ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area What is the Inspection Process in Your Area?

[quote]Becoming certified could lead to a good job though, in fact the IAEI certification process, now over 25 years old, is the best way that I know of to ensure that the AHJ is not some political hack with no experience at all.[quote/]

Joe I am certified 2A/2B/Master plan on working on 2C, but even with certifications, in the area I live becoming an Inspector would really by a major pay cut. A very good friend of mine is an inspector (2A/2B/2C)in the area I live, and the trouble he seems to be put through for performing his job is much more than I would want. Certifying inspectors I believe is useful, and needed. But more important is removing the politics from the position, also if there is a national code, then how about a national certification for electrician? Company's performing electrical service should be Accountable for holding a standard for continuing the education for the electricians they employee. In relation too producing a national code would it be in the best interest to produce a national education program in teaching the national code? All electricians should be taught the same way. There seems to be to many respected teachers and book writer that are educating in different methods, and different interpretations.
Just a thought, Thanks

I'll 2nd that aphares.

quick, how many trade related orginizations can you think of?...... then how many would advocate said concept....

Last week, I removed the cover from an (inspected and passed) subpanel and, although the neutrals (there's that word again) and grounds were separated, the bonding strip was not connected from the ground bus to the can.
This was from a local inspection agency, not the usual township appointee.

Joe,

Here in NJ there use to be three levels of inspectors:
RCS meant residential/commercial specialist
ICS meant Industrial/commercial specialist
HHS meant Hazardous/High rise specialist

The electrical and plumbing inspectors only have ICS and HHS. Fire and building inspectors still have RCS licenses. An inspector would first get an RCS license, then the ICS then the HHS. Depending on what level of license you have it determines the level of plan review that you can do. It also classifies the town as per a class I town. a Class II or a Class III town. If all of your inspectors have a HHS licensene then the town is considered a Class I town. That means we do any and all plan review and inspection. If your town has even one inspector who has a ICS lic. then that town would be a Class II town. They would do all the inspections but the could not do plan review on High rises or buildings with hazardous areas. The last would be a class III town. This town at least one inspectr only has a RCS lic. and in this town they would do all the inspections but could only do plan review on 1 & 2 family dwellings and certain size businesses.

Caper

Electrical Inspections are a Vital Public Safety Function

The following six-point position statement was issued by the "Inspection Initiative," an industry coalition supporting qualified electrical inspections.

Inspections Can Save Lives and Property:

Inspections by qualified electrical inspectors reduce the potential for fire and shock hazards due to incorrectly installed electrical products and systems covered by the National Electrical Code®, save lives, and reduce property damage that may result from unsafe electrical inspections.

Inspections Confirm that Qualified Installers are on the Job:

Electrical inspections protect against untrained or careless installers.

Too often, unqualified installers perform unsafe electrical installations, and may also use products that don't meet national safety requirements or local laws and codes.

Inspections Mean Compliance with Laws:

Most states and localities require electrical installations to comply with the National Electrical Code®, to protect public safety. Electrical inspections help confirm that electrical wiring and systems are installed "according to Code."

No Public Funding:

Government funding isn't needed to pay for proper and thorough electrical inspections. The cost of inspections is usually covered by fees paid directly by builders and contractors. This vital public safety function doesn't have to cost taxpayers or cash-strapped governments a dime!

Inspections Check for Safe Products:

Most states and localities require electrical products to be "Listed" by recognized product safety certification organizations. Electrical inspections help confirm that properly certified products meeting U.S. safety standards are installed.

Inspections Can Help Lower Insurance Premiums:

Property insurance premiums are generally lower in areas with strong building codes enforced by professional inspectors. That's because qualified electrical inspections help protect lives and property.

Reuse and reprint of this six-point position statement are encouraged.

Joe,

As for our little group of "Secret Society" from the days of Prodigy, I can remember some of the feloows who took the test and passed. Some of their handles were:
The Wiz- Ed Schick
The Sheriff- Wally Harris
Pooh Bah- Rich Lintz
Ninja- Alan Mallinger
D.P. - Greg Fretwell

There were others like, Teacher, Politrician, Lone Ranger, Bullwinkle, Whale, House mouse, E.T.

Most of these guys were electricians, or electrical engineers, And Rich worked for the power company.

Caper

Joe,

The third party inspectors are hired by the homeowner or electrical contractor. Since there is virtually no requirement for inspection, they usually inspect in small towns and rural areas in the Allegheney service area.

I guess since they are all "for profit" organizations, they are in competition with eachother.

I would hope that most of them enforce the rules the same way, without trying to make new code. But, being individuals, each has his own axe to grind (mine is making sure the grounding system is correctly installed).

Unfortunately, some of the inspectors are more interested in the fee than the total compliance of the installation., but that is another story.

Tom

Some well thought out answers, thanks.

How much time should it take to inspect the rough wiring in a 2000 sq. ft. single family dwelling.

How many electrical inspections, during a normal 8 hour day, can an electrical inspector make in a city with a population of 100,000.

Joe,

The time required to do a rough inspection would depend on who you are dealing with and what you see in the first couple of minutes.

Dealing with a highly qualified contractor should get you out of there in 15 to 30 minutes. Dealing with a DIY installation, I'd say one hour minimum.

The more I see wrong, the longer & harder I look, but you eventually reach the point where there are no new violations, just repeats of ones you've already found.

As far as your inspector in the 100,000 population town is concerned, with travel & paperwork, six inspections would probably be the maximum, but I'd bet that 4 would be the maximum on many days. Also, these inspections would involve more than lick 'em & stick 'em with the "I was there" sticker.

Tom

Tom:

I was in Virginia about 10 years ago presenting a seminar to the inspection department in Chesterfield County, and some of the inspectors there say they made as many as 40 or more inspections per day.

That may be possible, if you count multifamily dwelling units and multiple meters, etc., so they add up.

I agree with you, that 4-6 inspections on large jobs, like malls, high rise, and industrial sites will take the time needed. The best bet is when you are sure about the work of the installers.

I can tell a short story here, I found a GEC stubbed into each end of an existing conduit for about two feet, and when I pulled it out of each end --- the guy almost fainted!




[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 08-30-2002).]