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It is time now to sign up for the chapter's Super
Education Thursday. It will be held on Thursday, April
24, 2008 at the Piccadilly's Pub at the Best Western in
Waltham. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. with the
program starting at 8:00 a.m.
The morning session will be "Is My Well Water Well?"
and will be led by Eric Kosloski from Environmental
Testing and Research (ETR) The focus of this
session will be on the scientific methods used to
conduct well inspections and remediation from a
home inspector's perspective. The topics to be
included are: Why examine a well in the first place?
Well Inspections, Disinfection, Putting Together An
Inspection Report, Reconstruction, Documentation
and Maintenance Plans. Eric has been the lab
director and technical advisor for ETR for the past 13
years. As there are no true standards set for private
drinking water wells, people relay on government
standards that were developed specifically for larger,
public water systems. Private well water is a unique
source and should be treated differently. According to
Eric's own research conducted over the years,
microorganisms are the #1 contaminate found in
private well water. He has developed and patented a
product that disinfects and eliminates most common
microbes, which is used throughout the country today.
His overall focus for us will be on the importance of
regular testing and maintenance of private water
sources to protect homeowner health.
The afternoon session will be "Overview of Fuel Gas
Venting Requirements" and will be led by Bradley
Wong, Supervisor Customer Service with NHSTAR.
He will provide an overview of the National Fuel Gas
Code Requirements, the Massachusetts Fuel Gas
Requirements, Combustion and Ventilation Air, Types
of Venting, Venting Categories, Sizing of Vent
Systems, Rules and Regulations. Mr. Wong has been
with NSTAR (formerly Commonwealth Gas) since
1981 and has held a number of positions including as
Installation Manager and Training Coordinator. Mr.
Wong is a member of the New England Plumbing,
Gas and Mechancial Inspectors, South Shore
Plumbing and Gas Inspectors Association and has
been the President of the Gas Utilization Advisory
Group since 2000.
The evening program will begin with a Roundtable
Discussion hosted by Sherman Price, P.E. followed by
two guest speaker presentations. The first
presentation will be on "Cellular PVC and the
Changing Face of Trim Products" which will be led by
Mark Shay of Azek Trimboards. He will conduct a one
hour, in-depth study of cellular PVC, how it is
manufactured, the different types available and the
uses of each. He will discuss why cellular PVC is
embraced by the building industry vs. higher-
maintenance wood trim products.
The second presentation will be "Proper Uses of
DuPont TyvekŪ selective barrier technology" which
will be led by David Beattie, sales representative for
DuPont TyvekŪ. He will highlight the new
dimensions of protection, security and safety afforded
by the use of Tyvek in building construction and focus
attention on proper installation procedures, especially
in residential applications
We look forward to seeing you on April 24th .
Bob Mulloy, Education Chairman |
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ASAP Environmental
HEALTHY HOMES FOR BETTER LIVING
1 Arcadia St. Dorchester, MA 02122
inspections@asapenvironmental.com 800-349-7779 www.asapenvironmental.com
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The Massachusetts Department of Housing (DHCD)
will be issuing a Request for Response soon that
involves the inspection of a large number of housing
units throughout the entire state. My firm will be
responding to this RFR and we are looking for home
inspectors to help us perform these inspection
services. The fieldwork must be completed by July
2009. We are looking for inspectors that will be able
to partner with us during that time on a part-time
basis. Some of the fieldwork can be done during the
winter months but some will have to be done when
the weather is good, such as building envelope, roof,
and site inspections. We are expecting to have up to
10 inspectors in the field at any given time, some of
whom will be our own staff and the rest outside
contractors like you. We have partnered with a local
firm in Boston that will help us manage the contract.
The work will be similar to standard home inspections
and will involve filling out forms that we will provide.
You will be fully trained on how the forms should be
filled out. You will work independently in much the
same way that you currently do. We are looking for
inspectors in all areas of the state - you will each
have a territory that will be near your home. Data entry
of your field data will be performed by other staff so
you can focus on fieldwork. In addition to negotiated
pay, you will be paid for training and certain
reimbursable expenses but you will remain
independent contractors and responsible for your own
health care, worker's compensation, insurance, taxes,
etc.
We are currently in the process of assembling our
team so that we can respond favorably to the RFR. If
you are interested please email me
(jayo@telligence.net) or call me (434-984-5139). I will
be in touch by mid-April with more particulars. Thank
you.
Jay Oschrin, Diversified Intelligence |
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FREA
E&O Insurance for Home Inspectors
800-882-4410 www.frea.com |
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On the morning of Thursday, May 8, 2008, the New
England Fuel Oil Institute will offer a limited
(maximum of 30 people) morning seminar progarm
for ASHI-New England at the Institute's location at 20
Summer Street in Watertown, MA.
If you have never had a chance to visit NEFI, it offers a
unique learning experience and learning environment
with at least 23 oil and 5 gas fired heating and
domestic hot water systems on display and in
operation!
Our instructor will be Bob Mannetta, who has over 30
years experience in the oil heat industry and vast
experince as an instructor in this important field,
including as a past presenter for ASHI.
Among the topics to be included are: system
overviews, thermostats, limit controls, primary
controls, barometric controls, power venting, direct
venting, combustion air, electrical protection, liquid
leaks and the role of service technicians. Approval is
pending for 3 MA and 3 CT CEU's and 3 ASHI MRCs.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with the formal
program running from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.
If you enjoy truly enjoy hands-on learning, you won't
want to to miss this opportunity.
Register today! |
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CORCORAN & HAVLIN INSURANCE GROUP
THE SUPERIOR HOME INSPECTOR ERRORS &
OMISSIONS INSURANCE PROGRAM!
Underwritten by AIG's Lexington Insurance Company - Rated A++ by A.M. Best Home Inspector E&O Coverage offers these features:
For a quote or more information, please call Debi
Drury (x244 or ddrury@chinsurance.com) or
Mike Curtis, Marketing Manager (x243) or visit
website at www.chinsurance.com
287 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 800-304-8242 Fax 781-235-7190 |
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2007 Education Committee Annual Report
Has 2007 nearly ended? For me, the year has been a
blur of correspondence, coordination and fruitful
educational opportunities. In between home
inspections, the education committee and I have
sought a multitude of speakers for the continuing
education needs of ASHI-NE Chapter members and
guests.
For your information, during 2007 our Chapter has
offered seminars, round-tables, field trips and
Chapter meetings, etc., for a grand total of 65 CEU's &
MRC's! I don't know about other ASHI chapters, but I
think the ASHI-NE Chapter is proudly in the lead. I
have come to learn that most members and guests
faithfully attend or an education session to gain
knowledge, with no worry about earning enough
credits for their continuing education requirements.
To me, that fact seems to indicate that ASHI-NE is
recognized as the portal of education and
professionalism.
Please remember that the Education Committee is
composed of volunteers and that we work for you.
Your continual feedback and suggestions for future
speakers are paramount for our continued success.
Whenever you encounter a fellow professional who
you think would make a good speaker for our
organization, please obtain their contact information
and forward it to us for follow-up. And, thank you to
those who have already done so during 2007.
Our 2007 ASHI-NE Chapter Annual Conference was
held in Sturbridge and was another big success.
Attendance, speakers, weather, facilities were all
perfect. Tedd Benson of Bensonwood Homes was
such an inspiration to hear that we hosted a field trip
to his factory in NH. There we gained further
appreciation for his timberframing skills and "open
concept." Sometimes we find a jewel, so I already
invited Tedd back for next year!
2008 is right around the corner and the education
calendar is already filling up with new speakers and
events. A visit to the New England Fuel Oil Institute is
in the works, and a return visit by Eladio, the Falmouth
Building Inspector. Great things are planned.
Perhaps you might consider joining the Education
Committee and assisting our contributions to the
Chapter.
On behalf of the Chapter, I would like to extend a
special thank you to Sophie Mushinsky for her
continual assistance at Chapter meetings, and to Matt
Gatzke for his continual professionalism and
assistance at our executive office.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Mulloy, Chairman (Due to an error by the Editor, this article should have
appeared in a previous issue.)
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CRACK-X
Got water in your basement?
Since 1985, CRACK-X has been a full service company specializing in residential and commercial foundation welding of cracks and other concrete repairs such as bulkheads, penetrations, cold joints, elevator pits, and slabs. We are committed to 100% customer satisfaction and back up all vertical wall crack repairs with an unconditional 10-year warranty. 25 Washington Avenue, Natick, MA 01760
877-272-2539 www.crackfx.com |
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B-Dry Systems
20 YEARS OF SOLVING WATER PROBLEMS
Written warranty for the full life of the structure. 800-320-2379
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The U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of
Advocacy has conducted a Regulatory Review and
Reform Initiative (referred to as R3) designed to
identify and address existing federal regulations that
should be revised because they are ineffective,
duplicative, or out of date.
SBA recently announced its list of regulations for
review and revision. At the request of ASHI and
several other stakeholders representing small
business, SBA cited the IRS treatment of the home
office deduction as a regulation that should be
reviewed and revised.
ASHI was invited by SBA to submit recommendations.
Many ASHI members operate from home offices and
should be eligible to make use of the home office
deduction.
The rules for the home office deduction are not clear,
are too complicated and do not give the degree
of "safe harbor" assurance of compliance that small
business owners want in dealing with IRS.
IRS has viewed the home office deduction with
wariness, seeing it a vehicle for abuse and tax
evasion. However, SBA has found that 53% of all
small businesses in the U.S. are legitimate home-
based businesses, a compelling rationale for IRS to
view the issue in a different light and develop simpler,
more reliable rules to use the home office deduction.
Home-based small businesses should not face
discrimination in the tax code. If it is generally
accepted that legitimate office expenses should be
excluded from business income, then legitimate
home-based small businesses should have a
simple, reliable means to deduct home office
expenses.
The SBA R3 program is intended to help small
businesses address the cumulative Federal
regulatory burden, which is now estimated to exceed
$1.1trillion. The SBA recommendation is the
strongest statement yet that the home office deduction
needs to be improved. It will increase pressure on the
IRS and on Capitol Hill to address the issue
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Vent Master
ATTIC VENTILATION SPECIALISTS
Inspectors, when you see signs of:
Recommend Vent Master For a FREE consultation, call Don Marcoux at Vent
Master
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with A.O. Smith Water Products Co., of
Ashland City, Tenn., today announced a voluntary
recall of approximately 1,500 natural and propane gas
water heaters because the water heater's flue gas
temperatures can exceed safe limits and produce
excessive temperatures in the venting unit, posing a
fire hazard. Also, the water heater's exhaust can leak
into the surrounding room, posing a carbon monoxide
hazard. To date, no injuries have been reported.
This recall involves 75 gallon natural and propane gas
water heaters. "A.O. Smith" or "State" is printed on the
side of the unit and the model and serial numbers are
printed on the water heater's rating plate. These water
heaters were manufactured in the United States and
sold by independent contractors and plumbers
nationwide from November2007 through January
2008 for between $1,000 and $2,500.
The A.O. Smith brand units that are involved are the
model FCG-75 300 and FCG-75 301 and the State
brand units that are involved are the model GS6 75
XRR S and GS6 75 CRR S, with serial numbers
ranging from L07A071460 through L07A144966 or
M07A009387 through M07A072884.
Home inspectors are in a unique position to spot
these units and make people aware of these issues.
Inspectors seeing any of these units should advise
the homeowners to immediately stop using the
recalled water heater and contact A.O. Smith to
arrange for a free repair.
For more information, contact A.O. Smith toll-free at
(866) 880-4661 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT, or visit
the firm's Web site at www.hotwater.com.
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Peter Greifer Enterprises
ASBESTOS REMOVAL & MOLD REMEDIATION
Serving Eastern Massachusetts & Rhode Island 800-582-5288
401-946-4506 (Rhode Island) peter.greifer@verizon.net |
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The ASHI NE Chapter maintains a library of
educational books, video tapes and CD's for Chapter
members and candidates to utilize for personal and
business growth. Those who wish to sign materials
out may do so for a fee of $16 per item ($10 per
tape) which covers two-way shipping and handling.
Library materials may be used for a two week period,
beginning on the date of shipment. Those who fail to
return library materials on time will be assessed a
fine
of $1 / day. If the materials are not received back
within two months of date of shipping, you will be
charged the cost of replacement. To sign materials
out, there is a form that is posted on our web site
that is to be completed and sent to the executive
office. It is always recommended that you call the
executive office to check on the availability of an
item. Once this form is received, the executive office
will ship the items out with a postage paid return
envelope. The list of the materials that are currently
available in the chapter library is on the web site as
well.
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Rene Mugnier Associates
When in doubt, refer to a structural engineer
specializing in the investigation of homes and
commercial structural problems.
REHABILITATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS
777 Concord Ave., Ste. 201, Cambridge, MA 02138
617-547-7773 |
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The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Home
Inspectors holds meetings on a regular basis that are
open for home inspectors to attend. These board
meetings are usually held at 239 Causeway Street,
2nd Floor, Room 204 in Boston from 10:00 am to 3:00
pm.
The meeting dates for 2008 are as follows:
May 14, 2008 June 18, 2008 August 13, 2008 September 10, 2008 November 12, 2008 You are encouraged to call the board office at 617-727-
4459 for any posssible changes in location and time
of these meetings.
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Atlas Watersystems
WE DON'T MAKE THE WATER.
WE MAKE THE WATER BETTER!! Residential & Commercial Water
Filtration & Purification Water Testing & Analysis
Radon & Arsenic Remediation Softeners * Filters * Purification 800-215-9966 www.atlaswater.com "Bringing Technology to Water"
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President
Lisa Alajajian-Giroux /
homequest1@comcast.net
Vice President
Mike Atwell /
m.atwell@rcn.com
Secretary Donald Bissex /
dbissex@comcast.net
Treasurer
Paul Kristenson /
absinspections@comcast.net
Directors
Paul Cornell / pcornell@inspecthouses.com Paul Rogoshewski / paul@harmonyhomeinspection.com Council of Representatives
Paul Kristenson / absinspections@comcast.net Lisa Alajajian / homequest1@comcast.net Bill Sutton / wsuttoninspector@hotmail.com Committee Chair
By- Laws: Mike Atwell / m.atwell@rcn.com Communications: Mark Forkey / mark_forkey@msn.com Education: Bob Mulloy / rmulloy@verizon.net Legislative: Len Rucker / lrucker1@comcast.net Membership:Ernest Simpson / esimpson@evergreenhomeinspection.com Executive Director
Walter Perry /
wperry@choiceonemail.com
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We look forward to seeing you on April 24th !
Sincerely,
ASHI New England
email:
clough@choiceonemail.com
phone:
800-248-2744
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