I had an initial inspection on a residential solar project, the inspector dinged us on a couple minor things one of my guys missed. I corrected them the same day. The inspector is requiring me to be back onsite for the 2nd inspection. His specific reason is to open up electrical equipment for him. I think it ridiculous I have to drive 40 minutes one way to open up equipment. I am currently going back and forth with the city on this. I have better places to put my time and resources. Has anyone else ran into this? Thoughts?
Inspector On-Site Requirement
- Thread starter Eli1211
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jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
I mean that's been a normal expectation of how inspections work for decades. It should be figured into your quotes and business models, including the scope of your service territory. My company has a driving time line item in our estimating spreadsheet.
Nowadays maybe you can convince an inspector to let you send them pictures instead. That's reasonable. But depending on the correction and how long you take, I would never presume they couldn't say no. And you gotta ask before they leave.
Nowadays maybe you can convince an inspector to let you send them pictures instead. That's reasonable. But depending on the correction and how long you take, I would never presume they couldn't say no. And you gotta ask before they leave.
Just because it has been done that way for decades doesn't mean it makes sense. I did ask his process and he gave me his card to send him photos of the minor corrections, he ended up getting my job confused with another (which had a ton of code violations), became upset when I corrected him on it, and then insisted I upload photos to the City's portal, and schedule a reinspection. The city has not been able to give me a policy that says contractors are required to be onsite for inspections, much less any kind of sound reasoning. I do not think it is unreasonable to expect inspectors to open up equipment and inspect it without having to have their hand held. I like to be present on initial inspections because most times I can correct whatever minor issue there is on the spot and get the install passed. For this particular re-inspection it just doesn't make sense for me to be there.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Some are not qualified to open equipment, and since they are not electricians, their workman's comp insurance will likely prohibit them from opening any energized equipment.
Over the years I opened a ton of cabinets, removed covers, installed or removed bond screws and corrected small wiring mistakes but there were times when those efforts went south. I can understand the requirement from a "your broke it, you fix it" standpoint.
(Cussed myself often for removing side panels on HVAC units to check size of heat strips
)
(Cussed myself often for removing side panels on HVAC units to check size of heat strips
)
mtnelect
HVAC & Electrical Contractor
- Location
- Southern California
- Occupation
- Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
I know that inspectors do not like climbing 24-foot ladders to inspect a package HVAC unit on a roof. They always request pictures of unit.
readydave8
re member
- Location
- Clarkesville, Georgia
- Occupation
- electrician
Right or wrong, 80 minutes driving may be least time-consuming solution
Anything over 30-minute 1/way job I try to add.extra in bid to help with wasted trips and other inefficiencies
Anything over 30-minute 1/way job I try to add.extra in bid to help with wasted trips and other inefficiencies
Tulsa Electrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Tulsa
- Occupation
- Electrician
Since your ask for thoughts.
First you employee missed it.
You already drove there and corrected. I have to ask why you did not scheldule an inspection for the same time period. This was an issue on your part and should be resolved on your end.
I would have contacted them prior to driving that far and made some sort of arrangements. If that could not have been done and that is there requirement than you do it.
I then would talk with the guys doing the work so it did not happen again. I see this as your issue and not the inspection dept.
I would have also took this opportunity to resolve and than talk with the insp in case this happens again.
When your all said and done you will have wasted more time than the 80 min drive with that employee right beside you in the truck discussing why his little mistake has become a big one.
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growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
AHJ. Guess what the A stands for?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
That should also mean they can only inspect it from outside the arc flash boundary if it is still energized while open.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Correct, not even a qualified electrician should be inside the arc flash boundry with the cover off, unless wearing the correct PPE for the hazard.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
That's nothing, how about climbing to the top of a 150 foot grain elevator to inspect the motor connection that is up there? Maybe one or two other accessory items? My thoughts, if you can't or won't go up there to inspect it, then you have no choice but to accept whatever is there you did not see. My picture certainly could be from someplace else but apparently shows what you want to see if you pass it.
Had one more recently, only like 15-20 feet off the ground, owner changed out HID lights over his gas station pumps to LED's. Inspector figured it out they were changed and decided this needed a permit and inspection. Owners contacted me about it. I did go over there with a ladder and checked out what was done, verified that the EGC was connected (seemed to be one the details the inspector was concerned about). I did tell myself I'm not paying for a permit and inspection if he isn't going to go up there himself and inspect it though, and most I will supply him with is same ladder I used to gain access. Been like a year or two and still haven't heard any more request on this one.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Some do tend to abuse that "A" though. OP said corrections were made same day, if the inspector possibly weren't such an A about things he maybe could have worked something out to get this finalized that same day?
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
I certainly agree that authority can and is often abused. But I have seen many electricians that get confrontational with inspectors just like stupid people do with cops (not smart, they have guns).
My point is that when dealing with authority figures the best thing to remember is "tact".
One thing that I learned years ago is to walk a job before the inspector gets there and pretend that you are inspecting a job done by others and see if you spot anything.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
You can get a long way if you start out polite and calm and develop a rapport and relationship. Going in hot with someone who doesn't know you yet is less likely to work.
As is the case with anyone over anything.
As is the case with anyone over anything.
Tulsa Electrician
Senior Member
- Location
- Tulsa
- Occupation
- Electrician
AC\DC
Senior Member
- Location
- Florence,Oregon,Lane
- Occupation
- EC
se what the rules say, they got to be something on the books that address the issue your having if not then you can stick to your guns or give up
If you passed the first time you wouldn't have to go back for a re-inspection.
As a licensed electrician I still won't open electrical equipment when inspecting electrical jobs. If something happens when I open or close that equipment the contractor will blame me and now my town is liable. Why risk it? And sometimes I'll allow pictures for a correction if it's submitted the same day to me. It never is the same day. Everyone sends then a week or two later and gets mad when I say it needs a re-inspection. Sometimes it's just not worth accepting the pictures especially when they're lousy pictures
As an electrical contractor I always factored inspection time in my cost. I also made sure everything was correct prior to scheduling the inspection. Hard to feel bad for these solar companies with so many violations on each inspection
As a licensed electrician I still won't open electrical equipment when inspecting electrical jobs. If something happens when I open or close that equipment the contractor will blame me and now my town is liable. Why risk it? And sometimes I'll allow pictures for a correction if it's submitted the same day to me. It never is the same day. Everyone sends then a week or two later and gets mad when I say it needs a re-inspection. Sometimes it's just not worth accepting the pictures especially when they're lousy pictures
As an electrical contractor I always factored inspection time in my cost. I also made sure everything was correct prior to scheduling the inspection. Hard to feel bad for these solar companies with so many violations on each inspection
mayanees
Senior Member
- Location
- Westminster, MD
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician
Not true guys. Opening up the panel is when you need to wear PPE. After that you just need to keep folks out of the limited approach boundary (LAB) which is 42" for under 151-750V. They can even cross into the LAB if escorted by a qualified person. That's how IR scanners can get as close as the Restricted Approach Boundary without wearing PPE, because there's no likelihood of occurrence of an arc flash incident per table 130.5(C).
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