ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Who is your Inspector?

I know we've touched on this a number of times before, but I'm trying to get a more thorough picture of who the AHJs/Inspectors are and other details. Are they Private Agents/Agencies, PT, FT, Town Employees, State Employees, Fire Marshals. ?? Do you call them to schedule appointments when ready or do they act under someone else's direction and control, maybe tied to permits, etc. ?? Do you have a choice of who to call?

Do you have opportunity for any personal contact with him? I mean, Can you call him directly to ask a question?

Thanks for any comments.

Bill

Rockland County, NY
Third party Electrical Inspector/Underwriter
Is called directly for appointments and questions.

I live in Metro Atlanta and currently have permits pulled in 7 jurisdictions, each having it's own rules. I have to pull a permit and then when the work is complete some counties have you call an automated system, others have you call the inspector between 7:30 and 8:30, others have you call between 8 and 9. It can really get confusing trying to keep it straight.

Ron,

That sounds like what we have 'Downstate' too (Long Island)

Electric Eagle,

Who are the Inspectors employed by?
What is your opinion of the system where you are? Do you get to know these people at all?

Bill

We pull a permit then call in for inspection when it's ready. The inspector is an city employee who inspects all day. Normally if we call before 3:00 pm, he will get it that day. I'm in Arkansas.

For the Allegheny Power required inspections, Private Inspectors IAEI certified, all are Electrical Contractors and all but one work for an Agency for inspections. The one that doesn't may not fully understand the liability insurance costs involved.

Personal contact is the only way to get in touch with these guys, and all are quite willing to answer any questions. (Although most of my Q's get a blank stare and an "I don't know..."). One inspector has been known to ask me for advice...

For the city of Lewisburg, a building inspector does both rough and final inspections and permits and city licenses are required. He's adamant on CABO smoke detector rules, but a little ignorant in actual NEC.

One Inspector will only inspect Electrical Contractors that he knows, DIY's and Grandfathered EC's need not apply.

All the EI's are begging me to get my IAEI ticket too...

On a side note, the county permits that used to be required are now a grey area, seems to be illegal to charge a building permit fee without providing some sort of inspection service. Seems this will go the route of eliminating the permits rather than requiring inspections. Too bad.

Virgil,

How does that 1 guy that's not part of an Agency get permitted to do Electrical Inspections if he is not aware of Insurance costs involved? Don't they have to have like a Gazillion $$ worth of Insurance to be approved by the State or County or whoever to perform Electrical Inspections??

Bill

I've only used him once, and he gave the most thorough inspection of them all, I was impressed, but he has to travel many miles and it was just more convenient to use him that day. He was the inspector that I mentioned in this thread many moons ago...

He's apparently under the mistaken impression that his Electrical Contractor's Liability covers him. I'm sure he's very wrong in that assumption, however.

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 05-11-2002).]

We've state inspectors here in VT. They are booked up solid, and may view your work up to a year later, at which point it may be hard to recall what you did....

Each inspector has his/her turf, as the state is cut up into sections for them....

They are approachable, will answer Q's & do plan reviews.

I did a school last yr, and received notice that it would not be inspected due to my bieng 'low priority'. I guess i should be flattered??

'66,

The only "required" insurance is what Allegheny Energy requires & that is only 1 or 2 million in general lliability and about the same for PL/PD for the vehicle.

The important insurance is "Errors and Omissions" and it is terribly expensive. I looked into about 2 years ago. I'd basically be doing my first 100 inspections to pay for the insurance. Since I only have time for 150 to 200 inspections a year, I can't afford it.

BTW, thanks to our legislature, I'm now going to have to buy a state license (read that as a tax) in order to continue doing inspections. It will probably be 6 months to a year before it is implemented.

As for inspections at this end of the Mountain State, larger towns have their own inspectors, usually multi-hats, most of which are very weak on the NEC.

[This message has been edited by Tom (edited 05-11-2002).]