General Introduction

Professional conduct

• Why the correct behavior is important for an inspector.
• The importance of reliability and ethics.
• How to maintain the correct appearance as an inspector, including personal hygiene, Inspector uniform and personal protective equipment.
• What the responsibilities of an Inspector are, including:
• Inspector Tasks
• Information to be included in all reports.
• The basic areas that should always be checked during an inspection.
• Why it is important to maintain an independent role and how to provide impartial and objective judgements.

The Psychology of Working with People

• The types of communication, including the pros and cons of each when used in an inspector situation.
• How to be a good listener, tips on how to listen to and understand the conversation. 
• The consideration of cultural issues when communicating and overcoming language barriers.
• How to deal with your own and others defensive behavior through proper communication and body language.
• What types of negotiator an inspector should be, practical negotiation skills and the process of negotiation.
• How to be a successful salesman while maintaining or building relationships with clients.  
• Good habits to help achieve successful time management.

Specifications

• Understanding all the parts of a long Specification
• The bidding process and instructions to bidders.
• Familiarizing yourself with the property and gathering information for a pre-specification site observation.
• The DSD levels of a surface
• The use of Interior and exterior re-paint specifications.
• A conclusion for writing specifications.

Report Writing

• The skills required for successful documenting, including maintaining the quality of the report and being accurate.
• The basic types of forms used for each type of inspection carried out.
• Initial
• Interim
• Final
• Follow up
• Consultation
• Invitation to Tender
• A description of the form templates used by an inspector.
• What information should be gathered and entered into the forms for a complete and thorough inspection.

Blueprint Reading and Interpretation

• What a blueprint is, what it includes and who uses it.
• Full description and illustrations of the different parts of the blueprint
• A guide to the symbols and other graphics used in a blueprint.
• The scale of the drawing, including how to use both architectural and engineer rulers.
• The finish schedule, including the abbreviations used for substrate and materials.
• How and when to use a blueprint specification guide.
• The details contained within a blueprint specification
• Understanding how the blueprint and the specifications relate to one another.

Consultations (including mediation)

• Collecting and documenting information on failure analysis
• Determining and communicating the cause of the failure
• Detailed look at surface preparation as the cause of the failure.
• DSD level descriptions
• Investigating other types of failure including:
• Coating selection
• Application
• Paint formulation problems
• Environmental Issues
• Architectural designs
• When and how to be a mediator.

Site Inspections

• Descriptions and safe use of Personal protective equipment.
• Other areas that could potentially be hazardous or cause harm while carrying a site inspection.
• Safety signage symbols, descriptions and the meanings.
• Safe visitor access to site and the rules for staying safe while on site.
• Detailed descriptions of each of the types of visits that an inspector may be required to attend including:
• Initial
• Interim
• Final
• Follow up

Inspection Equipment (what substrate, when to use, how to use)

• The different types of Inspection Equipment
• When  and how to use specific equipment
• What equipment should be used for which substrate
• Equipment Calibration and Maintenance
• Which items of equipment to carry on you at all times.
• How to use specific equipment (videos)

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