MG Inspector really shines yesterday

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jrannis

jrannis

Senior Member
Location
Fort Lauderdale/ Miami
I just had a city inspector come by and look at a 150amp residential service.
I installed a meter main combo riser through the roof, 4/0 aluminum XHHW-2.
At first he told me that he didn't see any no-lox on one of the conductors and told be that I should dip the wire in the no-lox bottle, not wipe it off and terminate it. No thanks!
Next, he told me to remove the 4/0 from the riser and install #1 copper, which was shown on the plans. I lost it!
He told me that he could loose his license if he approved a larger size conductor for the riser.
I had some short pieces of #1 left over from another job in my truck and replaced it.
He came back in about 2 hours and approved it.
He then started to look at the roof and thought it should not have passed inspection.
Looks like hes going to be a trouble maker now. Just what she needs

The HO had a fire and has been cleaned out of her insurance money by three previous GCs and is living in her car with her son waiting for her house to get put back together.
She wont see a bill from me.
It would be nice if she could be in her house by Christmas. Still plumbing and drywall to finish with just her paycheck to get the job done.
With inspectors like this, I dont think its going to happen.
BTW, the plans were sealed by a structural/ civil PE and are so bad that not one outlet is properly located and will have to be completely as-built.
 
which was shown on the plans
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So why did you not follow the approved prints or submit a change order for approval with the AHJ?

Personally I would not have flagged that and noted the change on my report and of course the nolox is not required but you created half of your problem. Take responsibility.
 
You must follow the stamped plans. While what you offered is fine you are asking him to do reengineering. Now very few inspectors would fail this because they been electricians at one time. What you likely had was a non electrician inspector and they are clueless to do anything but follow the print. Not much you can do with his type. Remind him on rest of job that is wrong but approved on the prints. Wish you luck with him,you need it. And remember killing is illegal but not a violation of nec.
 
Inspectors here will never approve aluminum in the mast or elsewhere in a residence. Usually when I use Nolox there is enough oozed out that even after I wipe it off there is enough left to be easily seen. Some manufacturers require its use on their connectors. Since they don't want to check the requirements on every connector or panelboard, the inspectors here require its use with any aluminum conductors as a local code (except for the utility company).
 
In most cases I find that the outlets that are drawn on the plans are just "reference" . In residental you need to follow the NEC on placement of outlets. Unlike commerical prints.
 
I hope the lady is going to at least file a complaint with the state or city of getting the shaft by three GC's. Gives us a bad name when we (builder's/GC's) dupe nice women with kids out of money.

c2500
 
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ivsenroute said:
So why did you not follow the approved prints or submit a change order for approval with the AHJ?

Personally I would not have flagged that and noted the change on my report and of course the nolox is not required but you created half of your problem. Take responsibility.
Click to expand...

The plans were garbage. I always use no-lox.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
You must follow the stamped plans. While what you offered is fine you are asking him to do reengineering. Now very few inspectors would fail this because they been electricians at one time. What you likely had was a non electrician inspector and they are clueless to do anything but follow the print. Not much you can do with his type. Remind him on rest of job that is wrong but approved on the prints. Wish you luck with him,you need it. And remember killing is illegal but not a violation of nec.
Click to expand...


He should have approved it and asked me to put it on the asbuilts like a professional would have done.
 
ZZZ said:
Inspectors here will never approve aluminum in the mast or elsewhere in a residence. Usually when I use Nolox there is enough oozed out that even after I wipe it off there is enough left to be easily seen. Some manufacturers require its use on their connectors. Since they don't want to check the requirements on every connector or panelboard, the inspectors here require its use with any aluminum conductors as a local code (except for the utility company).
Click to expand...

They adopeted the Florida Building Code which references the NEC. Aluminum is good for risers. POCO always brings in Aluminum!
 
Your missing the point. Few but some inspectors will push to see the stamped aproved blueprint on a standard residential house. That ,and not a copy is all they will inspect by. I have had them often demand to see that and only that print. As builts are what you hand over when job is passed and finished. Has nothing to do with inspectors and they would care less whats on them.On residential single family i have almost never had them even look at the print. Typical house can be inspected in 5 or 10 minutes and all they care about is compliance to nec. When you come across inspectors in small towns with maybe 2 inspections a day then get ready for red tag. Once had friend that was inspector and i made the mistake of saying "you dont make others do that " He had me go next door with him and be the inspector. I found about 12 violations, all bull s-- stuff but still violations. At end he asked what i would do if i was him. My words where pass it as it basically was nice job. He then told me that actually this was a reinspect and they fixed the reason it was tagged. I learned a lot from that man and used him as referance when i wanted my own masters. You have an inspector that wants to go by the book. Nothing you can do about that. Only thing that was approved was the stamped blueprint and if he wishes to he can push it to the inch.
 
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