go here to download the code text and a copy of the Builder's Field Guide. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi Randy, You have to understand that FHB, like TOH, is aimed at the consumer. TOH stresses high end tinker toys while FHB stresses design. Neither is really geared toward a home inspector or a builder for that matter. On the other hand, JLC and most of the Hanley-Wood pubs are aimed squarely at the snuffy wearing a tool belt and are about showing him not just where to drive the nail but how to run the business to drive it. I think having a subscription to FHB and JLC is a good ideal because they compliment each other. However, if you really want to get maximum bang for no bucks, you need to get yourself free subscriptions to Contractor, Metal Roofing Mag, Plumbing & Mechanical, Frame Building News, Engineered Systems, Reeves Journal, Rural Builder, PM Engineer Professional Roofing, and Professional Deck Building. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

The GFCI is comparing what's coming through the hot side of the circuit versus what's returning on the neutral side. If there is a variance outside of what the device allows, it cuts power to the circuit faster than one's nervous system can react. If you don't have a ground, but you inadvertently create a ground - say like with a ratty old 40-year old toaster with a frayed cord and a metal housing, by touching the housing and the faucet at the sink at the same time, your body becomes the easier path for that current to return to ground and it shunts into you. The GFCI senses that something has changed on the neutral leg of the circuit and cuts that power faster than my wife on the way to a Bon Marche sale, in plenty of time for your heart not to go into defrib or whatever it's called. Cutting a cord will probably cause a short and trip the breaker, the kid sticking the keys in the receptacle might do the same thing, or cause a ground fault, either way, the GFCI will sense the change and trip if that variance is outside of the GFCI's tolerance range. Okay, that's my understanding of it and I'm not real comfortable with electrics, so you electro gurus can have at me and tear my explanation to shreds. [:-blindfo

Hi Rob, Here's another one for you: http://hanleywood.sparklist.com/t/10290 ... 0/91692/0/ OT - OF!!! M.

Thanks Kurt but no thanks is necessary. Just use it to get smarter about the business and then spread some of that new knowledge around. It's like building blocks. Every little bit of knowledge we can add to each others' inventory helps to gradually raise the competence bar in the profession and that, in turn, helps to move us further from mere service persons to those practicing a true discipline. OT - OF!!! M.

Hi Randy, The breaker will trip if a ground fault is created, regardless of whether the receptacle is grounded or not. OT - OF!!! M.

Fine Homebuilding Magazine, which has long been a staple of many contractors and home inspectors, has recently launched an online monthly newsletter. This month, there are two articles of interest to home inspectors. The first is an article about swamp coolers and explains how they work, the second is a short video that explains some of the specialized fittings and unique crimping methods used with cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe. If you'd like to subscribe to this newsletter, click here.

If you inspect in a cold northern climate and are seeing new hi-tech construction details that you're not familiar with, you might consider investing in Dr. Joe Lstiburek's new book, Builder's Guide to Cold Climates ($45.00) available from The Journal of Light Construction Online Bookstore. According to JLC's press release: "This compact guide contains up-to-date information on building durable, energy-efficient homes using the latest materials and design concepts. You'll find detailed, practical information on all aspects of home construction - from foundations and framing to vapor retarders, HVAC, and ventilation, representing the current thinking of the country's leading energy building experts. Loaded with over 170 detailed construction drawings, the book is organized for easy access to information, and its handy size and heavy spiral binding make it convenient for the job site" If it's written by Dr. Joe, you can be sure that it'll be a building science education in itself and worth the cost. For this and other JLC books, Click here.

The real estate market is still hot in some parts of the US and Canada and frenzied competition between buyers has resulted in some inspectors seeing a substantial drop in business. Click here to read about the experiences of some inspectors in Edmonton, Alberta.

Recently, across the U.S., in an effort to improve neighborhoods and ensure that even the poorest home buyer isn't saddled with an unsafe or unlivable home, some municipalities have begun experimenting with the idea of requiring all sellers or landlords to have their properties inspected prior to resale or re-rental. Here are articles about two such programs. One which hasn't gotten off the ground, because it's encountering resistance from special interest groups, and another that was implemented but is now suspended because the municipality couldn't keep up with demand for inspections.

By Mike O'Handley On January 9th, Washington State Senators Spanel and Kohl-Welles introduced legislation to require registration of all home inspectors in the State of Washington. As is the custom in Olympia, that bill, Senate Bill 6229, was immediately sent to a sunrise review committee to determine whether there is a need for such legislation, and it is anticipated that it will resurface. In response to that legislation, which many inspectors saw as not representative of the home inspectors in the state, a concerned group of home inspectors met to form a broad coalition, representative of all major organizations and independent inspectors in the state, to address the question of home inspector legislation in Washington State. This group, the Washington Home Inspectors Legislative Advisory Group, meets monthly and is seeking input pro or con about home inspection legislation from all concerned Washington State home inspectors. Click on the first link below to download a copy of the group's introductory letter and to find out how to submit your input. The second and third links are to the bill's digest and to the actual proposed law as it was introduced. Download Attachment: LetterOfIntroduction.doc 131.58 KB Download Attachment: 6229_Digest.pdf 6.33 KB Download Attachment: 6229_The_whole_thing.pdf 42.18 KB

I recommend more bran in his diet. OT - OF!!! M.

Say Rob, Don't you guys have a Chapter Newsletter and isn't it archived online. I seem to recall stumbling across it. I bet if you check out the newsletter archives you'll find that company's information. Ahem, this sounds like a job for Chapter President Man, Jim Morrison. He can use his x-ray vision and super speed and have it for you in no time. [:-eyebrow OT - OF!!! M.

A new West Virginia law that went into effect on August 1st requires all home inspectors operating within the state to be certified through the state fire commission. To be certified, home inspectors will have to pass the national home inspection exam and meet certain requirements for continuing education and liability insurance coverage. To read the entire article click here.

Ever had to reinspect a home where the seller agreed to make repairs and then had Uncle Freddy, the family fix-it guy do the work and do it poorly? Frustrating isn't it? In this article in the Evansville (IN) CourierPress, home inspector/columnist Dwight Barnett explains to an upset seller why choosing a handyman wasn't the smartest thing to do. Click here to read the entire article.

Seattle, WA Buying a home may be one of the largest investments a person will make in their life and having the resources to guide one through the process is essential. With one in every seven people in the U.S speaking Spanish, the need for Spanish materials to assist in the home buying process is essential. That is why WIN Home Inspection, a national leader in home inspection services, now offers a Spanish version of its Home Buyers brochure. When purchasing a home, having a home inspection performed is the key to knowing a home’s current condition. A home inspection can uncover any potential issues within a home. WIN’s Spanish Home Buyers brochure clearly communicates the importance of a home inspection and its benefits and guides them through the inspection process. In fact, every part of the WIN process is designed to give their clients peace of mind during what can be an exciting yet stressful time. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, minority homeownership hit an all-time high last year. Nearly six million Hispanics currently own homes in the U.S. Forty percent of first-time home buyers over the next 20 years are expected to be Hispanic, a recent Harvard Joint Center for Housing study revealed. As these numbers continue to rise, real estate service providers are seeing a demand for Spanish versions of real estate related materials. CONTACT: Emily Butterfield TELEPHONE: 206.728.8100 ext. 8107 EMAIL: ebutterfield@wini.com ABOUT WIN HOME INSPECTION WIN Home Inspection is a nationally recognized leader in home inspection services, having performed over 260,000 inspections since 1994. With more than 235 franchised locations nationwide, the WIN network of home inspectors provides a complete array of professional inspection services for home buyers, sellers and owners. For more information, contact WIN at 1-800-309-6753 or visit our website at www.wini.com

Hi Rob, I just looked in my Old House Journal Restoration Directory and I'm seeing First Period Colonial Restoration/Preservation Littleton Millwork Dana Robes Wood Craftsmen ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Easy Big Guy, I don't write this stuff. I just find it and point you to it. [:-mischie OT - OF!!! M.

What's the Difference? Apparently, in the State of North Carolina, a whole lot, as evidenced in this Charlotte, NC WCNC News article run July 13th. Click here to read more.

In his July 6 Helter Shelter column in The Nashville Scene, Walter Jowers encourages consumers to ask their home inspector the one question that is bound to illicit an evasive response, "Would you buy this house?" and tells them what responses they are liable to receive. Click here to read the article and see where your own answer to that question falls.

WASHINGTON, D.C. In an effort to reduce the rising death toll from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer use of portable generators, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a notice of proposed rule making (NPR). The proposed standard would require manufacturers to place a new warning label on portable generators. The label includes pictograms and statements warning consumers that a generator's exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide and that a generator should NEVER be used inside the home or in partially enclosed areas such as garages. CPSC has reports of 64 people who died last year from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with portable generators. Many of the deaths occurred after hurricanes and major storms. Later this year, CPSC staff will be providing the Commission with information on other potential regulatory and non-regulatory options to reduce deaths and injuries caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from generators. The public has 75 days to comment to the Commission about the NPR.Comments can be submitted to CPSC's Office of the Secretary attstevenson@cpsc.gov STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE NANCY A. NORD ACTING CHAIRMAN, U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSIONNOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING FOR PORTABLE GENERATORS August 15, 2006 Today I am voting to publish for comment a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would require all portable generators sold to consumers in the United States bear a specific warning label. The purpose of the proposed rule is to better warn consumers about the very real danger ofcarbon monoxide (CO) poisoning posed by the use of a portable generator in or near a home. The demand by consumers for portable generators has increased in recent years. Portable generators can be extremely useful machines, particularly after the loss of electricity in the wake of a storm or for some other reason. However, as the number of portable generators in use has increased, so too have the number of people who have been killed or sickened by CO poisoning from those generators. The amount of CO emitted from a portable generator can be up to several hundred times that released by a modern car's exhaust and can kill consumers in a very short period of time, especially while they sleep, as several recent,tragic incidents have demonstrated. In addition to the proposed warning label requirement, I anticipate that the Commission will soon receive a staff package outlining other regulatory options the Commission might consider regarding portable generators. I look forward to receiving that package as well as the public's comments on this NPR, and to continuing to work with all of our stakeholders on this important issue. STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE THOMAS H. MOORE COMMISSIONER, U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSIONON THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING REGARDING LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR PORTABLE GENERATORS August 15, 2006 In the six year period from 2000 through 2005, CPSC staff is aware of at least 222 deaths related to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning associated with portable generators. Far too many of the deaths associated with the use of portable generators predictably occur following severe weather events that typically cause power outages. Consumers, unknowingly, expose themselves and others to lethal CO gas while using the portable generator as a substitute power source often during times of high stress and anxiety. As part of a comprehensive review of the existing portable generatorsafety measures, our staff looked into the sufficiency of warning labels to address the carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning hazard posed by portable generators. As a result of that review, staff has provided a recommendation for a product warning label to be affixed to portable generators. The Commission staff believes that current warning labels are ambiguous and do not adequately advise the user on how to avoid the CO poisoning hazard. I am voting today to issue the staff's recommendation as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and thereby inviting all interested parties to provide comments to the Commission on the overall sufficiency of the recommended warning label in addressing the CO poisoning hazard associated with the use of portable generators. I also encourage comments from interested parties about the desirability of specifically providing for the warning label to be in a second language on the generator itself. My understanding is that staff did not intend to preclude the use of a second language warning label, but since no specific provision is made in the proposed rule for such a label on the generator, whereas it is for the label on the generator packaging, some manufacturers might conclude that a label in a language other than English is not allowed on the generator itself. Comments about the format of any second language warning label would also be instructive,particularly in light of Underwriters Laboratories' requirements in this regard in its Outline of Investigation. As mentioned above, our staff is conducting a thorough review of the existing portable generator safety measures. While improvements to warnings are important, warning labels, by themselves, may be insufficient as a sole means of addressing the CO poisoning hazard. From our experience, we know that simple awareness of a possible hazard will not in every instance dissuade a consumer from behavior that leads to exposure to the hazard. Therefore, in the very near future, our staff will be providing to the Commission a briefing package that will contain a comprehensive discussion on additional regulatory and non-regulatory alternatives which could be used to further reduce CO related deaths and injuries associated with the use of portable generators. To see this release on CPSC's Web site, including a picture of the proposed warning label, please go to:http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06239.html The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Release #06-231; August 15, 2006 Inspectors, check those notebook battery packs! Dell Corporation, along with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled 2.7 million Dell-branded lithium-ion batteries, made with cells manufactured by Sony, because of a fire hazard. To view the CPSC press release online click here.

As the hurricane season moves into full swing, inspectors in the Florida and the gulf states need to be better prepared than ever before. The Institute for Business & Home Safety has a complete online library of free, downloadable information about protecting homes from the destructive effects of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hail, high winds, wildfires, and intense winter weather. It's definitely worth a read.

Are you in wet basement country and need to have a better understanding of what options are available for clients? The Journal of Light Contruction Online Bookstore has released The Wet Basement Manual ($18.00) written by A.E. Maurice. This book addresses a variety of wet basement issues in commercial and residential construction and has many illustrations of how to deal with seepage; leaking basement windows, downspout flow, radon, stone foundations and properly construct French drains. For this and other JLC books, Click here.