When the guy doing the work starts to beat you down mentally.

[MikeC]

Back story - former dentist office converted to laundromat without permits. Now he has a permit and I am the bad guy for doing my job. Originally there was no bathroom. I really don't know if he is dumb or if he is taking everything I say literally just to get under my skin. I sent him diagrams straight from the book showing clear space for the toilet - this is the photo he sent me today, maintaining the diagram I sent him says "other fixtures not allowed in this space" and he has no other fixtures. I'm not even going to get into the poor / unknown attempt at addressing exposed pipes. When dragging in other codes, it would be hard not to find 10 violations in this photo alone.

Okay, I'm done venting and feel a little better.

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

I don't think he's trying to bait you, I think he's just trying to be as cheap as he possibly can, and to do the absolute least work he thinks has even a remote chance of sneaking by an inspection.

I wouldn't accept it. This is the kind of thing for which I'd bring my code books home and spend all night writing a textbook to cite every possible violation I could remotely justify as applicable.

There was no toilet room there before? I'll bet those grab bars are just screwed to the sheetrock. Is the outlet GFCI protected?

 

[MikeC]

The original structure had a bathroom. I am a do-it-all inspector, so I oversee every part of this project. Like I said, the conversion to a laundromat was conducted without a permit. The new owners intended for this new use to be as hands-off of an operation as possible, so they elected to not provide a bathroom (obviously without the involvement of a design professional or plan review). Amazingly enough, there was adequate room for accessible bathroom facilities where the original closet flange was located (which had only been plugged with an expansion type plug). They are now fighting me, claiming I am costing them $600 per day by not issuing a CO. The most recent email mentioned a conversation with their attorney and included the mayor, claiming that I told them they needed to install a lavatory and they complied. My response was that I am an inspector and not a designer, adding that I have already gone above and beyond by providing diagrams and required clearances. I also added that I shouldn't need to tell them that correcting documented violations cannot create new violations and should be performed in a manner that is compliant with the applicable code requirements.

 

[ICE]

included th

I have heard the same "You are costing me money. I point out that I had nothing to do with any of it. To place the blame for their mistakes on you only succeeds if you allow it. When they try to intimidate you with their acquaintances, shrug it off to desperation.

I once had a lady exclaim that she was a friend of Pete Dames...several times. When I didn't react she pressed further saying, "Why do you ignore me when I tell you that I will call Pete Dames?" I said that I didn't know a Pete Dames. Turns out, he was the mayor of the city that I was assigned to. Never heard from him.

While writing corrections for an upscale couples patio cover/walk on deck I heard the husband tell his wife to call Gail. Gail was Gail Farber, the director of LA County Public Works. I suggested that they ask her to bring tools. I didn't hear from her either. She knew my name.