Is there a time limitation that an inspector has to notify a failed inspection?

In every jurisdiction in my area you will know the status of the inspection when the inspector is onsite. Even if the electrician, plumber, etc is not there someone representing the GC or homeowner will be.
 
Little Bill said:
How would you put a nail plate on the side that already has drywall on it?
What if the wall was in a basement with the back of the wall cinder block?
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You can’t. I didn’t say that.
The block wall scenario is irrelevant to this situation.
In this case, (I think) the hole was bored within 1-1/4” of the wall that’s covered. That’s a violation. The correct process would be to bore the hole so that the covered side is at least 1-1/4” from that wall and install nail plates on the open side.

In other words, if you bore a hole in a location that would require a nail plate, but there’s no way to install one, you’re screwed. 😂
 
retirede said:
You can’t. I didn’t say that.
The block wall scenario is irrelevant to this situation.
In this case, (I think) the hole was bored within 1-1/4” of the wall that’s covered. That’s a violation. The correct process would be to bore the hole so that the covered side is at least 1-1/4” from that wall and install nail plates on the open side.

In other words, if you bore a hole in a location that would require a nail plate, but there’s no way to install one, you’re screwed. 😂
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I didn't quote you, it was a general question to all.
OP never said what the back of the wall was. It could have been in a basement with a block wall. That's the only place I could think of that had only 3" studs.
 
Strathead said:
If you are having an ELECTRICAL inspection then if there isn't a responsible electrical representative on site I am of the opinion that is on the Electrical Contractor, not the overall contractor.
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That's really kind of beside the point. The point was how does an inspector come, fail a rough inspection, and the GC doesn't know that and starts closing up the walls? GC has a responsibility to confirm all the roughs have passed before closing up the walls. It could have been plumbing not electrical.

If it's a general building permit I'm assuming the GC calls for the inspection. Sure, it would certainly be wise to tell the electrician what the inspection schedule is and have them there so they can discuss directly with the inspector. (Also how can the electrical contractor be responsible if the GC doesn't tell them?) But how does that relate to the GC not knowing the inspection failed? How does the GC think the inspection passed when it didn't?

Did the inspector sign off the electrical rough line on the job card and then send a correction notice by email later? Or did the GC just not look at the job card? Is it an online approval system? Like... how did this actually happen?
 
jaggedben said:
That's really kind of beside the point. The point was how does an inspector come, fail a rough inspection, and the GC doesn't know that and starts closing up the walls? GC has a responsibility to confirm all the roughs have passed before closing up the walls. It could have been plumbing not electrical.

If it's a general building permit I'm assuming the GC calls for the inspection. Sure, it would certainly be wise to tell the electrician what the inspection schedule is and have them there so they can discuss directly with the inspector. (Also how can the electrical contractor be responsible if the GC doesn't tell them?) But how does that relate to the GC not knowing the inspection failed? How does the GC think the inspection passed when it didn't?

Did the inspector sign off the electrical rough line on the job card and then send a correction notice by email later? Or did the GC just not look at the job card? Is it an online approval system? Like... how did this actually happen?
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It is different county by county here, but in most, the Electrical Contractor pulls his own permits. We also are the only ones allowed to call for an inspection on that permit. While the GC SHOULD be on top of it, if I tell them I am calling for an inspection Friday and I don't tell them Monday, that I failed, that gives them plenty of wiggle room. I work commercial, health care, institutional, so the attention to detail is much higher, but our company would never let an electrical inspection go without ensuring that a competent person was there for the inspector.
 
I would think I as a Contractor Would want an affirmative pass before moving ahead with closing the wall. An Absence of a failed inspection is not the same as a passed inspection and only opens the door to the issue the OP is complaining about. Here if a permit is issued (really required for that level of work) the permit would require a signature of the inspector for the various trades prior to closing a wall (insulation, electrical, plumbing, framing, etc.).
 
You always have to use nail plates on a 2 x 3 wall. Can't avoid that. If it is an existing wall and one side has wall finish then it would be the inspectors call on what to do.

I would thing adding wiring to a 2 x 3 wall with finish on one side is creating a violation.

The only fix may be to strip the finish and add nail plates or strip one side and fur the wall out.

The electrician is on the hook for this. he should have been onsite for the inspection or designated someone else to be there
 
Eddie702 said:
I would thing adding wiring to a 2 x 3 wall with finish on one side is creating a violation.

The only fix may be to strip the finish and add nail plates or strip one side and fur the wall out.
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Why couldn’t you bore the holes so that they’re at least 1-1/4” from the finished side and put a nail plate on the open side?
 
Eddie702 said:
You always have to use nail plates on a 2 x 3 wall. Can't avoid that. If it is an existing wall and one side has wall finish then it would be the inspectors call on what to do.

I would thing adding wiring to a 2 x 3 wall with finish on one side is creating a violation.

The only fix may be to strip the finish and add nail plates or strip one side and fur the wall out.

The electrician is on the hook for this. he should have been onsite for the inspection or designated someone else to be there
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I would just get creative. I would try bending strips of proper thickness metal in an L to give it a "tab" that can be hit with my Klein lineman hammer, and just drive them in between the stud and the sheetrock. DONE!
 
Strathead said:
I would just get creative. I would try bending strips of proper thickness metal in an L to give it a "tab" that can be hit with my Klein lineman hammer, and just drive them in between the stud and the sheetrock. DONE!
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@infinity post #22 has the solution for a finished wall side the hole drilled to close to. It can be installed even if wire is in place already. Nothing homemade needed.
 
Gsaparky said:
I recently had an inspection for a small residential bathroom remodel on 2/14/25. I just received an email on 2/24/25, directing me to the online portal for the inspection results. The results stated that it failed the rough inspection due to missing nail plates on 2X3 walls. My electrician says that he offset the holes per 300.5 I believe requiring 1.25". The project has progressed after 10 days from the inspection. The walls are boarded, plastered and painted. He is not one of the most reasonable inspectors around so I have not reached out to him yet. I would rather know my rights first. He is also part time and he does not work on the day that I first received the notice. I have looked but have not found anything for Massachusetts or NEC that states how much time he has to respond to an inspection. I tried to reach out to the Board of Electrical Contractor in Massachusetts but keep getting redirected. An input?
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The above is correct that it is Rule 10 of the Mass Amendments. I disagree with the concept that you cannot cover until it is approved. An inspector cannot delay a job simply by not responding, that is why we have the 72 hours. For as long as I remember, it was 72 hours from "proper notification" which is IN WRITING. We inspectors have 72 hours to notify the contractor IN WRITING that he has passed or failed and if it failed, we are supposed to provide the article of code. While that has been the rule for generations, in practice they would call up and say, "Hey Dave, I need an inspection". I would do it and call back, "I need you to do this." they'd say, "OK". In today's world, everything is done online and through the portal. The plus here is that your request for inspection is time stamped. When they do the inspection it is time stamped. When they put their result, right or wrong, on the portal it is time stamped. As Fred B put up above, it is not uncommon to drill your holes on one side of a 2x3 so that you only have to plate one side. If it backs up to dead space, it can be argued that plating is not required at all (assuming that the holes were drilled on the dead space side). My question is, did the inspector fail to put his results into the portal for 10 days or did your electrician fail to check for 10 days? It is all time stamped. It shouldn't be hard to check. My suggestion would be to know that tidbit of information before you choose to get in the inspector's face.
 
Rule 10 conflicts with 143 3L which gives the IOW 5-days to notify approve or disapprove after notification is given in writing. Well maybe not a conflict because Rule 10 only defines when the inspection should be done by, not when the notice of approve or disapprove under the statute 143 3L is required.
Also Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays are excluded in the timing.

A Statute (law) is stronger than a CMR (regulation). A CMR must not conflict with a Statute.
 
This entire discussion is existential because, regardless of a possible failure on the Inspectors part, we have an obligation to install our work to code. It isn't the inspectors responsibility. The work wasn't installed to code, it needs to be fixed. It shouldn't have taken the inspection to point out the error. Sorry to be so blunt and most of us have made egregious errors like this as well. That is why we have inspectors. That is why companies like mine have in house quality control inspections.
 
@DBZ What you have cited is true. However I am in Western, MA. There are several towns around here that you apply for a permit and they issue you.....Nothing. Not a written permit ...Nothing. In my 44 years as a MA electrician I have had all my jobs pass inspection except for 3 jobs. I have only received a failed inspection written notice 1 time. I have had inspectors fail to show up and do an inspection 2 times.

Some towns require you to apply for permits on line and will not take a written permit application or issue a written permit which from my understanding is a violation of state rules.

We are asked to follow the rules but many towns and many inspectors do not.

As a result many electricians do not even get permits to do work unless they need a new meter or can't make the job work without an inspection. This in my view is wrong.

If the permit and inspection system is not respected by electricians and towns and inspectors everyone looses and that is wrong,

That is just the way it is.

The biggest city in my area had budget cuts years ago. They used to have an electrical secretary in the office to issue permits and had 5 electrical inspectors. After the budget cuts they had 1 inspector and no secretary.

As a result the 1 inspector told the mayor he would do no inspections until he got some help. When electricians called for inspections they were told to "call the mayor" after that the mayor let them get 1 additional inspector and the inspections resumed.
 
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