Upcoming IFC seminars for firestop special inspectors, as required by OSHPD


For questions regarding these seminars, contact the instructor directly at 415-515-3767

8-hour hands-on how-to-inspect firestopping seminars:
Saturday, March 17, 2018 - Fullerton/Anaheim, CA click to register
Thursday, April 26, 2018 - Redondo Beach/LAX, CA click to register

IFC-approved 4-hr multi-manufacturer product familiarization seminar
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - Redondo Beach/LAX, CA click to register

Let us know in which city/state you would like to see a future special inspection seminar scheduled. If we collect enough interest in a given region, we'll work to schedule a seminar there.

To be notified when seminars are added and open for registration, join our mailing list.
OSHPD Fire Prevention Unit Provides Rules for Firestop inspector Qualifications

Firestopping is subject to special inspections, in certain buildings, under IBC 2012 and later, and under California Building Code (CBC) 2013, article 1705A.16.
 
On July 12, 2016, OSHPD distributed a short memorandum to interested parties regarding the qualifications that they would henceforth require for individuals wishing to be approved as Special Inspectors for firestopping. The copy of the OSHPD memorandum is available online at http://app.streamsend.com/private/8lfb0fdjk8/Pmg/gBdiOaq/browse/27061111.
 A more detailed document, Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 67, was issued March 7, 2017, available at https://www.oshpd.ca.gov/FDD/Regulations/PINs/67.pdf .

The OSHPD documents mention various types of firestop training available, and various levels of firestopping competence that can be verified and documented.
What the IFC Can Provide to Enable Your OSHPD Approval
 
Figure 1, shown below, indicates the various levels of training and accreditation on the subject of firestop inspection that are available from the International Firestop Council, and also from Intertek. Of these various offerings, the education and certification being accepted by OSHPD is for a firestop special inspector to have an IFC Premier Certificate in order to be approved.
Figure 1: Training and accreditation for firestop special inspectors available from IFC and Intertek.
You can obtain 1., 2. ,and 3. above from the IFC.
1. The online training and online exam are detailed at www.firestop.org/inspection, and summarized here below.
2. See "Product Training....", below.
3. See "IFC 1-Day Hands-on..." below.
Picture
Briefly summarized, the IFC’s Premier Certificate is earned by the following three actions:

    1a. Studying the free online firestop inspector training curriculum
    1b. Taking the proctored, online firestop inspector exam, and achieving a score of 80% or
          better. After passing the exam, the exam-taker will be provided with a Certificate of
          Achievement to document the exam success. Successful examinees’ names are also
          posted online at www.firestop.org/certificate-holders.
    2.   Obtaining product familiarization training from four different firestop product
          manufacturers. Alternatively, taking a 4-hour IFC-approved multi-manufacturer firestop
          product training class. This will upgrade the Certificate of Achievement to a Premier
          Certificate, as required by OSHPD. Premier Certificate holders are so identified at
          www.firestop.org/certificate-holders.

Full details of the online inspector education program and examination can be found at www.firestop.org/inspection. Please read through all of the tabs (Overview → Why it’s needed → Reading List → etc) for a complete overview.


Product Training Required As Part of Premier Certificate
 
For those people wanting to avoid the logistics of arranging product training with representatives from four different firestop manufacturers, the 4-hour multi-manufacturer product training classes will be offered in various California locations several times per year. See the IFC homepage for upcoming scheduled classes.

E-mail ProductTraining@firestop.org to inquire about additional, future classes. Per person class fee is $125. Let us know the major city closest to you.

It does not matter if you get the product training completed first, or the online studies and exam first. You will receive a document confirming your product familiarization training, which you simply e-mail to info@firestop.org together with your exam certificate, and you will be established as a Premier Certificate holder.

The Product Familiarization Training is approved by the ICC Preferred Education Provider Program, ICC Course No. 12429,  for 0.3 CEUs (3.0 contact hours). Send your completed training signatures to info@firestop.org to received a course completion certificate.

If you wish to obtain product training directly from the IFC firestop product manufacturers, you can find contact e-mail addresses and phone numbers at this document link.

Intertek Qualified Firestop Inspector Program (IQP)
 
The IFC strongly encourages those special inspectors who do firestopping for a majority of their time to seek out the additional training and accreditation, as provided by the Intertek IQP program. See http://www.intertek.com/IQP/firestop-inspector/ for complete information on this program.
 
Briefly summarized, to be accredited in the IQP program, the inspector will need the following:
  1. IFC Premier Certificate (as described above)
  2. Attend a 1-day, hands-on, how-to-inspect firestop seminar instructed by or approved by the IFC
    (see below for details)
  3. Apply to Intertek, providing proof of a) and b) above
  4. Schedule a field audit by Intertek within the first year of accreditation
 
Inspectors who become accredited through the Intertek IQP program are listed at the Intertek website, have photo ID cards that identify them as such, and have unique stickers that they can/should use for every penetration or joint inspected in accordance with ASTM E2174 and E2393. The Intertek IQP truly differentiates the most highly competent special inspectors available.
IFC 1-Day Hands-On How-To-Inspect Firestopping Seminars
 
The IFC website provides announcements and registration links for the hands-on seminars, which are held 8-12 times per year in various US cities. Go to www.firestop.org, or contact info@firestop.org. Full details about these seminars, including course content and upcoming locations and dates, can be downloaded here.
 
Many IFC Inspector Certificate Holders use these seminars as an addition to their training. On the other hand, some inspectors use the seminars instead of doing the online training program, if they do not require the depth of knowledge and the certificate provided by the online program.

To schedule a How-To-Inspect firestopping seminar in your area, the IFC would require a minimum of 8 paid registrants. Contact info@firestop.org to schedule a seminar, or to request more detailed information about the seminars.