Links & Resources

Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) home page.

National Safety Council
The National Safety Council's charter is to educate and influence society to adopt safety, health and environmental policies, practices and procedures that prevent and mitigate human suffering and economic losses arising from preventable causes.

National Lead Information Center
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) informational page regarding lead in paint, soil, and drinking water.

Home Builder Information
An informational web site developed by the National Association of Home Builders.

Flood Hazard Maps
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) web site that includes Flood Rate Insurance Maps (FIRM).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
The U.S. Department of Justice web page regarding ADA regulations, design standards, information and enforcement.

Mold Information
A public web site containing accurate information about fungus.

Asbestos Information
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) informational page about asbestos.

NABIE (National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers)
The National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers (NABIE) is a chartered affinity group of the National Society of Professional Engineers. They accept as members only state-licensed professional engineers and registered architects specializing in the practice of building inspections. They serve the buyers and sellers of real estate, condominium associations, investors, brokers, attorneys, and others. They are dedicated to serving the public by advancing the art and skill of engineers who offer their services as expert inspectors, investigators, and consultants pertaining to the structural and mechanical components of buildings.

CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent Federal regulatory agency dedicated to protecting the public from unsafe consumer products. Visit their site to obtain press releases on various products that have been recalled due to potentially unsafe conditions.

ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials)
ICBO has been the preeminent source of building and construction codes for more than 75 years. These codes are the standard adopted by most city building officials in the western United States. In addition to providing the codes, ICBO offers a broad variety of certification programs, seminars, code resources, training manuals, videos and more (our inspectors participate in these certification programs).

Texas Windstorm Insurance Program
The 70th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 2012, (codified as Article 21.49 Section 6A, Texas Insurance Code), which implements certain inspection requirements for structures to be considered insurable property for windstorm and hail insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (T.W.I.A.). All new construction, repairs, or additions which commenced on or after January 1, 1988, shall be inspected or approved by the Texas Department of Insurance for compliance with the building specifications in the T.W.I.A. Plan of Operation, if the property is to be certified as insurable by the T.W.I.A. Participation in this program is not mandatory. However, property which has not been inspected and certified in accordance with the requirements of this inspection program will not be eligible for windstorm insurance through the T.W.I.A. The inspection program applies only to structures located in areas designated as a "catastrophe area" by the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
ASCE's mission is to provide essential value to our members, their careers, our partners and the public by developing leadership, advancing technology, advocating lifelong learning and promoting the profession.

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) is the only engineering society that represents individual engineering professionals and licensed engineers (PEs) across all disciplines. Founded in 1934, NSPE strengthens the engineering profession by promoting engineering licensure and ethics, enhancing the engineer image, advocating and protecting PEs' legal rights at the national and state levels, publishing news of the profession, providing continuing education opportunities, and much more. NSPE serves some 60,000 members and the public through 53 state and territorial societies and more than 500 chapters.

High Wind Area Construction Ties & Anchors
An extensive collection of metal connectors for high-wind construction and building code requirements in certain coastal areas of Texas.