HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CODE CONSULTANT

I AM CELEBRATING 30 years in the code consulting business on November
18, 2009. We have reviewed 1000’S of plans, had 1000’S attend our seminars
and have over 90+M newsletters in circulation. But this story isn’t just about
me, but about some everyday business tips I picked up along the way that you
can use.

WHEN I LEFT BOCA, International as a staff engineer in November 1979, I
heard the usual.. “you’ll be back; you won’t make it on your own”. As the years went by, many of those same people came looking for a job with my firm.

The client isn’t always right, but they are always the client. No one ever won an argument with a client!

Keep your promises. Have projects completed on time, and if you cannot, then notify the client.

If you are too busy to help a client, then you are too busy doing the wrong thing.

Always return phone calls, the same day if possible. I have terminated some staff
members for not returning client calls.

Try answering the phone yourself. It really impresses the client and gives the idea that you are approachable and hands-on.

To avoid interruptions, just tell the client nicely that the less interruptions you have from them, the quicker you can finish their project.

Write your reports like they will be read in court. In many cases they will. The client may be in a hurry, but if it ever goes to trial, you have all the time to answer the judge and a jury. Check spelling and proper use of words. ( Ex: There is no such thing as a “hot water heater”. Why would you heat hot
water? It’s a water heater.)

Know when to walk away. Some clients bring projects that just aren’t in your field of expertise, are not safe or have questionable intents.

Don’t get greedy! Stick to your ethics. There is enough work out there for all of us.

We have not raised our plan review fees since 2002 and the newsletter has remained $75 a year since 1981. Remember, it takes years to building a good reputation and just a few bad decisions to ruin it.

Give back to the community. Some firms just take and take and don’t give anything back. We support the local ICC Chapters with gratis training, the Salvation Army, Pacific Garden Mission, Mooseheart and the Boy Scouts of America with generous donations.

I AM NO business guru, but these practices and principles have worked for me for 30 years. Call me anytime (1-800-950-2633) if you want to discuss your business. I am more than glad to share my experience and learn from yours.

Kelly P. Reynolds
President

THE GREENEST CODE IN THE U.S.

California have the most strngent, environmentally friendly "Green Building Codes" in the nation. Titled "CALGREEN" the new code will effect newly constructed hospitals, schools. shopping malls, office buildings, factories and homes. It become effective january 1, 2011.

THREE MORE STATES FOR RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

Following Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, the State of California has adopted building code changes that will require all new one- and two-family homes andtownhouses built in the state starting January 1, 2011, to be equipped with life-saving fire sprinkler systems.

You can read more about these adoption in the February 2010 edition of CODES & STANDARDS.

THE HAITI CATASTROPHY

The catastrophic earthquake in Haiti was in many ways a perfect storm: A strong, shallow temblor beneath a densely populated area with few building codes.

The magnitude 7.0 quake occurred along the boundary separating two major tectonic
plates, the Caribbean and North American plates.

Now would be the right timing for ICC to come to their aid to ensure that they rebuild the country with the I-Codes.

A SMART CODE CHANGE

I subitted code change P-27 in Baltimore at the ICC Hearings in November. My intent was to set reasonable perameters to when a public restroom is required in a take-out business. The way the code presently reads is that an take-out area requires a restroom.

My proposal was to only require a restroom when the public area was less than 300 feet. My logic - - - you are only in the business only a few minutes to pick up your order. Do you see restrooms in take-out pizza parlors, dry cleaners, banks, shoe repairs? The answer is NO!

The change was denied. One committee hearing member saud that ..."if he has to drive 10 minutes to get a pizza he ordered, he may need a restroom". I claim that if he can't wait more than 10 minutes for a potty break, he needs a urologist, not a bathroom.

They committee did approve a code change that if a public bathroom was available within 500 feet of the business, then a public restroom was not required for that order/pick-up area.

I will try again at the next code hearings. Maybe bring a Rx of Flomax for those who need a bathroom every 10 minutes.

ILLINOIS GETS A STATEWIDE CODE

SB 138 – STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE

ILLINOIS - The Statewide Building Code was signed into law and will go into effect July 2011. It will apply to commercial buildings in areas of the state which currently do not have a building code. Commercial construction will fall under the 2006 or later editions of the IBC, The International Existing Building Code, the International Property Maintenance Code and the 2008 or later editions of the National Electrical Code NFPA 70. A property owner must contract for inspection by a qualified inspector as defined by the legislation.

CHINESE DRYWALL AND THE LEGAL ISSUES

CHINESE DRYWALL, WHICH is believed to emit sulfuric gases that corrode metal
wiring, plumbing and fixtures and give people headaches and respiratory problems, has
exposed shortcomings in the U.S. legal system that leave consumers with few assurances of safety and little financial recourse if they fail. International trade agreements treat health and safety standards as barriers to commerce, and make it possible for manufacturers to hawk products that fall short of the importing country’s standards.

As a result, many of the foreign companies named in the are expected to blow off the
proceedings, as illustrated Sept. 24 when U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon held
manufacturer Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. in contempt of court for failing to respond.
Others, such as the German company Knauf Gips, have argued that the proper venue is
the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Consumers aren’t the only ones who are upset. American builders, drywall distributors and importers also are furious that the manufacturers are beyond legal reach.

With estimates of $3 billion of damage in Louisiana and as many as 40,000 households
nationwide facing financial ruin because of toxic homes they can’t afford to fix, members of Congress, officials at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the parties to the national litigation in New Orleans are scrambling to find ways to hold about 20 foreign drywall manufacturers accountable. A bill in the U.S. Senate, the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009, sponsored by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., would require foreign companies doing business in the United States to agree to participate in litigation
in U.S. courts. However, the bill does not go as far as requiring overseas companies to pay U.S. legal judgments.

NEW ILLINOIS ENERGY CODE UPDATE

The Capital Development Board (CDB) adopted emergency amendments to “Illinois Energy Conservation Code” (71 Ill Adm Code 600; 33 Ill Reg 12407), Effective 8/18/09, for a maximum of 150 days. An identical proposed rulemaking appears in this week’s issue of the Illinois Register at 33 Ill Reg 12311. The rulemaking updates the incorporation by reference of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to reflect the 2009 edition. CDB also expands the composition of the Illinois Energy Conservation Advisory Council to include one Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) representative and one residential construction contracting industry representative, bringing the total membership to 10 and setting the quorum at 6. Additional amendments update the ANSI/ASRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings) incorporation by reference to reflect the 2007 edition and correct the name of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) COMcheck code compliance tool (method). CDB has chosen t adopt the most recent energy code standards available in order to qualify for State energy grants (federal economic stimulus funds) available under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Those who are constructing, renovating, or adding to commercial building structures or issing building permit applications may be affected by these rulemakings.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...

'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu, swine flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

U L MOBILE ON THE GO

Announcing ULConnect.com: An instant connection to UL Certification Information and
Regulatory Services Support — Anywhere you go!

At the touch of a button on your touch screen smart phone (such as an Apple iphone or
Blackberry Storm) you can now carry with you and access UL certification information,
direct email and phone contacts—plus a mobile copy of the Pocket Guide to Inspections.

From your smart phone browser go to www.ulconnect.com and get connected now.