contractor CLASSES
lawrence home builder association
contractor continuing
education CLASSES
December 1 - 5, & 9 2025
Per City of Lawrence Administrative Policy Number AP-128, the Qualifying Party for a contractor license must obtain at least eight (8) hours of related continuing education annually, which meet the City’s criteria for approval; and licensed tradespersons must obtain at least six (6) hours of continuing trade education annually, which meet the City’s criteria for approval.
SEMINAR DETAILS:
- In-person and online options
- For in-person classes, Lawrence locations will be provided upon registration
- Membership discount available
Essentials of the
2024 International Existing Building Code
Date & Time
December 1, 2025 | 8am – 5pm
CE Hours
8
Cost
$100 (Member)
$200 (Non-member)
Instructor
Tim Ryan
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
The class will cover several topics of the 2024 IEBC including recognizing how the IEBC offers alternatives and incentives to building owners to maintain safety of their buildings and to continue to initiate upgrades towards compliance with more contemporary editions of the code. The IEBC identifies various compliance methods for building owners to choose from when executing alterations, additions, repairs or changes in use to their existing buildings.
NEC 680 Essentials: Swimming Pools, Fountains, and
Similar Installations
Date & Time
December 2, 2025 | 8am - Noon
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructor
Verlon Myers
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
This seminar covers key requirements of NEC® Article 680 for swimming pools, fountains, and similar installations. Topics include inground pool definitions, equipotential bonding planes, and bonding and grounding essentials.
Agricultural Buildings: Wiring Methods & Hazards
Date & Time
December 2, 2025 | 1pm - 5pm
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructor
Verlon Myers
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
This course covers NEC code applications and wiring techniques specific to agricultural buildings. Topics include hazardous location types, approved wiring methods, GFCI placement, grounding, circuit calculations, and 2023 updates to NEC Article 547. By the end, participants will understand how to identify hazards, apply proper wiring methods, perform key calculations, and comply with Article 547 requirements in the field.
2024 IFGC Review
Date & Time
December 3, 2025 | 8am - Noon
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructor
Paul Alvarado
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
What gas companies want you to know about working with gas:
• Definitions, gas pipe type, size and location
• Venting and size, type and length
• Appliance type and installation
• Appendix A, B, C, & D
HVAC for the Demanding Homebuyer
Date & Time
December 3, 2025 | 1pm - 5pm
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructor
Neal Ezell
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
Right-sizing for comfort, code compliance and client expectations.
Nearly half of today’s new homes are burdened with oversized HVAC systems that sabotage efficiency and comfort. This session tackles the myth that “bigger is better” and equips designers to deliver results that satisfy even the pickiest homebuyer.

“Manual J calculations should be aggressive... Designers should take full advantage of legitimate opportunities to minimize the size of estimated loads.” — Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA)
Whether you're working with a luxury client or a budget-conscious buyer, this class demonstrates how to meet expectations without circumventing code.
We’ll dive into:
- Manual J – Heating and Cooling load determination
- Manual S – Smart equipment selection for real-world performance
- Manual D – Duct design that delivers airflow where it’s needed
- Manual T – Air distribution that keeps occupants comfortable
- Whole-House Ventilation – Because fresh air isn’t optional
- New Technologies – Often overlooked by HVAC pros
- Going Total Electric – Easier than you think
This class is ideal for builders, design professionals and HVAC contractors who want to elevate their game and add new tools to their toolbox.
Economic Update & Outlook for the Construction Industry
Date & Time
December 4 | 8am - 10am
CE Hours
2
Cost
$25 (Member)
$50 (Non-member)
Instructor
Brian Lines
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
We’ll look at current headwinds and future forecasts for topics which are near-and-dear to the licensed contractor community, including:
- Materials Costs: up-to-date data on price escalation, tariff impacts, and lively US Government Monetary Policy (the Fed FOMC, interest rates, money supply, etc.)
- Construction Spending: current trends in public and private spending on construction projects
- Workforce: updated outlook on the supply-and-demand for labor, impact of shifting immigration policies, and a look at Gen Z’s influx to the workforce.
The Future of Estimating: How AI is Transforming Cost Analysis
Date & Time
December 4 | 10am - Noon
CE Hours
2
Cost
$25 (Member)
$50 (Non-member)
Instructor
Rebecca Kassa
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
This session will discuss AI-driven tools for estimating, highlighting their capabilities in:
- Improving cost prediction by analyzing historical project data and recognizing trends.
- Automating takeoff and quantity estimation to drastically reduce manual effort and improve accuracy.
- Accelerating estimating workflows through AI-powered tools that streamline processes and minimize errors.
- Providing structured, detailed cost reports that can be exported in multiple formats (PDF, Excel, etc.), making estimates easily printable and shareable.
- Showcasing real-world applications of AI-powered estimating tools and their measurable benefits to estimators and firms.
Building Better:
Code Updates & Inspection Wins
Date & Time
December 4, 2025 | 1pm - 5pm
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructors
Brian Jimenez, Matt Schmidt, Lee Queen, Patrick O'Brien, Timberly French and Janet Smalter, Justin McRae
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
This four-part class offers a practical overview of key building code changes and inspection strategies from 2018 to 2024. Attendees will learn about major updates to the International Building Code (IBC) that affect residential occupancies, including fire safety, egress, accessibility, and structural requirements. The session also covers common violations in IRC Chapter 3 that frequently delay inspections, with tips to avoid them. Staff will highlight significant changes to the International Residential Code (IRC) across two code cycles, focusing on construction practices and energy efficiency. Finally, the class explores impactful revisions to the International Mechanical, Fuel Gas, and Plumbing Codes (IMC, IFGC, IPC), helping builders and contractors stay compliant with evolving design and installation standards.
Finish Strong! Avoiding Concrete Durability Problems and Cracks
Date & Time
December 5 | 8am - 10am
CE Hours
2
Cost
$25 (Member)
$50 (Non-member)
Instructors
Christy Martin and Larry Tabor
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
Through the eyes of an owner, a damaged concrete surface or cracked concrete means project failure! A contractor can do everything else right and still get a bad reputation – not good for business. Durability is a general term, but focuses on concrete’s ability to resist weathering, abrasion, and other in-service conditions. Scaled, cracked, delaminated, or spalled concrete costs money to fix and may never recover compared being done right the first time. Learn ways to keep surface problems and cracking from happening, ways to mitigate problems, and conversations to have before you ever order concrete. The introduction of Portland Limestone Cement (aka. PLC or 1L) has changed some placement characteristics for the concrete contractor to be aware of. Learn about tools to improve your placement success.
Lessons Learned:
- Explain various types of concrete durability and cracking issues.
- Explore common causes of concrete surface finish problems and cracks, as well as what to do to avoid them.
- Demonstrate how relatively cheap field tools and certifications can keep you out of trouble or help diagnose a problem.
- See how initial curing during a concrete pour can avoid plastic shrinkage cracks and gain time for proper finishing plus how curing and sealing increase durability.
Combining Steel Fiber and Nano Silica to Reduce Shrinkage, Densify, and Improve Curing/Hydration of Concrete in Residential Applications
Date & Time
December 5, 2025 | 10am - Noon
CE Hours
2
Cost
$25 (Member)
$50 (Non-member)
Instructor
Jay Middleton
Location
Security 1st Title, 4913 Oread West Drive
Description
This class examines the combination of Steel Fiber Reinforcement and nano silica in concrete foundations and flatwork. This process eliminates the need for traditional rebar and surface curing in these applications, but more importantly, dramatically reduces the probability of cracking and early degradation of the concrete. Additionally, the code officials' use of evaluation reports as a path to approval for alternative methods and case studies of municipalities that have embraced steel fiber reinforced structural concrete in residential applications will be discussed.
An Overview of the Residential Chapters of the 2024 IECC
and How it Differs from the 2018 IECC
THIS IS AN on-line CLASS
Date & Time
December 9, 2025 | 8am – Noon
CE Hours
4
Cost
$50 (Member)
$100 (Non-member)
Instructor
Sharla Riead
Location
Remote - This is an on-line class
Description
This course covers the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for Residential and Small Commercial structures including new construction and existing buildings. The course focus is on the differences from the 2018 IECC with a deep dive into the new components and how they work. Lessons learned and advancements made from the 2021 IECC will also be discussed.
