From the Codes Committee – The Ins and Outs of Maintaining New York State Code Enforcement Certification

By Chairman F.J. Spinelli
NYSAFC Codes Committee

On January 1, 2015, a revision of the training requirements for code enforcement personnel in New York state became effective. 19 NYCRR Part 1208 includes provisions for basic training for building safety inspectors (BSI) and code enforcement officers (CEO), as well as in-service requirements to maintain those certifications. The Division of Building Standards and Codes (BSC) training division is unable to provide in-service training due to a lack of staffing, leaving code enforcement personnel throughout the state scrambling to various conferences in hopes of finding sufficient training to meet the requirements. The time and financial burden on local governments and staff is significant and remains unrecognized by the Department of State.

To be a certified building safety inspector, an individual must successfully complete the required basic training (a minimum of 60 hours of basic training) and maintain the required yearly in-service training of six hours, or 10 percent of the initial training. To be a certified code enforcement official, an individual must successfully complete the required basic training (a minimum of 120 hours of basic training) and maintain the required yearly in-service training of 24 hours, or 20 percent of the initial training. There is no logical reason for the difference in the amount of in-service training requirements, but that is what we have at this point. At first look, it appears very simple, but there are other requirements within the standard that must be met.

Of the six hours of in-service annual training a BSI must obtain, three hours must be from an "approved" course in the category of Code Enforcement and Administration. A CEO is faced with trying to obtain 12 hours of "approved" training and three hours need to be in each of three categories: Code Enforcement and Administration, Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, and Energy Conservation Construction Code. Approved courses are those that have been reviewed by BSC and have been determined to fit into the aforementioned training categories. The remaining hours to make up the required six-hour or 24-hour requirement can be obtained through "professional development electives." Part 1208 also provides that required training can be obtained utilizing online sources. The issue with this is the lack of online course material offered and "approved" by BSC, despite the rule being in effect for three years.

Professional development electives are training courses completed by the BSI/CEO containing subject matter that advances the professional development of the student. For fire service members, those courses may be any of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control courses including, but not limited to, haz-mat, ICS, and fire behavior. For career personnel, this also includes the required 101 hours of in-service training. The form for submission of completed training is on the BSC website and must be submitted annually. For many of us, this may be the only avenue to successfully complete the in-service requirements.

The NYSAFC Codes Committee remains actively involved in seeking new training opportunities for code enforcement personnel and reducing the expense and time required to obtain that training.

About the Author:
F.J. Spinelli is a career deputy fire chief with the Hartsdale Fire District. He has also served two terms as chief of department with the Garrison Volunteer Fire Company. Spinelli’s fire and EMS experience spans over 30 years and includes emergency response, as well as code enforcement activities as a New York state code officer. He also serves as a New York state fire instructor with the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services and is chairman of NYSAFC’s Codes Committee.