Is this the usual MO?

[jjhoward]

I have completed a residential service upgrade, 200 amp service with a 3 gang meter pan. This is a 2 family house in Newark , NJ. One meter for each apt. + 1 house meter. Called for an inspection...

Response from the inspector, "OK, 11:30 to 1:00, have the covers off all the panels, covers off of any troughs. I can't sign off if I can't see inside".

I am not normally at my jobs during the inspections. I think that since this homeowner has paid $305 for this permit, the inspector could break out a screw driver and open the panels.

Is this a normal request anywhere else?

I don't do many jobs in Newark.

Thank you.

[nolabama]

not in jersey - but inspectors in here wont touch anything if they dont want to - you better open things for them if you want to pass here

[NolaTigaBait]

depends on the inspector...soem just take my word for it and some want to see inside...i got one job inspected and i wasn't there...he couldn't see the gec ( i fished it up the wall with the feeder) and he failed me...he didn't bother to break out the screwdriver which would have taken him all of about 10 seconds

[NolaTigaBait]

sup, nola...how's things in the no

[mdshunk]

I think general courtesy dictates that you have covers off, but most inspectors I deal with have a 10-in-1 or an electric screwdriver in their back pocket too. How'd you like to be an inspector on a commercial job, spending 1/2 an hour taking covers off and putting them back on? If I'm not going to be around when the inspector comes, I'll put just 2 screws loosely in the covers, just for appearance's sake.

[jjhoward]

Marc,
I agree, a commmercial job could be a real effort to open up some big switch gear.

This is a residence, with 2-12/24 panels and 1-20/40 panel all next to each other.

12 screws total, no trough to open, the 3-gang meter pan has removable covers.

I guess he is really busy.

[mdshunk]

I guess he is really busy.
Seriously brother, how much can you really expect from a government employee?

[stickboy1375]

YOu guys would die if you saw an inspection out where I work. Fist off the guy that shows up is an ex-builder, then they usually just chit-chat with ya, but they do make sure firecaulk is in place and ground rods installed. pretty much about it.

[peter d]

YOu guys would die if you saw an inspection out where I work. Fist off the guy that shows up is an ex-builder, then they usually just chit-chat with ya, but they do make sure firecaulk is in place and ground rods installed. pretty much about it.

Yeah, gotta love the small towns. ;)

[mdshunk]

Yeah, gotta love the small towns. ;)
I'm not psychic, but I might guess it's also a 3rd party inspection agency. That's sorta their MO.

[peter d]

I'm not psychic, but I might guess it's also a 3rd party inspection agency. That's sorta their MO.

No 3rd party ones in Connecticut.. all government employees..but there are many combination inspectors. I've witnessed a similar inspection in CT where the inspector didn't appear to know the slightest thing about electrical work!

[stickboy1375]

I'm not psychic, but I might guess it's also a 3rd party inspection agency. That's sorta their MO.


Not out here... This is the real deal, I know all the inspectors in my area, and they are all the same.

[infinity]

I don't know about Newark but in the smaller towns and cities I've never opened anything for an inspection. We're usually not even present at a final. They typically take place long after the job is done so the HO, Realtor or GC is there. Had a few finals for service upgrades on empty houses being sold where I left the key on the meter pan and the EI let himself in. Some of those guys are real gentlemen. I think that it's reasonable to assume that he can remove a few screws to perform an inspection if needed.

[ctmike]

No 3rd party ones in Connecticut.. all government employees..but there are many combination inspectors. I've witnessed a similar inspection in CT where the inspector didn't appear to know the slightest thing about electrical work!

I have had 3rd party (sub contractors for the town) in Ct and all of the combination inspectors though they have passed thier exams tend to focus more on thier own specialty. After an inspector gets to know you and your work the inspections either get easier or harder

[peter d]

I have had 3rd party (sub contractors for the town) in Ct and all of the combination inspectors though they have passed thier exams tend to focus more on thier own specialty. After an inspector gets to know you and your work the inspections either get easier or harder


Really? Well I learned something today. :cool: I did not know that CT used 3rd party inspection services. What part of Ct are we talking about here?

[ctmike]

I have seen him in branford on a couple of jobs told me they cover vactions extened sick leave etc

[emahler]

Really? Well I learned something today. :cool: I did not know that CT used 3rd party inspection services. What part of Ct are we talking about here?

if you were a master since you were 3 yrs old, you would have known this...but since you only started at 4, you obviously know nothing...

[peter d]

if you were a master since you were 3 yrs old, you would have known this...but since you only started at 4, you obviously know nothing...

Right...you are on to me. I am actually just a trunk slamming hack who can't even wire a single pole switch and a light. :(

[stickboy1375]

I have seen him in branford on a couple of jobs told me they cover vactions extened sick leave etc

Are you sure they are not from the next town over? Thats how they roll in the northwest of CT, they just cover for each other since the towns are big, but not very populated.

[ctmike]

Are you sure they are not from the next town over? Thats how they roll in the northeast of CT, they just cover for each other since the towns are big, but not very populated.

I would have recognized him if he was from a neighboring town
I asked him straight out I hadnt seen him in other towns and he told me it was "day work" i belive was his term .

[tonyou812]

YOu guys would die if you saw an inspection out where I work. Fist off the guy that shows up is an ex-builder, then they usually just chit-chat with ya, but they do make sure firecaulk is in place and ground rods installed. pretty much about it.

And when they go inspect the final they basiclly check all the GFCI circuts and say "well looks good here, how about them Giants?" my reply "Im a Jet Fan thanks" but that isnt always the case though I had an inspector in Livingston get out of his car once wearing one of those small tool pouches. I smiled and thought "good I love a chanllange". I acually had alot of respect for the guy for going through all the trouble of really looking things over. Thats what they should do.

[tonyou812]

Newark is a terrible town to do work in. They will make you wait forever, loose paperwork, and charge a fortune for permits almost as bad as Jersey City.

[iwire]

Not out here... This is the real deal, I know all the inspectors in my area, and they are all the same.


And they know you I assume?

I am betting your work looks pretty good.:smile:

[jrannis]

With rare exception, the inspector requires someone on the job. If not it will usually fail do to "no access"

[chris kennedy]

the inspector requires someone on the job.

Very true here. I leave a little punch-out, patching, cleaning ect for the day of inspection so I don't have to make a special trip.

As far as the inspector opening gear, we do this for them as we usually have a lot of large gear to look at.

[iwire]

Here it is variable, give the choice I like to be there in case there is an issue I can talk my way around it ......... I mean fix it. :grin:

Most will not carry any tools or touch anything.

[electricmanscott]

the inspector could break out a screw driver and open the panels.



Ha ha ha. Oh that's a good one. An inspector using a screwdriver....stop, you're killing me.......

[jjhoward]

Well the inspector did not even enter the house.
The older woman who was home I guess did not get to the door quick enough.

He left a "failed -- no show" comment on the front door. The woman was home all day.

So, I guess we need a track star in the house besides having the panels open.

Perhaps a hot cup of coffee and a doughnut would be nice!@!

[JES2727]

I had an inspection in Newark just last week. Though I was on-site when the inspector showed up, he didn't seem too interested in the job itself. One quick look and then he wanted to shoot the breeze for about 15 minutes. In his defense, I'll point out that there wasn't really much to look at. He could have been done and gone in about 30 seconds.

[ultramegabob]

the inspectors in my area carry a flashlight and a four-way screw driver, they will remove a panel cover in a residential inspection, but I dont think they would do much more than that. I try to always be present when there is an inspection anyway...

[jjhoward]

I will re-schedule.

Fortunately, my schedule is full and I can't (and don't want to) give 2-4hrs to this job for the inspection.

I will get those panels off for this guy and keep my fingers crossed.

[cowboyjwc]

You guys need to remember that you may only have one job in town and I've got 300. I can't tell you how many "but I was home all day" calls we get a week. I've got 20 jobs I have to get to as well as doing plan checks and getting all of my paperwork done for the day. Did you leave a note telling the inspector where the cold water bond was connected or do you expect the housewife to know this? Did you call the inspector in the morning and tell him you can't be there but if he has any questions here's my number?

As for opening up gear, I will open a resi panel, but you also need to remember that we have to follow the same OSHA requirements that you do, so if the gear is hot, we should be wearing PPE just like you should. Trust me when I tell you that the stories about the wheels of government turning slow are true. It's like the Army here we didn't get our rain boots and rain gear until this summer, I need a battery for my calculator and they said that it would just be easier to order me a new calculator as the battery was hard to find. I had to buy my own hard hat, I've been here almost twenty years and we just now got safety vests. Took me 16 years and a near collision for me to get a beacon light on my truck. We got six sets of fall protection harnesses three months ago and still haven't been trained on how to use them.

We all have our problems. Right now my boss has me working on three different in house projects, I will be in training all day on Friday, as well as several other meetings during the week, sometimes it's hard just for me to get out of the office and do my inspections.:smile:

[celtic]

Response from the inspector, "OK, 11:30 to 1:00, have the covers off all the panels, covers off of any troughs. I can't sign off if I can't see inside".

.

I think that it's reasonable to assume that he can remove a few screws to perform an inspection if needed.

The EI has no duty to remove anything.
Liability and insurance premiums being what they may also prohibit the EI from doing anything other than "looking".
The EI - knowing that the window for inspections is a 3 hour window - may actually be looking to save you some time.

Well the inspector did not even enter the house.
The older woman who was home I guess did not get to the door quick enough.

He left a "failed -- no show" comment on the front door. The woman was home all day.


Well...he can't "look" if he can't get in.
It stinks you failed...he can't wait when others are also waiting.

[jjhoward]

Well we are on again for Thursday.
I call in the AM to the inspector to confirm the time window for the inspection.

The HO says she was home all day on Monday, so I don't know why he could not get in.

I plan to meet this guy tomorrow. Don't need to have him getting picky.....

I will let you know how it goes.

Thank you.

[celtic]

I plan to meet this guy tomorrow. Don't need to have him getting picky.....



..if you keep his hands occupied he'll have nothing to pick

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eo3e4x9t84mb/610x.jpg

[ohm]

I try to save non-inspected items or clean-up for the inspection window.

The folks who say their inspections are pretty easy have earned them. I'll bet
the first inspection with that inspector (or his co-inspectors) wasn't easy.

I open everything up, have lights and ladders in-place and walk around with a drawing in my hand.

I'm proud to say my inspections are also "easy".

[PCN]

Here it is variable, give the choice I like to be there in case there is an issue I can talk my way around it ......... I mean fix it. :grin:

Most will not carry any tools or touch anything.

A few years ago up here in Maine, we had a state inspector that would show up with a tool pouch on :D (seriously.) Plus he had the personality of a toad. He would open everything, I can appreciate doing your job well but this guy was over the top. He opened up a hot gfi once to see if the box was grounded and touched the line side to the mud ring and..... BOOM. Everybody in the room almost fell over laughing. After I asked if he was ok I asked him if that was how he tested the ground. :D Needless to say that increased the intensity of his inspection.
We did pass by the way.

[PCN]

I my last response I in no way intended to sound like I would laugh a person getting a shock or damn near. It was just the circumstances and attitude of this particular inspector.
99.99% of all inspectors we have worked with are personable, professional (and safe.:smile:) We always go out of our way to accomodate them.

[jjhoward]

I met the inspector today at the site.

We had a nice chat about the election, bail out package etc.

Oh yea, he did ask where the water meter was.

Very "uneventful" inspection.

Passed.

OK, I got it now, just gotta be there in this town.

So the Newark MO is: EC be on site, take off those panels, apply passed sticker.