The state’s accessibility audits have been an extremely sore subject for accessibility reviewers/inspectors within Pennsylvania. When the audits began, municipal inspectors and Third Parties have lost jobs and or municipalities.
The state will arrange a date and a time with you, the BCO, you can be present for the audit. The state’s accessibility inspector comes into a municipality and pulls three random accessible plans, audits the plans as well as travel to the site and audit the accessible areas. After the audit, a letter is provided to the Pa BCO, same intent as a CBO just Pa.’s version, and a letter also goes to the municipality. It is a very black and white letter that list finding of the audit, it does not take into account after the fact scenarios despite obvious after the fact changes.
When the program got started, I among other inspectors just wanted the state to take over all accessibility inspections. To this day it’s my belief that was the state’s intention but the state is in the same if not worse in attempting to find qualified individuals, working for the state as an inspector pays a marginal starting salary however the long term benefits and retirement are assumed to be what is sought or moving up the ladder for better pay. I can’t speak to its pay now a days.
Accessibility can be a tumultuous subject however these audits have helped remove uncertified inspectors signing plans And performing inspections . I’m certain many of us inspectors learned from the audit process as builders learn from us, some harder then others depending if they really want to educate themselves and do the right thing.