We are subcontracted to do a new fire alarm install. Building owners EE drafts plans. Primary contractor, does shop drawings (they won't get reviewed by the EE.). We are being paid for install labor and materials only. The primary contractors copy the EE's plans exactly. we thoroughly review for compliance.
There is a state code amendment applying to fire alarms, which I will not get in to here. The EE and the primary contractor omit it from the plans. It is a prescriptive design not performance based, there isn't a reason for it to be omitted in any case. I point out to the primary contractor the omission, they ignore my emails and phone calls on this, but answer all others.
The primary contractor got away with leaving out this detail on a project a few months ago in the same jurisdiction. The don't care now, because it's on my shoulders and don't want to do an add/change. The EE's plans state all applicable state/local codes shall apply to install regardless if it's contained in the plan. We are only contracted to provide what was on their shop drawings, anything additional is a change order. ( I want the change ,it's code minimum so why not? and it would be $7-10k extra for us)
It appears the AHJ is indifferent to or inept to the state amendment, which would supersede any local amendments, which there are none. The primary contractor appears only willing to address this if the AHJ fails it on inspection. AHJ's around here causally review plans, but approve installs, and it didn't get picked up on plans review. Even if they miss something on plans review, its still on the installer to certify the install is complaint to all applicable codes, which I can't.
If I tell the AHJ he missed something on plans review, I may piss off all involved parties. If I fail the inspection, I waste the inspectors and my time. The AHJ Migh even let it slide/ignore it. He missed it or didn't care about it on a building just finished this month next to this project (same type occupancy- retail)
I know an off the record conversation with the AHJ might work, but was wondering what you might do in the situation? I was hoping to avoid going around the primary contractor to the EOR, it's the owners EE and we don't work for or have ever had contact them.
There is a state code amendment applying to fire alarms, which I will not get in to here. The EE and the primary contractor omit it from the plans. It is a prescriptive design not performance based, there isn't a reason for it to be omitted in any case. I point out to the primary contractor the omission, they ignore my emails and phone calls on this, but answer all others.
The primary contractor got away with leaving out this detail on a project a few months ago in the same jurisdiction. The don't care now, because it's on my shoulders and don't want to do an add/change. The EE's plans state all applicable state/local codes shall apply to install regardless if it's contained in the plan. We are only contracted to provide what was on their shop drawings, anything additional is a change order. ( I want the change ,it's code minimum so why not? and it would be $7-10k extra for us)
It appears the AHJ is indifferent to or inept to the state amendment, which would supersede any local amendments, which there are none. The primary contractor appears only willing to address this if the AHJ fails it on inspection. AHJ's around here causally review plans, but approve installs, and it didn't get picked up on plans review. Even if they miss something on plans review, its still on the installer to certify the install is complaint to all applicable codes, which I can't.
If I tell the AHJ he missed something on plans review, I may piss off all involved parties. If I fail the inspection, I waste the inspectors and my time. The AHJ Migh even let it slide/ignore it. He missed it or didn't care about it on a building just finished this month next to this project (same type occupancy- retail)
I know an off the record conversation with the AHJ might work, but was wondering what you might do in the situation? I was hoping to avoid going around the primary contractor to the EOR, it's the owners EE and we don't work for or have ever had contact them.