A study assessed the stated needs and opinions of both past and potential Building Officials Institute participants in order to incorporate these views into the planning process for future institutes. A total of 606 people connected with building inspection or related areas (general building, housing, plumbing, mechanical trades, electrical trades, architecture, design, fire fighting, housing evaluation, plan reviewing, and energy conservation) responded to a needs assessment questionnaire covering forty-seven different areas. Information was obtained on respondent's background characteristics, current working status, and usual working situation. Respondents were asked to rank the importance of eight information categories including basic information in their field and in other fields, advanced information in their own and other fields, updates in code legislation, information on building inspection department administration, specialized problems in building inspection, and treatment of energy problems. Twelve Institute session topics and six general interest topics (including public relations, budgeting, principles of supervision, consumer education, and preparing written reports) were assessed by the respondents with respect to their importance as Institute subjects. Ten questions pertaining to attendance at future conferences were also asked. (Forty-two tables are included.) (MN)