Residential - Rough Inspection

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

mltech

Senior Member
Location
Ft. Lauderdale
I just had a rough inspection on a residence turned down for not having the sub feeds pulled to the interior panel? before that a different inspector told me that I had to have all the breakers installed for a wall rough? What constitutes a rough inspection when clearly these items could be looked at later during a service inspection or temp for test? These fees are killing me and it seems that they are purposely trying to defer the inspection?
:confused:
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

It's common practice to complete everything possible at the rough. If you ran conduit for the sub-panel, why not get as much done as you can at the rough?

Why did you run conduit, anyway?

At any rate, it's not covered under the NEC. You'll generally avoid headaches if you just complete as much as possible at the rough.

before that a different inspector told me that I had to have all the breakers installed for a wall rough?
Click to expand...
This I strongly disagree with. Making it easy to energize exposed conductors is a good way to get people shocked (drywallers, etc.)
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Why did you run conduit, anyway?
Click to expand...
This installation has a 200amp metermain service with feed thru lugs to a 200amp interior 42 circuit panel. We run 2"pvc conduit from the service to the interior panel as a normal installation and pull 3/0 conductors. Just seems like a typical installation to me.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Different standards for different folks, I guess.

'Round here, it's pretty common to just run SER from the outside metermain to an interior panel. Seems as though conduit would be pretty labor intensive for not too much of a payoff, IMO.

To each his own! :)
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Geroge,
Seems as though conduit would be pretty labor intensive for not too much of a payoff, IMO.
Click to expand...
A study was done in area near me about 15 years ago as to the cost of the "pipe" codes. It was found that the use on EMT in place of NM adds 12-15% to the cost of the dwelling unit electrical installation.
Don
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Don, by "payoff" I meant "benefit."

The only benefit I can see is the conductors can be replaced without damaging the finish of the garage inside. In my short time, I've not seen that benefit to be a compelling one.

What was the reasoning to require EMT in Chicago, anyway?
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

What was the reasoning to require EMT in Chicago, anyway?
Click to expand...
I don't really know. While NM is a safe wiring method, I think that metallic conduit is safer and that may be the reason.
Don
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Don
Who did that study anyway the federal government? There are guys around me that do residential with service, phones and cable tv for under $2 a square foot. Are you telling me that it is possible to do an EMT installation for say $2.30 a square foot?

PS Maybe a more telling answer would be to know who paid for the study. Like they say "you get what you pay for".

[ February 13, 2006, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: stars13bars2 ]
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

This is not related in any way to Instructors or to teaching. I am moving it to the Contracting and Estimating topic area.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

In Chicagoland we don't pull wire on a ruogh inspection except for what is needed. Most inspectors don't want to see the wire in the rough. They may be concerned that it will get dammaged with drywall. I like to pull before drywall because it's easier to see what's up. Then we put cardboard in the boxes. A few places are on top of things and have a wire inspection. While their are a few rare ones that want to see wires on the rough. If you don't know what they want you can't allways win.

One reason for not pulling wire on the rough is to hold out for money. Another is if too many projects need to be piped at the same time.

Happy piping,

Tom
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Around here the rough inspection is to inspect what can't be seen at the final. Certainly the wiring inside of a conduit could be seen after the job is complete. Usually the inspector is looking for things that can't be seen after the walls and ceilings are finished on the rough inspection.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

I have had inspectors tell me that they want all wire pulled and all joints made up for a rough in because on the final they can't see the joints if the boxes are closed and the devices mounted.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

In the past we had to have our loadcenters "made -up". However someone was going around stealing arc faults so now we can install the arc-faults for final.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Originally posted by infinity:
Around here the rough inspection is to inspect what can't be seen at the final. Certainly the wiring inside of a conduit could be seen after the job is complete. Usually the inspector is looking for things that can't be seen after the walls and ceilings are finished on the rough inspection.
Click to expand...
That's how it is here, too.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Roughing inspections are not covered under the NEC.
Here we have multiple companies that are inspecting, and each has their own requirements for different aspects of the inspection. My advice is to be sure and call to ask what they may want. There is no guessing at that point, and your inspection should be easier on both you and them.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

Being from the Chicagoland area the ONLY installation used here is EMT. IMC or RMC is used on all services, SER is usually not accepted. The ruff inspection usually only covers the conduit/boxes installed in the walls. Most communites allow you to finish the basement later as they are usually exposed anyone. There are a couple of communities that require the wire to be pulled as part of the ruff to check on box & conduit fill.

If you are interested in pics of a home ruffed in emt let me know and I can email them to you.
 
Re: Residential - Rough Inspection

So nm isn't allowed in single family or anything in Chicago? Good Lord, no wonder houses cost so much there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top