Pcinspector1 said:
I get the idea that AHJ's kinda give the solar industry some friction when trying to get a solar project going. I told her I hope your not trying to do what their doing in Califoria here cuz I've seen the pictures and get the real story here!
I don't know how it has developed in your locale but there has been a onslaught of solar permits here. I am but one inspector and my file has around sixty active solar jobs. The median income in my area is ripe for solar. There is a demand for a cost saving enterprise and not enough smarts to understand that solar is a bad idea. The big players own the equipment and reap the rebates as they rape the owner. Hells bells, these people can't even sell their property without getting the buyer approved by the solar company that has a lease on the roof.
The state government wants a million solar roofs. The Governor is green to the bone and has facilitated the solar industry in ways that are unheard of. For example, there can be outstanding issues such as expired permits, work done without permits, converted garages and bootlegged whatever, all of which will not be an impediment to getting a permit for solar.
A law kicks in September 1,2015 that requires a 24 hour turnaround on solar applications. That means that all solar plan checks will be done over the counter. There are financial constraints on the cost of a permit and the AHJ can require only one inspection which will be the final inspection. I have even heard of a push to eliminate AHJ inspections altogether. The thinking is that the equipment is always the same and this can be so standardized that, well what could be wrong?
The one inspection rule will be nothing but trouble. Telling them to remove the modules because of one violation or another is not going to go down easy. I envision most jurisdictions giving up. And let's be honest about this, many jurisdictions don't perform a competent inspection now so why think that they will do any better in the future. You know, you can't inspect what you can't see.
When I do a final inspection I will invariably ask to have a module removed so that I can inspect the ground lug that is attached to the module frame. So often, the kid that met me for the inspection says that he doesn't have any tools or training, so no he will not remove a module. Now there is another inspection required....but that's okay because the owner isn't home and I can't verify the detectors so I had to show up again anyway.
At the next inspection the kid can remove a module only to discover that the lugs are wrong. The owner is there this time and not happy about it. It gets worse when the owner finds out that each bedroom requires a detector. He snarls at me, "Why didn't you tell me that before now"? Now comes the fourth or fifth inspection. Can you say "water heater"?
I was in attendance at a symposium of solar industry players when a Building Official that sits on a state committee told the crowd that a solar inspection should take no more time to inspect than a water heater. I interrupted with the statement that I can inspect a water heater in the time that it takes to say "water heater". The people leading the charge have deluded expectations.