Hard Nose Inspectors

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Minuteman

Minuteman

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The Sooner Nation
The Major City were I do most of my work has an Electrical Inspections department with over a 1/2 a dozen inspectors and a chief. Their personalities are varied and usually doesn't make any difference in their inspections. However, there is this one who's reputation proceeds himself. He tends to be on the nit-picky side. I have had a few of his rejections that I thought were him going to far.

Two days ago, I received a call by a small-time GC who is a friend of a friend. Seems this GC pulled a building permit that read:
INTERIOR REMODEL ONLY; FRAME REQ'D; HARDWIRE SMOKE DETECTOR REQ'D; OC EXISTING.
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(I pulled that quote from the AHJ's web site)

Anyway, this aforementioned inspector shows up durring construction. He caught some unlicensed jake leg running new NM to a new panel and not following code. Mr. Hardnose posted a "STOP WORK" order and shut the job down.

The jake leg wanted payment for all his work, and the small-time GC refused, so jake leg cut the feeders and damaged the panel beyond use.

Small-time GC wants me to bid "repairing" jake leg's work. I looked at the mess and walked away with a new found respect for Mr. Hardnose. Next time I see him, I might just have to shake his hand. :cool:
 
I was wondering where that was going for a minute. I agree sometimes it seems some inspectors are a little nit picky. I find it is ussually when they are pissed at the GC for something they didn't do and should have. like starting work before getting the permit even though they were in the process of getting the permit. I wish I had taken pictures of some of the jack leg stuff I have come accross.
 
I have no problems with an inspector that knows the code and holds everyone to it. I want my installs to be code compliant and if I miss something and the inspector does his/her job and catches it, then good for both of us.

It is when an inspector puts their opinion down as code I get warm.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Michael
It is good to see you have come over to the "dark side" ;)
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Actually, it might be said that I have come over to the "dork side". The side that actually respects and appreciates inspectors and the AHJ!

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More to the story. When I went to look at the job, there was a very elderly guy doing plumbing work. (With the "STOP WORK" on the window). We talked about the job, and why jake leg cut the wires. Plumber told me his license was expired because he has not taken the required Continuing Education Units.

As I walked around back, I noticed that the meter lock and seal was broken, and that there was some #10 "jumpers" across where the meter stabs in. I asked Plumber if he jumped the meter, and he said that the jumpers were there when he got there.

Question: Should I call Mr. Hardnose Inspector first thing tomorrow and tell him about the jumpers?
 
I have worked with probably 50 inspectors around this area. I can honestly say that I got along really well with 49 of them. The other one was from a small town and felt he had to keep out the competition so his local contractors would have it on easy street.

Well " Mr Hardrod", (names have been changed to protect the guilty), got terminated about 4 years ago for what? Actually he pissed off a GC who had alot of money. But also he stumped the business in that town by making other contractors refuse to work there.

Now Texas went to the state license. As 77401 can vouch, all you have to do to get a journeyman's license in Texas now is buy the right box of cereal.

I bet the inspectors now in Texas are earning their money with all the new granfather electricians performing work.
 
Minuteman said:
Question: Should I call Mr. Hardnose Inspector first thing tomorrow and tell him about the jumpers?
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After taking some pix. Also, call the POCO if you want to piss off more people.
 
A stop work order has been posted, yet the homeowner is still having work done. You should do as Larry has mentioned, call the "theft of services" department of the utility company and the AHJ again. I would not go back on that property, the homeowner shows no respect for authority, what kind of respect will he show you?
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
the homeowner shows no respect for authority, what kind of respect will he show you?
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The home is empty. I thinks it's going to be a rental or a flip. The GC is the one to blame for this and I don't want/need his respect. He is the friend of my friend. Makes me wonder about my friend. :(
 
Minuteman said:
Update: I called the chief inspector this morning and told him what I saw. He said that he would take care of it.
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Wish i could be there for the show.Do whatever it takes to shut this guy down forever.In 24 years in this trade i only seen 2 jobs receive a STOP WORK.One was while i was there for a rough electric on apartments.Luckily the inspector was a friend and i asked him to sign my rough off first so i could get paid.
 
It is when an inspector puts their opinion down as code I get warm
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Just warm? Is that like in warm and cuddly?:p

Sometimes their opinion is the same as the ones who wrote the NEC. Well.....it is; even if it is only once in a great while.:p

Good job, Michael!
 
We have an inspector here that has probably issued enough stop work orders to make it into the guiness book of records.If he sees work going on no matter what type he sticks his nose in ,asks for permits and will slap a stop work order up as quick as he can.A service crew was adding 4 recessed cans and a switch on a high ended home that got missed on the extras,he saw as passing by nm in a helpers hand stopped and asked what he was doing and being nieve he told him bam stop work order plastered on the newly painted door.So a permit was then pulled and when he came to inspect he went postal when he saw his stop work order sticker no longer on the front door.Reply was well if you spent $400 thousand dollars for a home would you have a sticker on the door ???
Some guys just are stupid.I`ve seen him do a pool final inspection and couldn`t gain access inside the home so he red tags it and leaves a note on the door informing the home owner that the pool is unsafe to use and thier lives are in danger.Safe is safe but ignorant is no excuse.GRRRRRRRRRRRR
 
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