I feel sorry for you for having a sht head inspector. He's flashing the what if card.
It’s an attitude like that which hardens positions. I’ve been on both sides of the code issue, as an inspector and as a contractor. Yes, inspectors can get a reputation for being hard-nosed and nit-picking, but guess what? Contractors get reputations too, and they will stick with you for your entire career. An inspector will quickly learn who he can trust to fix an issue after a phone call, and which guy he will need to go back and reinspect every single time.
Try a friendlier approach and you’ll probably find out that there’s probably a lot more going on here than you realize. Maybe the inspector’s boss set new rules after a fire or injury. Maybe the county attorney said that the department was caught up in a lawsuit for something similar. Maybe the department is so short staffed that they are sending out inspectors without any field experience.
Tired of seeing new inspectors as if there’s a revolving door at the building department? Then don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution. A friendly discussion over a cup of coffee might get him to see both sides and relax a bit. Driving down to his office and screaming at his boss will keep the revolving door spinning. Explaining that you’ve seen a lot of codes evolve for the better over the years might get him to agree that a lot have evolved for the worse. Asking for alternatives or how other electricians are doing things will open up a friendlier conversation. Name calling won’t. Saying “Hey, there’s a box of donuts over on the table, help yourself” (seriously) goes a long way towards breaking the ice, and no, it’s not a bribe, it’s recognizing him as another human being. After a while you might be chatting about how his vacation was instead of arguing over the rational of a code requirement. These days everyone’s positions are so hardened that the everyday stress is becoming overwhelming for all sides.
