Inspector rules

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Pierre C Belarge said:
How long have you officially been an electrical inspector?
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For Richmond I started in Jan., As a 3rd party for nearly 16 years pierre and consulted to many municipals during those years as well.

I will be here for about a year and move to another locality and do it all over again....Does it MATTER...are you saying if we use Richmond alone at 6 months and nearly 12-15 inspections a day i dont see stuff....lol...not to mention the other years of inspecting.

I came to Richmond for a reason and once it is done I will move on and as stated do it all over again somewhere else.
 
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radiopet said:
For Richmond I started in Jan., As a 3rd party for nearly 16 years pierre and consulted to many municipals during those years as well.

I will be here for about a year and move to another locality and do it all over again....Does it MATTER...are you saying if we use Richmond alone at 6 months and nearly 12-15 inspections a day i dont see stuff....lol...not to mention the other years of inspecting.

I came to Richmond for a reason and once it is done I will move on and as stated do it all over again somewhere else.
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Why is it, when I ask a simple question, people think I am implying something else???
I am a curious cat, sometimes...I know that you were/are a HI, I was curious when you started as EI.
Does this mean you are no longer an EC?
 
radiopet said:
lol...I guess as an inspector I should post a list of what some "Electricians" TRY to get away with.....or what they try to hide or what they grossly get wrong on a daily basis....nah.....better not.
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Well, some people's only purpose in life seems to be serving as an example of what not to do, and if no one else sees what not to do, how can they serve as their purpose?
 
Here in NJ the DCA is coming down hard on the "This is how we do it in my town" inspector. The DCA has been getting the word out that they will not tolerate any inspectors making up rules on how they want to see things done.
 
Mr.Sparkle said:
Here in NJ the DCA is coming down hard on the "This is how we do it in my town" inspector. The DCA has been getting the word out that they will not tolerate any inspectors making up rules on how they want to see things done.
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That's great news! When they're finished, please send them up here. :smile:
 
Some of us have rules, but they are not all as bad as you guys make them sound.

1. Never call for a final and have the moving van sitting in the driveway when we show up.
2. Please quit asking if you can just take a picture of it (that's Pierre's job).
3. 10' of underground pipe does not constitute a progress inspection.
4. Never, ever, ever, mail out your grand opening flyers prior to you final inspection.
5. Please stop telling us how you do it or what they let you do everywhere else, I probably have their phone number and will ask them.
6. Please stop telling us that you've never been called on that before and I'm pretty sure that we're not the only city calling it.
7. I get in the office at 7:00 and I leave at 8:00 and have for 19 years, please don't call at 10:00 wanting to know what time I'm coming by your job. You are now on the 'I'll get there when I get there' list.
8. Please don't call my office telling my supervisor that you were at the job all day and I never came by, until you have checked your job card.
9. Check your job card.
10. Plan check corrections and correction notices are never suggestions.

Before everyone starts jumping all over me, I'm just having fun:grin: even though all of these things come from true experiances.
 
thats a good list john, heres a few more

11. DO NOT schedule an inspection until the work is ready
12. DO NOT re-schedule an inspection until ALL the corrections are complete
13. DO NOT ask me to stop back in couple hours
14. trench inspections are required
15. where are the released plans? if not on site do not schedule inspection
16. NO i do not need you following me, talking about the football game
17. BEFORE you schedule an inspection make sure the inspector has access to
any required areas needing inspection, not wait until I get there to find out
you do not have keys to get in
18. the same phone that scheduled the inspection also cancels the inspection
and saves me a trip if the job is not ready

just a couple that comes to mind
 
mpd said:
14. trench inspections are required
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Those are some good ones too, especially the calling and canceling one. I had one job where every other inspection or so, no one was there. The real killer with the job was, if I walked out their back door, I was out of my jurisdiction.

I have a job right now where they swear that they have never had to have their underground conduit inspected before. Apartment complex, all the site lighting including the parking lot and I'll bet that not one conduit, no matter where it is, is more than 12" below grade.
 
how can inspectors make up there own rules? isnt an inspectors job just to make sure the installation meets minimum code requirements? i didnt know inspectors could make up rules.
 
electricalperson said:
how can inspectors make up there own rules? isnt an inspectors job just to make sure the installation meets minimum code requirements? i didnt know inspectors could make up rules.
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Who told you that? Of course we can. First rule, don't question the inspector.:grin: :grin:
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Why is it, when I ask a simple question, people think I am implying something else???
I am a curious cat, sometimes...I know that you were/are a HI, I was curious when you started as EI.
Does this mean you are no longer an EC?
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lol......no i dont worry about that Pierre..lol. I hold my contractors license but I let all my help go. I never inspected anything I installed or had interests in. I was also doing HI's well before Virginia even defined what they are..and they still dont know what they are.
I was a consultant to Muni's all over the country for many years.....When i started my career back in 88 ( yes i know...a pup) I began teaching code at the community college and doing seminars and help start Virginias CE requirement and was the first approved by the state.....this busines has been good to me ..all the way up to being in mikes videos.....life is good my friend.
 
Here are some that were published in our Boise City quarterly newsletter.
Before anyone asks there are some amendments in this city but none that deal with any of these items. I wanted to post these as printed and see what everyone thinks.

Commonly Missed Electrical Code Items
The electrical inspectors have found electrical box and can installation
errors on several projects. When installing electrical work, please
remember:
At the final inspection, all boxes must be flush with ? the surface
they are installed in. Also, there can be no more than 1/8? gap
around the box, so the combustible material can?t catch fire if
there is an arc/spark in the box.
? Cut-in boxes are not allowed in new construction (check with inspector
before using). Section 314.23(C) Mounting in Finished
Surfaces of the electrical code states that cut-in boxes are only
approved for old work and not new construction.
? Feeder support is essential when feeding recessed cans and should
be checked by the electrician during installation. The code requires
branch circuits to be supported every 4? and within 12? of
the enclosure. Those circuits usually run from fixture to fixture. A
fixture whip is made of 3/8? flex and can be hooked to the J-box.



Paul
 
paulyoung said:
? Cut-in boxes are not allowed in new construction (check with inspector
before using). Section 314.23(C) Mounting in Finished
Surfaces of the electrical code states that cut-in boxes are only
approved for old work and not new construction.
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By far one of the dumbest amendments I have ever heard of....that is beyond absurd.
 
radiopet said:
lol...I guess as an inspector I should post a list of what some "Electricians" TRY to get away with.....or what they try to hide or what they grossly get wrong on a daily basis....nah.....better not.
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Thank you! ;)
 
paulyoung said:
• Cut-in boxes are not allowed in new construction (check with inspector before using). Section 314.23(C) Mounting in Finished Surfaces of the electrical code states that cut-in boxes are only approved for old work and not new construction.
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That's not what MY 314.23(C) says! ('05 NEC)

"(C) Mounting in Finished Surfaces. An enclosure mounted in a finished surface shall be rigidly secured thereto by clamps, anchors, or fittings identified for the application."
 
yeah larry.....have you heard we are trying to crack down on "Owners" who pull their own permits and having just anyone do the work. We are trying to get the AHJ to demand either the owner who pulls a permit to do the work themselves ( which is frightening in itself ) or if they hire someone that we verify they are licensed electricians....how do you think those WHEELS of government are spinning......You know 2nd Floor politics.
 
paulyoung said:
......? Cut-in boxes are not allowed in new construction (check with inspector before using). Section 314.23(C) Mounting in Finished
Surfaces of the electrical code states that cut-in boxes are only
approved for old work and not new construction.
.....
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So once the wall is drywalled, mudded, taped, sanded & painted, it's no longer new construction. It's done. Finished. Completed. At that point, it's old work / existing.

I've also heard some say extension rings are not allowed in new construction.
 
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