Who Does the Inspection? (Industrial )

[Joethemechanic]

Hypothetical question.

Say a large heavy industrial plant is being built. Big place say buildings in the millions of square feet. Medium voltage feeders from a 10 MW or larger pad mount distributing power within the facility. Lots and lots of automation and large processes all electrically powered.

All this is stuff that goes way over the local AHJ's inspectors head.

Who does the inspection? Do they hire a 3rd party?

I've done work in plants like this my whole life, but I've never been involved in one being built all new from the ground up

 

[infinity]

It depends on the adopted laws in your locale. Around here ultimately the local AHJ is responsible. If they cannot handle the inspection duties then it would be their job to hire whomever was needed to perform the task.

 

[Joethemechanic]

It depends on the adopted laws in your locale. Around here ultimately the local AHJ is responsible. If they cannot handle the inspection duties then it would be their job to hire whomever was needed to perform the task.

And what type of organization would be qualified to perform the inspections? An electrical engineering firm, or are there some other types of companies who specialize in this?

 

[hillbilly1]

I think it would be up to the customer to hire a qualified inspector. Usually normal inspectors just look for obvious violations. Unless the area is heavily industrialized, the jurisdiction would not hire somebody just for industrial due to costs.

 

[tortuga]

I just had a big inspection last month with a plants insurance carrier. Management was way more worried about that inspection than dealing with the local city.
Insurance (and OSHA) inspectors find all kinds of stuff in the dark corners of the NEC and other NFPA standards, places construction electricians never go.

 

[rbalex]

My personal preference is the insurance company. They have actual “skin in the game”. They often have (or can get) qualified inspectors AND they can’t be unreasonable lest they loose a profitable account.

There are several local jurisdictions that also have qualified inspectors; however, they aren’t necessarily compelled to be reasonable since they aren’t liable. I know they can be sued, but as I’ve said before, “Show me the statute that gives the local AHJ their “A” (authority) and I will show you in the same statute or a superior one that they hold no liability.”

 

[masterinbama]

Engineer of record or the insurance underwriter

 

[Besoeker3]

The Brit again.
We don't use inspectors - we just get it right in the first place................!

 

[tortuga]

The Brit again.
We don't use inspectors - we just get it right in the first place................!

and if they don't what does HSE do?

 

[Sberry]

Engineers of record are main ones I believe. I work on a nuke and inspectors drew their paycheck from the same co we did.

 

[gadfly56]

Engineers of record are main ones I believe. I work on a nuke and inspectors drew their paycheck from the same co we did.

The engineer of record may or may not be responsible for interim inspections. It all depends on the contracts, and what the AHJ requires. In NJ, the locals may call in the state inspectors if they don't think they can handle it. In fact, IIRC, local inspectors have a grade or level to their license that indicates what level of construction they may oversee.

 

[petersonra]

I can't speak to every industrial situation but none of the projects I have been involved in had an inspection by the AHJ beyond the service, switchgear MCCs, lighting, emergency systems, etc. They seem clueless about the process side of things and machinery so just leave it to those who are probably better prepared to make sure it is done right.

There are very few if any AHJs that have the capability to adequately inspect such installations so I think there is a pass through to make sure there are no obvious problems and then the permit is signed off.

 

[Besoeker3]

and if they don't what does HSE do?

Obviously they will take action if there are issues. We just haven't needed to do so.

 

[hillbilly1]

The engineer of record may or may not be responsible for interim inspections. It all depends on the contracts, and what the AHJ requires. In NJ, the locals may call in the state inspectors if they don't think they can handle it. In fact, IIRC, local inspectors have a grade or level to their license that indicates what level of construction they may oversee.

I had a large generator install, and the local inspector knew it was over his head, so he called in the state inspector, in which it looked to be over his head too, he wanted the neutral/ground bond on the load side of a ground fault main transferswitch. Couldn’t get it through his head that it negated the ground fault protection, and should be on the line side before the GF CT.