inspectors

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I've never been red-tagged, but on occasion the inspector will find something I missed. They pass it because they know I will correct it.
 
The only inspections I fail are when I'm not present during the inspection. When I'm there to explain the code to the Inspector, or comply with his picayune requests, things go better.
 
I cant remember being failed ... but being there for inspections makes all the difference. We will see in the future however my company dosn't want me to "waste" time waiting for the inspector, so i won't be able to be present durring inspections now. I used to like being there to talk to someone who understood the code, and I appreciated his crituque of my jobs.
 
There are some contractors by me that seem to always pass the first time, or make minor misses at the most, once in a while.
Then there are the others. Some times it makes me pray for state licensing.
I don't know if it would be a cure all, but it would have to help educate.
 
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Fire Alarm said:
The only inspections I fail are when I'm not present during the inspection. When I'm there to explain the code to the Inspector, or comply with his picayune requests, things go better.

I am almost always there and it makes a differance,If your not there then they have no choice even over small stuff.It is respectfull to be there and makes his job bit easier too.Now if its just a 2 or 3 day remodel then no i cant be there.
 
10% rejection

10% rejection

TN State inspection supervisors inform me they think 10% rejection is the "normal". My particular rate probably runs closer to 15%, but I get a good number of "homeowner" jobs.
I will, on occasion, use the "trust but verify" method of correcting MINOR violations, especially if I am going to be in the same area for other inspections (we are paid per inspection, not salaried, so each trip comes from out pocket).
Over the years I have found it extremely important to treat all inspections alike, so I tend not to handle things differently for different electricians.
 
if what you guys say is true, my job would be alot easier, my pass rate as an inspector is about 65 percent last time I checked on the computer
 
I do independent inspections, after the building is finished. I have the luxury of spending as much time as I want, someone else removes and installs covers. And while I do not pass or fail, I have never completed one of these inspections with out a list of violations.

Many of these are minor in nature, but a violation non the less.

Did a job last week and the electrician was there to show me his work. He was explaining how beautiful his conduit work was, 35' of EMT, 3 bends, no straps. But that was just the beginning.
 
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brian john said:
..................... I have never completed one of these inspections with out a list of violations....................
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Brian, I would tend to agree. I once participated in an "experiment" where five inspectors went to the same job. Each misssed some violations, and each found some the others didn't. It would be a rare job indeed where, given enough time, some code violation ould not be found. In our "experiment" we were somewhat competing, so the inspections were THOROUGH.
From that standpoint, I think all inspectors can pretty much set their rejection rate to some degree. I realize that any violation is a "safety issue", so it's not proper to "overlook" anything. That said, over the years I have developed a "is this really 'unsafe' attitude".
I think, when you look at some of the picturs posted in this forum, you realize that as inspectors, we do limit the number of disasters shown in the pictures.
I admire the attitude of the folks for whom you perform your inspections.
I must be rewarding to have a customer who desires a thorough inspection.
As a group we vary from the inexcusible drive-by inspection to the possibly over-zealous "that staple is 1" over" inspection, but can you imagine what the situation would be if there were no inspectors.
 
augie47 said:
In our "experiment" we were somewhat competing, so the inspections were THOROUGH.

It would be interesting to repeat this experiment, although without you knowing about it. IMPO, knowledge that you are in a 'contest' can make a difference.
 
We make sure they know who we are.I never go on a job without a clean company shirt.They know we stand for quaility and we keep our word to fix the small stuff.Most inspections are maybe 10 minutes unless they see any wrong stuff.Had one yesterday on a minus 20 freezer.He did go in it but we made it short.
 
I'm not sure what my overall rate of pass/failure is. I know that I had several "rejections" (as they call it here) when I first started contracting, and much less now. Most of our work is repetitive, but it's when we step out of the norm that problems occur.

There is always a tuition for education. Rejection fees are $35.00, but cost us a heck-of-a-lot more. I dare say I learn from every one.

No matter how long you been at it, am I the only one that receives joy and relief every time they green sticker a job? :)
 
When issues about NEC violations come up at meetings with the owner, GC, and EC is, the base answer from the EC is well it passed inspection.

I have a stock speech, about minior issues VS major issues, me spending 2-3 days doing what the AHJ has a limited amount of time to do, how they can not catch everything. And that fact that it passed inspection really has nothing to do with the fact that there are existing NEC violations. If the contractor attacks me then I take one approach, if he is understanding, I handle it differently. Lots of men, in a hurry, overlooked, one man started, another finished, common mistake on and on......
 
mpd said:
if what you guys say is true, my job would be alot easier, my pass rate as an inspector is about 65 percent last time I checked on the computer

Maybe the issue is in the mirror.

Not trying to be rude but have you considered that?
 
480sparky said:
I've never been red-tagged, but on occasion the inspector will find something I missed. They pass it because they know I will correct it.

Bingo, that is how it has been for me as well.
 
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