Change of Plans, failed inspection

[Greg1707]

I have a small residential basement remodeling project that includes 12 receptacles and four recessed lights. The plans specify a receptacle at 5' above floor for a wall mounted TV. The home owner decided to eliminate the TV, so no receptacle.

I failed rough in inspection because the plans specified the receptalce and of course there was no receptacle.

Does this happen often? I was suprised the inspector even took the time took look at the plans.

 

[LarryFine]

A stickler for sure; usually that applies to commercial work.

I suggest asking the customer if they want it omitted badly enough to cover the cost of changing the plans.

 

[Elect117]

I personally have never heard of it.

But I have heard of inspectors marking the owner send an email saying they acknowledged and understood the change.

So long as the change wasn't going to create an issue or noncompliance.

 

[infinity]

I have a small residential basement remodeling project that includes 12 receptacles and four recessed lights.

I'm surprised that someone would look at the plans for such a small job. A good inspector can eyeball a room for the 6'/12' compliance in 30 seconds and move on to the next room.

 

[Ponchik]

On residential projects, I've never had any inspector look at teh electrical plans. They just want to eyeball and call it good. If something stands out then they will mention it.

 

[retirede]

Do you have some history with that inspector?

 

[jaggedben]

I feel confident saying that does not happen *often*.

 

[nizak]

I have a small residential basement remodeling project that includes 12 receptacles and four recessed lights. The plans specify a receptacle at 5' above floor for a wall mounted TV. The home owner decided to eliminate the TV, so no receptacle.

I failed rough in inspection because the plans specified the receptalce and of course there was no receptacle.

Does this happen often? I was suprised the inspector even took the time took look at the plans.

Plans for such a small job seems a bit odd.

Is it a requirement to have plans in order to obtain a permit?

 

[rc/retired]

Is it a requirement to have plans in order to obtain a permit?

In my hometown, yes.

Ron

 

[kwired]

A stickler for sure; usually that applies to commercial work.

I suggest asking the customer if they want it omitted badly enough to cover the cost of changing the plans.

might not matter now depending on whether there is reinspection fees or if there is fees to resubmit updated plans.

I've never had an EI inspect plan specifications. Most the time they never even look at plans unless we are discussing something before we actually install it. Otherwise all they do is look at what is there and accept it or reject it based on NEC alone.

 

[rc/retired]

I have a small residential basement remodeling project that includes 12 receptacles and four recessed lights. The plans specify a receptacle at 5' above floor for a wall mounted TV. The home owner decided to eliminate the TV, so no receptacle.

I failed rough in inspection because the plans specified the receptalce and of course there was no receptacle.

Does this happen often? I was suprised the inspector even took the time took look at the plans.

First, I'm sorry.
Second, I had a very spirited debate about this in my office. A couple of inspectors were failing new houses if the plans showed 2 receptacle outlets on an island and the EC installed 1 or the plans showed 1 and the EC installed 2.
I dug out several house plans and showed everyone the page that stated "These drawings are for reference only. The electrical contractor should know and follow all applicable codes".
I then turned to the CBO/AHJ and asked, "Now, do we inspect by the words or by the pictures"?
I won the debate. We inspect by code.
Good luck!

Ron

 

[kwired]

I won the debate. We inspect by code.

As you should. If designer wishes to assure their design has been followed they need to do their own inspections of that sort of thing IMO.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

As you should. If designer wishes to assure their design has been followed they need to do their own inspections of that sort of thing IMO.

In the absence of a legally adopted rule that says the inspector will inspect to both the plans and the code, they can only legally inspect to the adopted code.

 

[kwired]

In the absence of a legally adopted rule that says the inspector will inspect to both the plans and the code, they can only legally inspect to the adopted code.

I do a lot of projects that don't have any formal plans, at least not for the electrical portion of the project. Or if anything may specify location of certain electrical items but is in no way any sort of complete electrical plan.

When I do have some engineered plans often there has been "value engineering" done by agreement between owner and contractors and about the only thing you can normally trust on those plans is the general layout. Sometimes that will even have some variances to it, though often maybe just a movement of internal walls. Foundation often already is done before some the value engineering has started to kick in.

 

[CoolWill]

Since the police stopped ticketing so many people for traffic violations in the last few years, the city has to make up for it somewhere. Re-inspection fees and plan reviews are revenue.