New Construction in Pennsylvania - Inspected and Signed Off

[my250r11]

"do everything by the book all the time and you'll never have to worry about it". They say "what book?

Yep and what's crazy is they are serious. I Get "where is that in the code book?". My reply is let me see you code book & I'll show you. "I Don't have one." Well, you should buy 1 and maybe read it too. Here State law requires them to have one on site. I'm probably the only person to have given a correction for it. You get what you give with me. You give respect & courteousness, you get that in return. Want to be an ASS or Jerk, I can do that too.

 

[Sifu]

Yep and what's crazy is they are serious. I Get "where is that in the code book?". My reply is let me see you code book & I'll show you. "I Don't have one." Well, you should buy 1 and maybe read it too. Here State law requires them to have one on site. I'm probably the only person to have given a correction for it. You get what you give with me. You give respect & courteousness, you get that in return. Want to be an ASS or Jerk, I can do that too.

As a green builder many years ago I had that exact encounter, I was the one without the code book. I bought one the next day. Amazing how much better things went after that.

 

[princeofpen]

It really gets down to what is noted on their permit as required. If a sheathing exposed at frame is required then a exterior cover after that you'd get your nailing patterns on exterior sheath and attachment and sealing of barrier later. If a municipality doesn't want to actually have a proper inspection program it's on them when they're on the news. When I was in Texas I can remember days of doing over 50 a day with 5 or so being frame/MEP so hearing of max 9 a day is hilarious.

 

[steveray]

When I was in Texas I can remember days of doing over 50 a day with 5 or so being frame/MEP so hearing of max 9 a day is hilarious.

When you are in a 2000 house subdivision, that might be possible.....

 

[Mr. Inspector]

It depends on what you call an inspection. Some would call a rough inspection (framing, rough electrical, rough mechanical, rough plumbing, deck piers, interior slab) one inspection or others may call it 6 inspections. I can do 4 of these rough inspections at 4 locations in a day or you can call it 24 inspections in a day. I would not be able to do 24 deck pier inspections at 24 locations in one day.

 

[SCBO1]

It depends on what you call an inspection. Some would call a rough inspection (framing, rough electrical, rough mechanical, rough plumbing, deck piers, interior slab) one inspection or others may call it 6 inspections.

ISO counts each inspection, electrical, plumbing, framing etc. as one each, it will be in your best interest to tabulate theses as individual inspections for the utmost score on your ISO survey!

 

[ICE]

I would not be able to do 24 deck pier inspections at 24 locations in one day.

Those are a candidate for virtual inspection.

 

[jar546]

This is a permit inspection card for new SFR construction. This has nothing to do with windows, or any MEPs, just structural only including roof.
Transitioning from a career as a building contractor to a building code inspector might seem like a significant change, but there are several logical and compelling reasons an experienced contractor might consider such a move:

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Those are a candidate for virtual inspection.

My company does not allow this. Also, cell service is sporadic here.

 

[princeofpen]

When you are in a 2000 house subdivision, that might be possible.....

One of the reasons I left Texas was work load was nuts. I'd do Frame/MEP on 2 apartment buildings in 2 cities an hour apart or so, commercial whatever in 2 other cities and help out our residential guys by whatever they needed as I was fully certified ICC and a Tx plumbing inspector and Tx Fire. Too many 12hr days and I'm over 60. Money just doesn't matter at that point. I'd start my truck at 6am and shut it down after 6pm back at home again all while enjoying the 100+ degree weather.

 

[SCBO1]

I would not be able to do 24 deck pier inspections at 24 locations in one day.

I agree, wonder how many deck piers will be done correctly and how many would need to be re-inspected?

 

[tbz]

So I am only posting this here, because its a new addition in PA and as I drove by today to another site I found this.



This one's just for you JAR.....................

 

[Inspector Gadget]

So I am only posting this here, because its a new addition in PA and as I drove by today to another site I found this.

View attachment 11231

This one's just for you JAR.....................

Who needs landings? Or guards?

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Who needs landings? Or guards?

I work in some townships that have up to 5 different inspection companies to choose from and a BCO from another company. I drive around with a blind eye in those townships because I have no idea what is permitted or not and what inspection company, if any, are involved.

 

[jar546]

I work in some townships that have up to 5 different inspection companies to choose from and a BCO from another company. I drive around with a blind eye in those townships because I have no idea what is permitted or not and what inspection company, if any, are involved.

This is where I am confused. Under PA 403, all approved plans are suppose to be on the jobsite for the inspector to review. The plans should clearly show the scope of work. I also don't understand why it matters what other inspectors were there if you are being sent out for a specific inspection. I thought we inspected to the applicable codes based on the scope of work in the documents on the jobsite. If there are no documents to review, the inspection is failed.

I am not trying to pick on you but the common theme from your posts is why you don't have to inspect everything because you work for a third-party agency and you are essentially prohibited from doing so based on the perception you will lose your job if you require housewrap on a new SFR with vinyl siding. At what point is there some accountability. This is a serious issue.

 

[ICE]

I also don't understand why it matters what other inspectors were there

Oh it matters.

 

[tbz]

This is where I am confused. Under PA 403, all approved plans are suppose to be on the jobsite for the inspector to review. The plans should clearly show the scope of work. I also don't understand why it matters what other inspectors were there if you are being sent out for a specific inspection. I thought we inspected to the applicable codes based on the scope of work in the documents on the jobsite. If there are no documents to review, the inspection is failed.

I am not trying to pick on you but the common theme from your posts is why you don't have to inspect everything because you work for a third-party agency and you are essentially prohibited from doing so based on the perception you will lose your job if you require housewrap on a new SFR with vinyl siding. At what point is there some accountability. This is a serious issue.

Jar,

What Rick is alluding to is when the applicate fills out the application at the local building department, there is a list of 2 - 5 inspecting agencies they can select to have do the inspections.

As thus, in some towns, you have 5 different inspecting agencies, none of which can work on the other project if not approved during the application.

This leads to yes, Rick as a private inspector picked to work on the project by the applicant of 123 main street, has authority over that project as the assigned 3rd party inspecting agency.

However, if 124 main street selected a different 3rd party agency to do their inspections, then Rick has no authority over that project, both of which are in the same town and under the same building department.

This leads to, I just did the job up the street and did the same ting and it passed? How is not correct here.

I believe that is Rick's point, correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Sifu]

This is where I am confused. Under PA 403, all approved plans are suppose to be on the jobsite for the inspector to review. The plans should clearly show the scope of work. I also don't understand why it matters what other inspectors were there if you are being sent out for a specific inspection. I thought we inspected to the applicable codes based on the scope of work in the documents on the jobsite. If there are no documents to review, the inspection is failed.

I am not trying to pick on you but the common theme from your posts is why you don't have to inspect everything because you work for a third-party agency and you are essentially prohibited from doing so based on the perception you will lose your job if you require housewrap on a new SFR with vinyl siding. At what point is there some accountability. This is a serious issue.

I take this to mean he is basically driving through a different AHJ to get to his scheduled inspections. It is one thing to issue a violation for something missed or unpermitted in your own AHJ and improve your own program, but different if you are stopping by a site that you are not legally entitled to. Just a guess, unless maybe PA has some underlying legal authority that would alter that.

 

[jar546]

Jar,

What Rick is alluding to is when the applicate fills out the application at the local building department, there is a list of 2 - 5 inspecting agencies they can select to have do the inspections.

As thus, in some towns, you have 5 different inspecting agencies, none of which can work on the other project if not approved during the application.

This leads to yes, Rick as a private inspector picked to work on the project by the applicant of 123 main street, has authority over that project as the assigned 3rd party inspecting agency.

However, if 124 main street selected a different 3rd party agency to do their inspections, then Rick has no authority over that project, both of which are in the same town and under the same building department.

This leads to, I just did the job up the street and did the same ting and it passed? How is not correct here.

I believe that is Rick's point, correct me if I am wrong.

I see what you are alluding to but only Rick can verify what he was alluding to. Again, if I am scheduled to perform an inspection at 123 Main Street then I am going to do my inspection at 123 Main Street. I don't care who is doing inspections at 124 main street or how they handled them, especially if it is another third-party agency. What relevance is it?

Example:

124 Main St gets a rough framing inspection from 3rd party ABC and completely misses undersized girders.

I do my framing inspection at 123 Main St and catch the fact that the girders are undersized. Am I suppose to let them go because the other 3rd party made a mistake?

Again, I just don't get the relevance. When I am tasked with performing an inspection, I perform the inspection regardless of what any other inspector is doing on the job I'm at or on a job my company has nothing to do with.

 

[SCBO1]

How do you handle the OSHA violation, do you ignore it or enforce it? Just wondering, I sometimes see the re-bar impalement violation, the damaged extension cord, no trench shoring and the un-tied roofer.

 

[jar546]

How do you handle the OSHA violation, do you ignore it or enforce it? Just wondering, I sometimes see the re-bar impalement violation, the damaged extension cord, no trench shoring and the un-tied roofer.

We don't enforce OSHA rule as it is outside our purview. There is chapter 33 which we do enforce in addition to local ordinances for jobsite cleanliness.

 

[tmurray]

How do you handle the OSHA violation, do you ignore it or enforce it? Just wondering, I sometimes see the re-bar impalement violation, the damaged extension cord, no trench shoring and the un-tied roofer.

This is also a question of your safety as an inspector. Can you safely access the area to perform the inspection? I've failed inspections for unsafe access.

 

[Inspector Gadget]

I take this to mean he is basically driving through a different AHJ to get to his scheduled inspections. It is one thing to issue a violation for something missed or unpermitted in your own AHJ and improve your own program, but different if you are stopping by a site that you are not legally entitled to. Just a guess, unless maybe PA has some underlying legal authority that would alter that.

I'm reading this and thinking that there is incredible strength in the socialist Canadian system where AHJs are directly government (or something quite similar - I work for what is akin to a government-like third-party non-profit, empowered by the province) rather than private everything.

 

[Keystone]

Yep and what's crazy is they are serious. I Get "where is that in the code book?". My reply is let me see you code book & I'll show you. "I Don't have one." Well, you should buy 1 and maybe read it too. Here State law requires them to have one on site. I'm probably the only person to have given a correction for it. You get what you give with me. You give respect & courteousness, you get that in return. Want to be an ASS or Jerk, I can do that too.

State law requires a book onsite.
That would eliminate an ever burning desire to staple a code book to a plan review comment letter or an inspection correction list.