You ask? How do you avoid that being construed as directing work? Work which is not substantiated by a code requirement. The wrong contractor could fight back and your employer would surely be found liable for the costs associated.
Well I've never claimed to be an angel. Directing work you ask? I have to explain code violations and the solutions day in and day out. I would call that directing work, wouldn't you? I am asked, "What should we do?" every day. If that's not directing work I don't know what is.
Not everything is spelled out in code. Sometimes common sense takes hold and I do what needs to be done. Yes I know there are Conarbs and Mark Ks that think that I am the worst inspector on the planet because I apparently have more code to work with than they do. So what....I'm ok with that.
In the example at hand, we are talking about a flimsy tube with natural gas located where a fireman can saw it in half. Hopefully the gas will be shut off so only what is left in the tube is a hazard.....but what if there was a mistake and the gas was not shut off? What then? Who the Hell put a gas tube next to the sheathing and what inspector let them do it?
I have been asked why the tube is allowed in a wall cavity where the fireman might be ripping off drywall. The tube could get caught along with the drywall. While true enough the comparison is poor. Hooking the tube is different than sawing it in half. The roof gets assaulted nearly every time there is a fire.
In the end I ask the contractors to do the right thing. If asking fails to get results, well then I try another way.....but I always ask first.
Keep in mind who I represent. It is not my employer....it is not the contractor....it is the owner. The person that paid a contractor to perform work on their property. I have their best interest in mind when I write a correction.
There has been few owners that would fault me for writing a correction, whether there's a code or not. When an owner becomes upset with my corrections, my best work, they are upset that the contractor let them down. They were worried about the entire process from the beginning. Did they hire a good contractor or a contractor that is all sizzle and no steak? Are they paying way too much? Is the work great or barely meeting code?
What does an owner expect from an inspector? Is it just the code? I doubt that so I am willing to give them a little extra......but only if it's necessary.
Contractors do fight and they do win when I have no code. I'll give you an example: I wrote a correction at a re-roof final that said, "Clean the debris from the rain gutter." The owner was a elderly lady and she would have to pay someone to clear the gutter of the debris from a wood shingle tear-off. Plugged they were.
So I didn't hesitate to write a correction. The contractor took that to the office manager and I was told that it is a bogus correction. I pointed out the elderly lady has been left with a problem that the contractor created. The code would not back me....my employer would not back me....common sense was not allowed. In the end the little old lady lost out. She was left with a mess to clean up after a contractor wouldn't do the right thing. At least I tried.
I should point out that I have written that correction several time since and no contractor has complained. I suppose they would be embarrassed to ask the office manager to allow them to be a pig.
The statement "Directing the work" is way off base. Look at the pictures here. What should the corrections be if not explaining what to do? Is "Window flashed incorrectly" good enough? Or should I explain how to flash the window? Is "lath not overlapped correctly" all that they need?
It's all going to be torn off and they will start anew. I reckon that's pointing them in a different direction.
No "Directing the work" ....that's hilarious.