Trench inspections: In person? Photos? Inspection pipe?

[VirutalElectrician]

Noticing on electrical YT videos, lots of electricians doing trenches then waiting for a trench inspection.

Around here, at least for resi, inspectors never want to come out for an in-person trench inspection. They'll take photos with a tape measure in the trench. leaving small sections open, or putting a couple inspection pipes in.

How does your AHJ handle trench inspections?

 

[tom baker]

We have virtual inspections where contractor makes appointment and live streams with AHJ video of project. This is very popular
For trenches there is an allowance to take pictures under special conditions

 

[rc/retired]

Depends on the workload. If we were really busy, a photo. In person inspection if slow.

Ron

 

[VirutalElectrician]

We have virtual inspections where contractor makes appointment and live streams with AHJ video of project. This is very popular
For trenches there is an allowance to take pictures under special conditions

MN only seems to be doing virtual inspections on re-inspections, and only for certain failures as well.

 

[augie47]

If our inspectors are busy they will allow photos rather than hold up a job. (Some will require a recent newspaper in the photo to prevent using a 3 year old pic from another job )

 

[readydave8]

Some will require a recent newspaper in the photo to prevent using a 3 year old pic from another job )

Catches the dishonest electricians that can't photoshop

 

[VirutalElectrician]

If our inspectors are busy they will allow photos rather than hold up a job. (Some will require a recent newspaper in the photo to prevent using a 3 year old pic from another job )

Most don't realize this, but when you take a photo with your phone camera, it imbeds all sorts of data into it, like date, time, GPS coordinates, etc, so unless you strip them out, easy to see if the photo is fake or not.

 

[hillbilly1]

The last one I did, I took pictures, and was going to show them to the inspector. He didn’t even bother looking at them. He said if you can get wire in it, he wasn’t worried about it! LOL!

 

[jaggedben]

We do solar and solar is generally expected to have one inspection so we take photos and we have had no problems with that. Probably works when you have only an electrical permit. For larger projects that are going to have rough inspections you would probably want to have the underground done and signed off before pour. Or you'd need an inspection to get that specific line signed off on the job card. Every jurisdiction has a different job card.

 

[jaggedben]

The last one I did, I took pictures, and was going to show them to the inspector. He didn’t even bother looking at them. He said if you can get wire in it, he wasn’t worried about it! LOL!

How does that address cover requirements?

 

[ramsy]

How does that address cover requirements?

Inspector must be familiar with the contractor, and confident in their work.

 

[Little Bill]

Most of out inspectors will accept photos. One wants sticks, or pipes, put in that he can remove and measure.
I thought about just having the trench at 1'!
Then just digging out a few spots to the right depth and putting pipes in!

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Pretty rural area where I’m at. I know most of the inspectors that do my projects. After a couple jobs where they got to know me, and they know I’m not the kind that cheats, on smaller stuff they’ll just tell me to tex them a pic or two.

I always ask them what they want, most of my genny installs they don’t really want to do two inspections.

Bigger projects will get an underground inspection.

 

[electrofelon]

In upstate NY its 3rd party inspectors (except for some larger cities). So I have a few different inspectors, for different areas, and I've been using them for years. I haven't gotten a trench cover inspection or been asked for photos and years.