Thursday, November 4 | 9 am - 4 pm

(six-hour, full-day class)

Lunch break is from 12 - 1 pm | Brief breaks every hour | Open Q&A

C1) Report Writing for the Code Official

 Presented by ICC Instructor Tim Ryan, Codes Administrator, City of Overland Park, Kansas


Class Description:

Effective writing is vital to your career as an inspector, notices of violation, letters and reports are public documents that may be read by supervisors, attorneys, judges, citizens, design professionals, contractors and reporters. What you write can become the basis for appeal hearings and criminal and civil trials but also could prevent cases from going to court. Your inspection reports and notices of violation will compel a property owner to take action.

Your writing skills can help to advance your career. This seminar provides knowledge and skills for effectively writing reports and violation notices for code professionals of all levels. Participants will learn the importance of writing a good report, writing professional sentences and choosing the correct terminology to use. Through examples and practice opportunities, participants will become more skilled at writing and editing their work.

Learning Objectives:

  • Write a building code inspection report that communicates clearly, is accurate, descriptive and sites the code or ordinance quickly without error.
  • Write an efficient report that contains details, uses appropriate terminology for the intended audience and defines terms that may be unclear for the reader by employing the Six W’s for writing reports, using terminology to correctly describe issues and gathering details to write an inspection report.
  • Write effective sentences that clearly and professionally describe issues.
  • Write a report that minimizes the potential for litigation.

Class Materials/Books to Reference: 

  • Writing materials

Target Audience: 

  • Any individual looking to enhance their writing skills

Level of Expertise:

  •  Beginner to Intermediate

About our Presenter: 

Tim Ryan has more than 35 years of experience in administration, enforcement, and development of construction safety codes, construction management and methods. He is the Codes Administrator for the City of Overland Park, Kansas. He has worked for that City for the past three and half decades, and has helped guide Overland Park, ranked sixth in Money Magazine’s 2006 “Top 10 Best Places to Live in America,” through periods of substantial growth. Ryan holds certifications in 15 separate technical categories, including a Certified Building Official certification and multiple plan review and inspection categories, from the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), now the International Code Council (ICC). He earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management and technology from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. Ryan was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences (The Institute) in 2006.

In 2012, Ryan continued his service on The Institute’s Board of Direction, filling one of the six Presidential appointed positions on the Board. He was appointed by President Barack Obama. Ryan served as Chairman of The Institute’s Board of Direction from 2014 to 2016. Ryan served on the Board of Direction of the ICC from 1999-2009. An active participant in the development of codes, he served on the ICC Building Code Steering Committee, held the role of Chairman for the International Building Code Technical Drafting Committee for Means of Egress and Accessibility, and Served on the ICC International Code Scoping and Coordination Committee. He also served on the ICC Budget Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Emergency Response and Hazard Mitigation Committee. In Kansas, Ryan has served on the Overland Park Residential Construction Task Force, the State of Kansas Steering Committee on Codes and the State of Kansas Task Force on Residential Construction. He also chaired a Steering Committee for the State of Kansas tasked with creating a program to oversee the energy code provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

ICC Preferred Provider Program Continuing Education Credit (ICC PPP CEUs):

OBOA is an approved International Code Council (ICC) Preferred Provider. The Preferred Provider Program recognizes and promotes ICC-approved educational offerings as they relate to codes, standards and guidelines, as well as building construction materials, products and methods. ICC certificate holders may obtain ICC CEUs from Preferred Providers that can be applied toward the renewal requirements of ICC’s certification program. It is the intent of OBOA that all classes offered at institutes will be approved for the Preferred Provider Program.

ICC PPP approved course | 0.6 ICC CEUs | 1010-8346

An ICC CEU is a continuing education unit; each 10 clock hours of continuing education equals 1 CEU. Our typical one-day seminar has 6 hours of instruction, or 0.6 CEUs. Credit is awarded for a variety of activities wherein the objective is achieving relevant professional knowledge beyond that required for initial certification. Participation in all OBOA courses are approved for International Code Council (ICC) certification renewal continuing education credits as noted for each class. Please check with your appropriate jurisdiction and/or institution regarding your specific continuing education credit needs.

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