NSHDA Certification Program

Our Certification program requires that all candidate members for the first Certificate program have at least three years experience in building design. All current members meet this qualification, and are already in the process of becoming certified Designers. Backing this program is our Certification Council, consisting of The Nova Scotia Home Builders Association, The Nova Scotia Building Officials Association, Association of Professional Engineers, Dept. of Environment and Halifax Regional Municipality Development Services.

The four levels of certification are as follows:

Accredited member Technical

Accredited member Advanced Technical

Accredited member Designer

Accredited member Master Designer.

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Accredited Member

"Technical Level"

Prerequisites: See Below

Required Components:

A. Applicant must provide documented history to prove 3 years active residential design, Part 9, NBC experience. This must be demonstrated to the Certification Council by use of Resume, work related drawings, etc

B. Applicant must complete the following courses as endorsed by the certification council with a minimum 70% passing mark.

1. NSBOA: Building Envelope

2. NSBOA: Health And Safety

3. NSBOA: Barrier Free Design

4. NSBOA: N.S. Building Code Act And Regulation

5. Nova Scotia Power: General Electrical Design

6. NSBOA: General Heating, Ventilation & Plumbing requirements

7. Introduction to Structural Design presented by a Professional Engineer of Nova Scotia: - This course establishes a strong understanding of terms and definitions, such as tributary width, spans, live and dead loads, pounds per square foot & pounds per linear foot, area, line & point loads, beams, joist on center spacing and establishes a basic understanding of how all this relates to the National Building Code and appropriate span tables, required to resolve individual structural members and to carry loads continuously down through structures.

C. Errors & Omissions Insurance: Applicant must show proof of Min. $1,000,000.00 coverage t o the association prior to issue of new annual stamp / seal.

D. Plans and Specification: to be drawn to Scale with applicable information as required to clearly illustrate and communicate information as required to service Clients, Contractors, Estimators, Component Manufactures and appropriate Planning and Building Officials. Applicant must demonstrate capability of meeting and maintaining drawing / specification standard as stated in the enclosed "Plan Review" sheets. A standard set of working drawings must include, but not limited to items shown on plan review sheets.

E. Application Form: Candidate Members must include a completed application form.

Nova Scotia Home Designers Association

"PLAN REVIEW"

Designer’s name:..................................................... Date of review.....................

Review requirements:

A. Dimensions

1. Fully dimensioned plans including

a. Sub-breakdown dimensions of building wing, gigs and jogs

b. Partition, beam, etc dimensions

c. Window and door dimensions

d. Dimensions to locate and size stairwell opening

e. Dimensions as required to tie in any attached decks, veranda, etc

2. Showing dimensions of individual floor to ceiling heights, overall floor thickness, truss raised heeled and other necessary dimensions as required to determine overall height of building as dimensioned on elevations or cross sections.

B. Floor plans

1. Separate plans for each and every level

2. Accurately showing layout of each level and label each room as to determine the proposed function of space.

3. Each plan showing and specifying structural member overhead or show separate floor/roof framing plans

4. Floor plans to show, label and specify members and support of any proposed decks, verandas, covered entries, etc.

5. Window and doors to be specified on plan or schedule indicating egress code compliant windows.

6. Floor plans to illustrate smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, solid fuel fired appliances, fixtures and appliances, attic access, power, water, sewer, entrances, etc.

7. Cross section, semi section and section detail indicators.

C. Elevations

1. Must illustrate exterior concept of building accurately showing rooflines, floor/roof cantilevers, attached verandas, decks, stairs to grade, etc.

2. Must show architectural features of building

3. Must show grade and footing reference lines

4. Must show floor reference lines

5. Illustrate all vents (supply, exhaust and passive) and chimneys as required to verify clearances to openings, etc

D. Cross sections and structural details

1. Label building materials specific to project.

2. Specify structural floor and roof members including size, span and spacing

3. Show intersection details and specification of structural beams, girders, etc.

4. Section through stairs as required to show location and size of stair well opening, top of floor to top of floor dimension to be shown as to verify specified rise and run of stairs and headroom clearance

5. Guards and rail specifications around stairs, decks, landings, etc.

6. Misc. details as required to show unique floor, wall, roof products and/or intersections featuring such issues as structural members and support of, insulation and ventilation details, deck and siding attachment to super structure, etc.

E. General notes as required for

1. Mechanical heating and ventilation requirements

2. Builder to report changes to the appropriate building officials

3. As to delegate structural responsibility of pre engineered products

F. General plan review comments

Plan review completed by:...................................................... rev 05/02

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Accredited Member

"Advanced Technical Level"

As endorsed by NSHDA Certification Council, May 17, 2004

Prerequisite: Must have Accredited Member, Technical Level

Required Components:

A . Site Evaluation:

1. Surveying related issues

2. Site related issues

a. Utilities: water, sewer, power, and fuels

b. Solar: design & principles

3. Planning, zoning bylaws & subdivision covenant requirements:

- Rules and regulations relating to residential, small and multiple usage buildings.

B. Site Workshop weekend: must participate in at least 1 site workshop weekend every two years

1. Site inspection and review: - learn how to approach an undeveloped or developed site. Learn how to work with a surveyors plan, establish the property lines and true south, find civic sewer/water hookups or rural test holes. Learn what to look for in relation to slope of the land; what are the advantages or disadvantages of the slope. Learn to find true south using compass, time of day and site plan techniques. Do you have shading related issues or do you have a water source giving you a reflective solar gain. Establish the view planes, privacy related issues, site related accessibility problems, etc and learn how to tie the acquired information to the site plan for the future design process

2. Survey techniques: - learn to use various measuring devises, such as string and eye levels, construction levels (manual and self leveling) to establish site grades in relationship to horizontal run.

C. Programs and courses

1. Part 9, Technical (book II) Housing & Small building as provided by NSBOA. Items to be covered, e.g.: - classification of group & types of buildings, occupant loads, travel distance, egress & unit exit width, area of refuge, barrier free requirements, fire separations and ratings, max. building size & height, limiting distance and unprotected openings, washroom requirements, mechanical and sprinkler related issues

2. R2000, Energy Conservation as provided by NSHBA. The designer undertakes to learn about the latest in building science, trends, techniques and products. The designer will recognize the benefits of energy efficient, healthier, more comfortable, high performance R-2000 homes. The program will include and reference the Home Builders Association Builders Manual. The training modules include:

a. The building envelope: building science, building better foundations and house envelopes & window and door systems.

b. The building environment: building better mechanical systems, mechanical ventilation, integrated mechanicals, sustainable housing, and marketing better buildings.

3. The Solar Shelter Course as provided by Solar NS. This course includes solar basics of active and passive, an affordable approach, climate control for comfort and health, energy and the environment, site designing and working with nature, shelter designing bringing you, your needs and your site together, solar construction including ground frost insulation, heat storage slabs, glazing types and systems and solar mechanicals

4. Advanced Structural Design as presented by a professional engineer of Nova Scotia. The designer must have Introduction to Structural Design and from this understanding of engineering principles, terminology, etc. the designer will be trained in the preliminary sizing of structural members with uniform, triangular, concentrated point loads, etc. As the basic engineering principles build, you will further gain an understanding of load development and load paths in structures. As a designer, you will learn to calculate various loads, size and cost members, so we may use the right product for the job. This can vary from structural wood, steel or one of the pre engineered wood products.

5. Building science: This is an understanding of the non-structural characteristics of building materials and how they work together under the wide range of maritime climate conditions. Lightning, temperature, temperature changes, freeze thaw cycles, radiation, wind, precipitation, wind driven precipitation, condensation, chemical reactions such as salt air, efflorescence, corrosion, rusting, electrolysis, biological reactions such as mold, mildew, wet and dry rot, issues from insects, rodents, and other pests. Senior designers and other appropriate experts will be used to instruct this course.

6. Detailing: residential and commercial applications. There will be training in various construction techniques and assemblies, such as ICF wall systems, pre engineered wood or steel joist systems, super insulated wall assemblies, rafter &/or truss roof systems, steel structures and other specialty products. The designer will gain knowledge of these various assemblies & products and combine various assemblies together and learn how to draw them to create structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing concepts. Senior designers and other appropriate experts will be used to instruct this course.

7. Environmental and Climatic control of buildings: -the designer will learn how important the building envelope and the mechanical systems must be considered together, as to create a healthy environment. They will also learn how a clients environmental sensitivities, can effect the selection of construction products, techniques, mechanical systems, etc. The designer will gain an understanding of the various types of heating, ventilation, & filtering systems. They will also learn the advantages and disadvantages of each system and how they affect the heating, relative humidity and air quality control of the structure. They will also be introduced to some of the newer intergraded systems. From this training, they will be able to advise their clients of some of the systems they may wish to consider as to meet, their comfort and climatic control requirements. They will also have a better understanding of the NBC requirements for heating and ventilation and what the installers of these system, may require in the structural building.

8. Construction Site Workshops: - the designer will go to designated sites where they will review and gain an understanding of existing construction techniques and discuss alternative approaches.

Post Certification Requirements :

A. Must meet all post certification requirements of Accredited Member, Technical Level

B. Must take National Building Code upgrades

Accredited Member

"Designer Level"

(Proposal Only)

Prerequisite: Must have Accredited Member, Technical Level

Required Components:

A. Approved reading list

B. Must attend 75% in house monthly training secessions, relating to design

C. Must attend at least one site workshop weekend, every two years (classroom session), using the site related technical information to do a preliminary design based on a given design scenario and present it to the group, providing merit and reasons for your approach to your design concept.

D. Solar design principles in relation to design

E. Design principles: form, function, flow, balance, usage of space and scale

F. History of Architecture, relating to famous buildings, designers/architects, etc

G. Study of residential & small building styling

H. Kitchen design

I. Themed & concept design (interior and exterior)

J. Landscape design &principles

K. Various other cultural designs, design principles and styles, e.g. French, Spanish, English, Japanese, Chinese such as feng shui, etc.

L. Human dimensions.

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Accredited Member

"Master Designer Level"

(Proposal Only)

Prerequisite: Must have all of the previous established levels

Required Components:

A. Must do a research project on one of the following

1. Another designer/architect

2. An architectural styling or trend

Note: This prepared presentation must be submitted to the Certification Council in writing and it must demonstrate an understanding of the researched person, styling or trend, showing the development and growth patterns, etc. Upon acceptance of the Council, it must be presented to the Association.

Continuing Education

The education committee is also in the process of arranging non-certified, business related training. This could be in the form of:

1. Financial planning

2. Tax planning and implications

3. Legal issues relating to your business, e.g. Incorporations, liability, etc.

4. Insurance

We are also in the process of arranging some tour / training secessions. This could involve some out of town and/or overnight trips. e.g.: Simpson Hangers, Truss Joist, Atlantic Windows, etc.

Note: Even though training is being done in the latter two levels of our certification, they are in a transition state and are still being developed. They are subject to change, where as, they require review and endorsement of our Certification Council before they become established levels.