Another genuis home inspector

Status
Not open for further replies.

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
The problem with many home inspectors is that they will tell people that things are required when in fact they are not and they should mark recommended instead. Such as GFCI's in various places. I've saw one tell them that they were required to replace the aluminum wiring yet missed the fact that all of the can lights had been installed without a permit.
How are they supposed to know whether permits were filed or not? Why should they care, their job isn't permit enforcement it is looking for potential safety issues whether there is code violations or not and pointing out those concerns, but letting others deal with whether there truly is a need for more attention when an issue is found.
 

jap

Senior Member
Occupation
Electrician
How are they supposed to know whether permits were filed or not? Why should they care, their job isn't permit enforcement it is looking for potential safety issues whether there is code violations or not and pointing out those concerns, but letting others deal with whether there truly is a need for more attention when an issue is found.

Agreed.

JAP>
 

cowboyjwc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
How are they supposed to know whether permits were filed or not? Why should they care, their job isn't permit enforcement it is looking for potential safety issues whether there is code violations or not and pointing out those concerns, but letting others deal with whether there truly is a need for more attention when an issue is found.


Agreed.

JAP>

Very simple you go down to the building department and ask to see the address file and installing things without a permit makes them a code violation and a possible safety issue. You also need to know things like when the house was built and what code it was built under before you can start saying that things are required.
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Very simple you go down to the building department and ask to see the address file and installing things without a permit makes them a code violation and a possible safety issue. You also need to know things like when the house was built and what code it was built under before you can start saying that things are required.
That may work in some places. Still isn't necessarily part of the job of HI. If HI points out something that may need attention, those that follow up may be more interested in finding out when it was done and what code applied. They still likely could care less if a permit was actually filed. If one was and it was inspected why is there code violations becomes another question if no one changed anything since installation. If they did change something - that is a little bit of why the HI is hired.
 

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
Very simple you go down to the building department and ask to see the address file and installing things without a permit makes them a code violation and a possible safety issue. You also need to know things like when the house was built and what code it was built under before you can start saying that things are required.

That is just plain FALSE on both points.

It is not a NEC requirement to get a permit for anything.

Governmental entities institute requirements that permits be obtained for certain activities. if the activity engaged in required a government issued permit and one was not obtained, than the law, ordinance, or rule requiring the permit be obtained was violated, not the NEC.

And there is certainly nothing inherent unsafe about unpermitted work. It is in general no more or less likely to be unsafe than work that is permitted.
 

GoldDigger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Placerville, CA, USA
Occupation
Retired PV System Designer
....

And there is certainly nothing inherent unsafe about unpermitted work. It is in general no more or less likely to be unsafe than work that is permitted.
Except that it is far more likely to be done by an unlicensed and untrained person.
If the same person does permitted and unpermitted work the only difference would be the lack of inspection. (And maybe the attitude going in.)
 

jap

Senior Member
Occupation
Electrician
Very simple you go down to the building department and ask to see the address file and installing things without a permit makes them a code violation and a possible safety issue. You also need to know things like when the house was built and what code it was built under before you can start saying that things are required.

What did you say your address was ?

JAP>
 

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
Not all work requires permits. Is different from one jurisdiction to another. From what I hear on sites like this is some places you don't even think about doing any wiring without first filing a permit no matter how simple of a project it may be. Other places you can start from scratch and wire an entire facility with no permit required, some places the latter is true but only for certain applications not as a general rule for all facilities.
 

cowboyjwc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
That is just plain FALSE on both points.

It is not a NEC requirement to get a permit for anything.

Governmental entities institute requirements that permits be obtained for certain activities. if the activity engaged in required a government issued permit and one was not obtained, than the law, ordinance, or rule requiring the permit be obtained was violated, not the NEC.

And there is certainly nothing inherent unsafe about unpermitted work. It is in general no more or less likely to be unsafe than work that is permitted.
You know that there are a bunch of other codes that must be followed besides the NEC, right?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top