AHJ vs. Inspector

[Greg Swartz]

Ok, a couple of posts ago, we were talking about the AHJ (Authority Having Jursdiction), and the inspector.
As we read Article 90 of the NEC, it states:

90.4 Enforcement.​

​

​

​

​

This Code is intended to be suitable
for mandatory application by governmental bodies that exercise
legal jurisdiction over electrical installations, including
signaling and communications systems, and for use by
insurance inspectors. The authority having jurisdiction for
enforcement of the Code has the responsibility for making
interpretations of the rules, for deciding on the approval of
equipment and materials, and for granting the special permission
contemplated in a number of the rules.
By special permission, the authority having jurisdiction
may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit
alternative methods where it is assured that equivalent objectives
can be achieved by establishing and maintaining
effective safety.
This Code may require new products, constructions, or
materials that may not yet be available at the time the Code​

is adopted. In such event, the authority having jurisdiction
may permit the use of the products, constructions, or materials
that comply with the most recent previous edition of​

this Code adopted by the jurisdiction.

So, my question is... what is the difference of the AHJ or the inspector?

 

[Greg Swartz]

In Colorado Springs, we have about 10 electrical inspectors.

The head electrical inspector was just "forced" to step down... (yeah, long story...)

So, would the AHJ be the Regional Building Department, the (now) Senior Electrical Inspector, or the Electrical Inspector performing the inspection?

 

[roger]

Ok, a couple of posts ago, we were talking about the AHJ (Authority Having Jursdiction), and the inspector.
As we read Article 90 of the NEC, it states:



So, my question is... what is the difference of the AHJ or the inspector?

The AHJ would be equivalent to a law making entity, the Inspector would be equivalent to a policeman inforcing the law.

Roger

 

[480sparky]

The AHJ is the governing body. They adopt the codes, and are more administrative in nature.

An inspector is a field employee, one who goes out and physically eyeballs the work being done.

Analogy: AHJ/Law Enforcement and Inspector/Police officer.

 

[Greg Swartz]

So, then again, would the RBD be the AHJ, or even higher than that?

 

[charlie]

It depends on how the laws in your state are set up. The AHJ in Indianapolis is normally considered to be the inspector. However, the law says that the AHJ is the office of the state building commissioner; the office of the state fire marshal; the local building official; the fire department.

 

[bphgravity]

In Florida, the AHJ is typcially the one Building Code Administrator (CBO) assigned by the jurisdiction. However, as it indicates in the definition of AHJ in Article 100, the AHJ may also be the Fire Marshall, an Insurance Agent, the Owner, ect, ect... This is the official AHJ designation.

However, for normal day to day operations, the inspector assigned to make the inspection is delegated AHJ by the CBO. The contractor / owner answers to the inspector first. After that, it must go through the normal appeals process which gives the appealer access to higher levels of AHJ.

While my building director is the city's AHJ, he still must answer to the board of rules and appeals, the contractor advisory board, and the code hearing board at the local level, and anything mandated down from the state.

 

[Mr.Sparkle]

I keep hearing that they are going to give many a town inspectors the boot in my area to make the switch to county wide inspectors, not sure how true that is though....

 

[JES2727]

New Jersey made the following amendment when they adopted the '05 code :

ii. The definition of "Authority having jurisdiction" is replaced with "Unless otherwise specifically noted, the authority having jurisdiction for the Electrical Subcode shall be the Electrical Subcode Official."

I believe this refers to a state official. In my experience, inspectors in NJ are quick to defer to Trenton for interpretations of all those "grey areas".

 

[cowboyjwc]

An inspector is simply a Deputy Building Official and since the BO is the AHJ that make the inspector an AHJ by default. That was simplified of course.

 

[K2X]

So, then again, would the RBD be the AHJ, or even higher than that?

The Regional building dept in El Paso County is a private not for profit organization that contracts to the county of El Paso and the city of Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, etc. to do inspections etc. PPRBD is not an enforcement agency but a compliance agency. Their enforcement powers come through the Fire dept, health dept, and a few others who have enforcement powers and also PPRBD uses the utilility companies to enforce their decisions. If push came to shove on an electrical matter the RBD could go to the state electrical division which has enforcement powers but it is my understanding that it rearly comes to that. At least that is my knowledge of El Paso County and I know this because my wife was an inspector at one time. So I would say AHJ would not be a term used for PPRBD.

 

[wbalsam1]

So, my question is... what is the difference of the AHJ or the inspector?

Greg: Since I'm from NYS and it's a mess here, I'll offer modified excerpts of an opinion I wrote a while back.........(we have mostly 3rd-party electrical inspectors who work privately for their contractors)

In my opinion, New York State should license third-party electrical inspectors in much the same way that barbers, cosmetologists and private investigators are. For someone to cut your hair or trim your fingernails, they must be licensed with the state, yet to inspect the wiring in our homes, theaters, churches, hospitals, medical buildings, factories, offices and other buildings across our great state, absolutely no license or other demonstration of competence is required, unless, at a local level, it is a function of a clear-thinking community or the inspection company itself. Most inspection companies are against ?licensing? because a licensed inspector will demand higher pay and drive the cost of doing business higher.
Building inspectors and code enforcement officials are ultimately charged with the responsibility of issuing a certificate of occupancy and many are signing off by trusting the private electrical inspector. Many of whom are clearly incompetent. It?s time for a change.
:smile: