inspectors vs plan reviewers

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stew

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federal way,washington
A question for those of you who are in inspection depts. What is the relationship between the plan reviewer and the inspector. What is the heirarchy? Is the plan reviewer a step above an inspector,a step below, equal or just what is the relationship Or are plan reviewers just serving a clerical support function. Would you say the reviewer needs to be more knowledgeble ar what?
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

Plan review is the third certification available --passing that test is only one of the requirements for senior inspector in NY.
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

One inspector reviews all residential plans and the Building Official reviews all commercial. What gets accomplished? I don't think a whole lot between them.

I've often gone out into the field and questioned things only to be told "it was on the plans".

Plan review is a whole different ball game and deserves attention and focus. It makes things easier for the inspectors when it's done right.
 
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For us, we don't review one and two family homes, all others are reviewed by the electrical inspector/plan reviewer. City too cheap, not big enough, to hire two people, when one can get both certificates.
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

In that case, Ryan, perhaps you could explain the difference between the two roles. My specific question is this: If the Plan Reviewer reviews the plan, and does not require any changes, can the Inspector require changes, or is the Inspector?s role simply to verify that the Installer built what the plans said to build? In other words, if the Inspector wants to fail an installation, would it alter any situation if the Installer tried to tell the Inspector that the Plan Reviewer had approved the plan?
 
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Hi Charlie. I think we all could agree that everybody might miss something during a plan review. I think also that it is a fair statement to say that finding a violation in person is much easier than finding one on a piece of paper. Having said that, I do a very thourough plan review. It is not unlawful for me to cite a violation that was missed on plan review, but it does put egg on my face, something I would rather not do. It does have to happen sometimes though. Another point to consider with me is that since I am doing both, I know what I am looking for on inspection while I am doing the plan review, so I have constitancy with myself, and that helps immensley. Most of the calls that I make in the feild are for items that are not plan review oriented, or they happen becasue people do not follow the approved plans.
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

IBC Section 105.4 states, "The issuance or granting of a permit shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this code or any other ordinance of the jurisdiction. Permits presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. The issuance of a permit based on construction documents and other data shall not prevent the building official from requireing the correction of errors in the construction documents and other data. The building official is also authorized to prevent occupancy or use of a structure where in violation of this code or any other ordinances of this jurisdiction."

Section R105.4 in the IRC is, I believe, identical. The UBC has similar language.
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

I too am I inspector and plan checker. I'll echo the same comments as Ryan does.
I would like to add in response to Charlie that here the inspector is to inspect per the approved plans. Any changes cannot be approved (such as buried or drywalled) if there is a significant deviation from the plans. Deleting a receptacle vs. adding a panelboard for example. The inspector cannot authorize changes to the approved plans. If a code violation is on the approved plans he can write a correction to send the plans back, but must have a code section to back it up. He is not always right and sometimes the building official must decide. Sometimes alternate methods are approved in Plan Check and the word does not get down to the field.
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

Plan review is one of the tasks charged to the building official. He may hire it done, do it himself or delegate it to a subordinate. Small towns will only have one person to do all tasks, larger towns can specialize.
The hierarchy is always: The BO is the boss, he may have assistant BOs, he may have plan reviewers, he may have inspectors who are specialists (electrical, plumbing, construction, residential, commercial, etc.), he may have clerical help.
You can't say the inspector is higher than the plan reviewer because they are both under the BO, it is just that the inspector on the job can discover many more violations than the plan reviewer can by studying the plans.
Many towns will send the plans out to be reviewed, which is sometimes a good thing, as it is easier to blame "them" for missed items than the guy in the next office, who may say "wait a minute...."
The bottom line is that it is impossible for inspectors to catch everything. The contractor is the one responsible for installing everything correctly. When the BO signs the CO he will state "substantially in compliance with the plans".
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

I have recently started plan review in NY. The larger the building, obviously the harder the plan review. The better the engineer/architect, the easier the review.
When there are many pages to review, the task can take quite some time - there are some points where I do not want to be disturbed until I finish the cross referencing, and the spec book can provide an incredible amount of info. Then there is the response period - that is always a challenge :D

All in all, plan review keeps you sharp and on top of all the new technology/code. I do a lot of reading when doing plan review.
Also, good plan review helps reduce the field related problems.

Pierre
 
Re: inspectors vs plan reviewers

I would like to offer my opinion about the "plan review". I worked for a large chemical company and instead of "plan review", we called it "front-end-loading". The one thing that I learned early on, we would keep the local electrical inspector informed. We would invite him to look at the prints with us. As we all know, it is much easier to change some lines on a print, versus having to rewire equipment. So, the best advice that I can give, is to keep the inspector informed at all times. It creates a good working relationship, saves time and time saves $$$$$$.
 
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