How do your inspectoins go?

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bjp_ne_elec

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Southern NH
Was wondering how you visit for your inspections go. Does the inspector only want to see the final inspection, or is there a rough-in inspection. On small jobs that I worked, I was never there when the owneer called the inspector, but now that I'm going to get a business going, I'm wondering how it all goes down.

The first job I'm looking to bid is a commercial job in a strip mall - and it's all 3/4" EMT for HR's - and then dropping Wiremold down the wall to a bunch of receptacles.

Thanks,

Brett
 
Brett,
for a mall job, you'll have a few inspections:
rough
ceiling
final

In the mix, you might also have an inspection with the Fire Dept. (FI). This inspection may be in conjunction with the sprinkler men (if your area has this requirement).
 
Brett
AS a new EC its always goog raport to get to know the Inspectors. Call them, introduce yourself & ask them what they expect. Letting them get to know you, & for them to see your wanting to do stuff right the first time, will go a long way for you & for them. Especially if you get into a crunch & need an inspection over the phone. It happens, and the only way you can get a cover up over the phone is if the inspectors know you & your work.

Rough
Ceiling
Final
Temporary cut in or reconnect
Slab
 
The scope of work and inspections required are identified at time of permit application. Based on the information provided by you, the plans examiner will determine what inspections are needed and required.

At my jurisdiction, there are approximately ten different electrical inspection codes. Every permitted job will have at least one and as many as all ten.

For your particular question, it would appear you need only two inspections, a rough and a final. For the rough inspection, I would want to see all the boxes and wiring methods in place with no trim materials installed. Once approved, the devices and equipment can be installed and energized. The final inspection will check for completion of work and proper operation of equipment and devices.

Review the administrative provisions of your building code. It will define and specify required inspections and permitting/inspecting procedures. And definitely communicate with the local building department on any specific requirements they may have.
 
bphgravity said:
The scope of work and inspections required are identified at time of permit application. Based on the information provided by you, the plans examiner will determine what inspections are needed and required.
Click to expand...

Not at all like that here, I have to know when to call them.

Basically if you want to cover it up it needs to be looked at first.

At a mall job I would expect inspections by the electrical inspector for;

Temp power

Underground

Rough walls

Service

Rough Ceilings

Final

Any of those may be multiple trips depending on the job schedule.

Than Fire Dept and possibly Health Dept inspections.
 
How does the building department determine the fee schedule for the permitted work without knowing how many inspections will be needed?

We itemize the required inspections and order them into the system so that inspections are performed in the correct order and that no inspection is made before another needs to be made first. Obviously, the contractor has to be diligent and call inspections in before work progresses past inspection point, but he cannot call in inspections without going through the correct order.

On larger projects, there may be several inspections of one type, however we have an indicator built into the system that allows for this.

For example, say I have a large commercial project and the contractor would like several rough inspections as they complete areas. The inspection is performed, approved, but flagged as incomplete. This prevents other inspections from taking place before that inspection type is completely closed out when all rough work is complete.
 
Bob, it is pretty much the same here, I will add that on large projects we may have as many as 10, 20, or what ever R.I. inspections for portions of the project as it progresses.

There may also be TCO inspections as a partial final if the facility opens in phases.

Then after all of that comes the state final inspections for facilities such as Hospitals, Prisons, Schools, and such.

Roger
 
Bryan, permit fees here differ from municipality to municipality, but all in all they are based on the projects overall value, and I can assure you in most cases the fee is enough to cover many trips.:)

Roger
 
Things are a little simpler here. We just have rough-in and final inspections. Rough-in is for any wiring that will be ultimately covered up, final is just to make sure everything works the way it's supposed to.

The inspectors I deal with are flexible on some things. For example, I had a rough-in inspection yesterday for a basement finish involving four circuits: laundry, dryer, lights, receptacles. I had all the lights wired up and energized, while the receptacle boxes were left unconnected and undeviced. I had to yank all the old lights to make way for the new ones, so the inspector was cool with me heating up the new lights before rough-in.
 
Sometimes, after you start a job, the GC wants to push a certain area though fast. Say a common area or stair well. Or maybe GC just wants things done in phases. So, you have to call a partial inspection. They charge us $15 for a partial and I make it part of a change order.
 
bphgravity said:
How does the building department determine the fee schedule for the permitted work without knowing how many inspections will be needed?.
Click to expand...

The permit fee is based on work to be performed.

Here are the permit fees in one town

Town Of Stow
 
roger said:
Bryan, permit fees here differ from municipality to municipality, but all in all they are based on the projects overall value, and I can assure you in most cases the fee is enough to cover many trips.:)

Roger
Click to expand...


You wouldn't be implying that building departments overcharge for their service are you... ;)

We (City of North Port - Sarasota County) actually have the lowest permit fees in the area. You can get a building permit for a single family home for around $350 as soon as you pay the $6,500 impact fees... :eek:
 
In general they do not determine the number of inspections, we do.

If I am running underground conduits for two weeks straight I may have the inspector out daily so we can backfill before leaving for the day.

Open trenches are frowned on.

In a large multi tenant we may have finals and roughs going on in separate parts of the building at the same time.
 
As Roger said, Bob summed it up very well. In our town, commercial permit fees are 2% of job cost up to $100,000 and 1% for amount over $100K. Very small commercial jobs are priced per item and are very confusing. New residential jobs are $100 for single family and $75 per dwelling unit for multifamily. Service upgrades $50 per meter.
 
Permit fees in our City are done on a takeoff basis. Luminaies, recep's, panelboards, etc. The are standard fees such as issuance and automation (to pay for the computer system), etc.

The number of inspections is unlimited as long as there is something to inspect. Some partials are denied based on the inspectors judgement. Basically we want a defined area such as second floor full height walls or between grid lines.

If you are Not Ready twice in a row you will get a reinspection fee. If you fail to make a correction and recall for inspection and have not corrected it, you will get a reinspection fee.

Above is for commercial. Residential is done a square foot basis and the electrical is included in the building permit. There is not a seperate electrical (or plumbing & mechanical) for residential.
 
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