JANUARY  2016                                                                                               Volume 9 - Number 1
Monthly Messenger
President's Notes
It's that time of year folks! 
Now that all of the holiday festivities are over we can all concentrate on building our businesses for 2016.  What better way than to get pumped up and revitalized with knowledge, ideas and networking while surrounded by like-minded professionals at Inspection World!

I am looking forward to learning new things and catching up with old friends in San Diego myself. I hope to see many of you there as well!

See you at the meeting on the 19th!

Your President,
Fernando Barrientos
 
Meeting Reminder... 
It's this coming
Tuesday - January 19! 
Licensing Coming to Virginia
Licensing is in the works for all home inspectors who conduct inspections for compensation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bill was prefiled and ordered printed January 12th, and will be offered January 13th. Please see the VAREI website for more information and updates as changes occur. The New Construction bill and other relevant information is also available at varei.org.
Education Hour Discussion
Remember that we will be discussing the following proposals during the Education Hour next week...for further discussion at the CoR meeting by the CoR representatives.

1. Send a request to the Board of Directors requesting they make it ASHI policy to direct all chapters to treat members equally with regard to voting rights within the chapter and inclusion in lists of members in publications, advertising and web sites.
 
2. That ASHI staff assign every new ASHI member to a chapter.
 
3. Send request to the ASHI Board of Directors that the October Board of Directors Meeting be held in the same hotel as LTC, rather than at ASHI Headquarters.
 
4. Send request to the ASHI Board of Directors to provide a $300.00 per chapter stipend to each chapter sending Council Representatives to the ASHI COR Annual Meeting. (This could be in our COR Budget)
 
5. That ASHI Staff and National Leadership hold a Spring Go-To-Webinar with all Chapter Presidents to set ASHI's agenda and to hear the concerns of the chapters.
 
6. Request ASHI Staff hold a Go-To-Webinar meeting for local meeting groups and unaffiliated members.
 
7. Provide Council Representation to local meeting groups and unaffiliated members by geographical division. 
Drone Registration Required by FAA
Registration is free until January 21, 2016.  You do need to pay $5 by credit card, but will be refunded within 10 days.  After that it is $5 every three years.
If you owned your drone before December 21, 2015, it must be registered by February 19, 2016.  Registration is required for drones weighing more than .55lbs (250 gms), and less than 55lbs.  Click here for the full drone registration FAQ.  Click here to start the registration process.

Failure to register an aircraft may result in regulatory and criminal sanctions. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.

New Technology... Smart Vents?
Smart home and internet connected products will continue to evolve and surprise us.  How about making smart vents to control the air flow in each room?  Here's an article from Wired magazine about Keen Home Smart Vents.
 
Discount on Radon CE Credits

If you are looking to obtain CE credits for your Radon Re-Certification, one option is online education through the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CERTI).

Use the discount codes below for our local ASHI chapters for a 15% discount on all of the courses available.
  • NOVA chapter - the coupon code is:    nova-ashi
  • MD chapter - the coupon code is:        mac-ashi
To use the discount code, enter the coupon code during the checkout process online, or inform them over the phone if you call in an order.

www.certi.us
800-513-8332
January Quiz  
By Pete Jung

1. Which has the LEAST effect on the deflection of a dimensional lumber
           floor system?
     a. Joist width
     b. Joist grade
     c. Joist species
     d. Joist spacing

2. The normal MAXIMUM rise of residential stair treads is
     a. 5 � inches
     b. 7 � inches
     c. 8 � inches
     d. 9 � inches
 
3. An ungrounded receptacle may be replaced by a ground fault circuit  
           interrupter installed
     a. On the same phase as the receptacle
     b. Upstream from the receptacle
     c. Downstream from the receptacle
     d. Anywhere in the receptacle branch circuit 
 
4. Circuit breakers
     a. Protect inhabitants by limiting shock duration
     b. Regulate power to the attached equipment
     c. Protect the wire from an electrical overload
     d. Measure the current in a circuit
 
5. In a forced air heating system containing a split system air conditioner and  
          a humidifier, humidity is reduced by
     a. Running a humidifier in reverse
     b. Condensation at the condenser coil
     c. Condensation at the evaporator coil
     d. Condensation within the compressor

December Quiz Answers 
By Pete Jung
 
1. To operate a central air-conditioner, an electric clothes dryer, and an
           electric range, the ampacity of the service to the house should be
           AT LEAST:
     a. 100 amps at 120 volts
     b. 125 amps at 120 volts
     c.   60 amps at 240 volts
     d. 100 amps at 240 volts

2.  A floor joist in a crawl space has been cut where the toilet drain passes  
           through the floor. The joists are 2x6 spaced at 16" on center. The  
           inspector should recommend that:
     a. The buyer monitor the floor. Floor systems such as this have redundant 
            framing and removal of one joist is insignificant.
     b. A contractor should support the cut joist with new piers and posts from  
            below.
     c. The cut joist should be headed off to adjacent framing members to  
             distribute the load.
     d. A contractor be contacted to determine what is needed and make  
             repairs.
 
3.  Most problems with concrete are caused at the time of installation. What  
            single factor causes the MOST problems?
     a. The concrete has insufficient thickness.
     b. Too much water is added to the mix.
     c. Too much Portland cement is in the mix.
     d. The wrong kind of sand is in the mix.
 
4. Brick chimneys on older properties with oil heat sometimes curve above  
           the roof line, with no visible cracks. Which is a possible cause of this  
           curving?
     a. Settlement of the chimney footing
     b. Expansion of mortar
     c. Absence of a cricket flashing at the roof
     d. Lack of a rain cap on the flue

5. Which set of building terms do NOT belong together?
     a. Cripple, trimmer, purlin
     b. Arch, header, lintel
     c. Rafters, ceiling joists, trusses
     d. Sheathing, flooring, decking

NOVA ASHI Library 
One of the many member benefits of the chapter is access to the materials in the Library.  Each of the Carson Dunlop Technical Subject Module binders comes with a CD-ROM playable on a computer which will present a slideshow of many examples of things to look for, and things to be aware of.  If you learn visually, the CD-ROM's are a great way to expand your knowledge.  There are many other learning tools available. Additionally, please suggest any materials, documents, etc. that you know of that will help our member's learn, use as a reference, or assist in passing the National Exam. Talk to Andy Ling or Jim Kasterko at the monthly meeting to see what materials may benefit you!    
2015-2016  Officers, Directors,
Committee Chairs and Representatives
President:   Fernando Barrientos
Vice President:   Tony Toth
Secretary:   Bobby Mayberry
Treasurer:   Dave Wingenbach
Immediate Past President:   David Rushton
Director:   Isaac Kieffer (2014-2016)
Director:   Peter Anspach (2014-2016)
Director:   Dennis Pelczynski (2013-2015)
Director:   David Boulter (2013-2015)
Warden:    Isaac Kieffer
Website Chair:   Jim Vaughn
Newsletter Chair:   Scott Robertson
Library:   Jim Kasterko - Chair, Andy Ling
Membership Committee:   Pete Jung - Chair,
Jim Funkhouser, Jim Kasterko
Education Committee Chair:  David Rushton
By-Laws Committee Chair:   Pete Jung
Standards and Certification Chair: Jim Funkhouser
Mentoring Chair: 
Jerry Schwartz
Nominating Chair:  Pete Jung
Peer Review:  Pete Jung
Legislative Chair:   Fred Heppner
CoR Speaker:   Jim Funkhouser
CoR Representatives:
   Dave Rushton, Tony Toth
CoR Alternate Speaker:   Jim Funkhouser
CoR Mid-Atlantic Group Leader (MAC ASHI):  Hollis Brown
ASHI Director:   Mark Londner
ASHI Education Committee:   Pete Jung, Jim Funkhouser
Public Relations Chair:   Matthew Drifmeyer
Next Meeting
Tue - Jan 19, 2016
6:00pm - Associates Hour
6:00pm - Grey Group
6:00pm - Board of Directors
7:00pm - Chapter Business
8:00pm - Education Hour

Meeting Location
NVRC Offices
3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130
Fairfax, VA  22030

Associates Hour
The Crack Man - Foundation Repair Presentation

Education Hour
Group Discussion of CoR Proposals
Inspection World
Inspection World 2016.
Graduates of The ASHI School can qualify for $100 Discount on conference registration by contacting Kendra Eiermann.

And if you want to start planning for 2017... The dates will be Jan 22-25, 2017 at Bally's Las Vegas.
CPSC Recall
Casablanca Ceiling Fans - The fan motor and attached blades can separate from the adapter when operating in reverse updraft mode, causing the fan motor and blades to fall, posing an injury hazard.
Collect Your Member Benefits
Don't forget to pick up your Member Benefits: The latest Code Check book and the User Friendly Home thumbdrive. See Andy Ling or Jim Kasterko in the library at the meeting.
Grey Group

Every chapter meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 PM we hold an open forum where you can ask whatever question you can come up with or just listen to veteran inspectors discuss what's on their minds.

 

Some recent discussions include:
- How to report specific
       issues/concerns
- "Condo" concerns outside of
       HI scope
- Incomplete (new)
       construction, how to report
- How to protect fees for "legal"
       services

  

The Grey Matter Group is Top Secret; NO ONE TALKS ABOUT PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE GREY MATTER GROUP OUTSIDE OF THE ROOM UPON PAIN OF AN IMPROMPTU SPLENECTOMY WITH A SHOE HORN.

Call or Write us Any Time if you have a Question...don't wait until meeting night.

 

Jim Funkhouser 571-214-4039
Mark Londner 703-409-9762
Hall of Shame Pix?
Do you have pictures for us to use in the HoS slideshow?
Here's where to send them...

Odd months -  Jim Vaughn
Even months - Isaac Kieffer

Pictures submitted less than a week before the meeting may be used in the following months HoS slideshow.
2016 Calendar
Jan 24-27 - Inspection World
Feb 23 - MM
Mar 22 - MM
Apr 26 - MM
May 24 - MM
Jun 28 - MM
Jul/Aug - No Meetings
Sep 27 - MM
Oct 25 - MM
Nov 22 - MM
Dec 20 - MM (3rd Tue)
Jan 17 - MM (3rd Tue)
Jan 22-25, 2017 - Inspection World - Bally's Las Vegas

Radio Show
Reggie Marston's
"The House P. I."

Northern Virginia:
Wed's  2-3 PM
TV Ch 37 Cox/Verizon digital
TV Ch 27 Comcast digital
On the internet at:
www.fcac.org/radio-fairfax

Salem Radio Network
Saturday 9-10 am
www.srnonline.com

WTSB Raleigh, NC 1010 AM
Saturday Mornings 7-8 am
wtsbradio.com

WKQA Norfolk, VA 1100 AM
Sundays 1-2 pm
www.wkqaradio.com

Sponsor spots available,
contact Reggie Marston
O) 703-923-9769
M) 703-850-8990
www.remhomeinspections.com
Software Tools
A Fast and Flexible List Manager...
If you like to make and keep lists of information or To Do items, I've come across a fast and flexible App for phones and tablets (and there is also a browser interface when working on your computer)... called Workflowy.  Information is quickly updated across devices, and what I like the most is that the data is stored locally on your phone or tablet, so if you don't have a cell or wifi connection, all of your lists are still available. I keep inspection checklists, technical and reference data, etc. 
NOVA ASHI - Scott Robertson | [email protected] | www.novaashi.org