"This is starting to drift off subject but,-- Here is the reality. If you confront an inspector in the field, specificially a hard ball type, then you run the risk of "censure" or whatever you want to call it from the rest of the gang in his office. Those guy's all work with each other every day and make friends. If you want to start having trouble all over town all of a sudden, just step on the wrong toes. Of course if you are able to never ever have any code violations at all, then you have nothing to worry about. Because every single last one of the boxes you nail up never are more than 1/8" back from the non combustable surface. Know what I mean Vern?"
I wish to whole-heartedly disagree with this statement. I am an electrical inspector, some would say I'm not easy on the folks...but I would never deny a contractor's right to dispute me all the way to my boss...in fact I encourage it. I tell them right out, 'come into the office at the end of the day and we can look this up in the code book, Handbook, etc. to see if I've made a mistake, if you still don't agree with my decision you can speak with my supervisor.' There are no hard fellings on my part or fellow inspectors. That attitude does not play in the part of the country I work in. Increasingly, bldg. departments DEMAND an attitude towards customer service, willingness to listen and work with the public/contractor to get the job done correctly...if you cannot backup your decision with a code section, don't be making the call.
I have made incorrect calls in the field, gone back to the office and checked a code book, another inspector, or my boss and have been wrong; I call the contractor up immediately, admit I was wrong and apologize for the inconvenience. I honestly believe every inspector in our department feels that way.
