Hi All
This has been a great course (Commercial), i think it will help in my home inspection also.The S.O.P was of great value for both kinds of inspection.Thank You for the opportunity.
Tim
Absolute Home Inspection Services
This is an image I took of an engineering plan (precise grading) that I produced for a small commercial building. As part of the plan, I had to account for ADA accessibility, which including some of the requirements that are listed in the “InterNACHI’s Standard Accessibility Inspection Report for Existing Commercial Buildings” checklist. I added some text boxes and arrows to the image to show the handicap parking spot, the ADA accessible path of travel from the parking stall to the main entrance of the building, the ADA accessible entrance to the building, and an ADA accessible ramp that allows a path of travel from the public sidewalk to the private ADA accessible walkway leading to the building. These are some of the things that an inspector would look for if they are conducting an Accessibility Report on a commercial property.
The article I read for this assignment was “Building Permits” by Nick Gromicko. A building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding onto pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Building permits help ensure that the work done to the building is safe for the occupants and the public. Some common alterations and improvements that usually require a building permit are: structural additions; installation of a new roof; adding or blocking off a door or window; adding or relocating electrical outlets; adding or relocating plumbing fixtures, such as showers, sinks or toilets; and converting a garage or storage area to an air-conditioned, occupied area, or installation of central air-conditioning systems.
If a major alteration or improvement was made to a building without a building permit, that burden is passed on to subsequent owners of the property. If the local building officials discover the unauthorized work, the new owner could be fined and forced to remove the alteration or do more improvements to bring it up to code. The buyer should take seriously any evidence of large, undocumented building alterations before they purchase any commercial property and should research if any building permits were obtained for the property after the initial construction.
This Water heater is located in the laundry room. It is an electric 40 gallon Whirlpool water heater with an ANSI date of 2006. The TPRV drain line appears to be reduced and runs uphill. There does not appear to be a wire disconnect near the unit.
The joist hangers in the garage inspection article were hung with drywall screws through the drywall committing two deficiencies at each location. There is a very dangerous load issue here besides the fact that there is evidence of improper modifications observed.
The picture above shows one of the two east side water heaters. The water heaters are both 2007 RUUD 50-Gallon gas-fired units. Note the presence of a hot water circulator pump near the bottom right corner of the picture. This pump will provide near-instant hot water at each fixture. These two water heaters appear to provide hot water for the offices, restrooms and break room in the east side building wing. No outstanding issues were observed with these water heaters.
I read the article Venomous Pests: Inspectors Beware with interest. As an inspector for the past fifteen years, I have come across my share of different pests. Learning some of the characteristics of different pests helps me to know when to be even more careful. While I have never seen a rattlesnake, even though I’ve lived in Texas for 45 years, I know other inspectors that have crossed their path. I know from experience that it is a terrible feeling to see copperhead snake skins that have been shed in an attic area.
Fireplace and Chimneys
This fireplace and chimney was inspected and has some defects present There was a gas log system present and the damper was not blocked open The chimney was inspected from the roof area The crown did not shed water properly away from the flue. The mortar cap also was deteriorated and cracked and was in need of repair. The chimney did not extend to the proper height above the roof of 2’ within 10’ of a portion of the building and was also closer than 2’ to a window opening. There also was no carbon monoxide detector present at the property which would require at least one being present. These were the detects observed at the time this fireplace was inspected
I was very interested in using drones in the home inspection business. I think it would be very helpful in some areas such as roof’s higher than one story or with a steep slope to inspect the roofing materials and or chimneys. unfortunately this is not legal for home inspectors at this time and was disappointing.
A fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire and smoke between separate compartments of a structure and to enable safe egress from a building or structure.
Both the door leaf (the swinging panel of the door) and the door frame are required to meet the guidelines of a testing agency which provides the product listing. The door frame includes the fire or smoke seals, door hardware, and the structure that holds the fire door assembly in place. Together, these components form an assembly which holds a numerical rating, quantified in hours of resistance to a test fire.
Green Building
This is a holistic concept that starts with understanding that the built environment can have profound effects, positive or negative, on the environment, as well as the people who inhabit buildings every day. Green building is an effort to amplify the positive and mitigate the negative of these effects throughout the entire life cycle of a building.
There are many different definitions of green building out there, it is generally accepted as the planning, design, construction, and operations of buildings with several considerations: energy use, water use, indoor environmental quality, material section and the building’s effects on its site.
Manufacturers are all on board with this certification and have re-designed their products to meet these new standards.
The component inspected was a Lenox AC air handler located in a 2 car attached garage of a home built in 1997. Visible dark blotchy stains were detected on the exterior case, condensate drain line and vent piping. the air filter was found to be clean. Dried water stains were detected on the floor around the unit but no active leak was found.
I did my research on Barn’s
This has become the new fad here in the south of getting married in barns, so I wanted to know more about inspecting them. The 2 big questions when starting the inspection are:1.are they going to use it for the same purpose that it was used for in the past? 2. Is this barn in the northern climate where it has lots of snow and ice? Some hazards to keep an eye out for when inspecting.
Kick damage or structural damage caused by animals.
Roof structure and leaks
GFCI outlets
A lack of ventilation through the barn.
Barns have natural and man-made materials in them which can also cause fires. Make sure none of these materials are stored near areas that generate heat.
Inspection & Writing Assignment
While conducting an exterior inspection, I observed damage to the soffit and fascia on the right elevation. Upon inspecting the roof, I observed damage to the roof covering, roof deck, and structural members underneath.
Research Exercise
Occupancy Load Signs
by Nick Gromicko & Kenton Shepard
I chose this article because I see very little enforcement in areas I serve. Typically, I see the fire marshal’s maximum occupancy certification displayed by business licenses, health inspections, and right-to-work signs but not any place else.
The authors list posting requirements from the 2006 IBC as well as some jurisdictions’ more stringent requirements. I learned that the Houston Fire Code elaborates that it not be obstructed by doors, curtains, poster board stands, furniture, room dividers, or similar items. I found this interesting because it sounds like each of these may have been a violation at one point or another causing the need to explain “conspicuous!”
Patrick McRaney
Dirt at foundation, and above top of foundation. In one corner of the residence, dirt was placed approximately 6 inches above the foundation onto the unprotected wood. This has caused rotting to take place on the rim joist of house. A qualified contractor should be contacted to correct and replace the rotting wood and take care of the dirt elevations and have it swale away from the building.
Steel Siding Inspection - Steel siding traditionally has not been very popular for residential usage do to its plain or simple appearances. However, the new steel siding is gaining popularity because it has addressed the cosmetic issues. The history of steel siding has been around since the early 1900’s. Traditionally, rural America has utilized the steel siding due to it efficiency and structural integrity. The siding is made from galvanized steel or stainless steel. Steel siding is more prone to rust, so it would be a good idea to apply rust inhibiting products to the steel. The advantages of steel is its strength and durability. It can better withstand impact from hail, tree branches, baseballs or other objects thrown against it. The required maintenance is minimal, usually one only needs to use a garden hose or pressure washer to clean. It is insect and decay, and fire resistant. To balance off the advantages with the disadvantages; the corrosion or rust caused by prolonged exposure to moisture in coastal and humid regions. Steel is generally more expensive up front than most other siding options. Installation is more labor intensive. The energy efficiency of the metal is lower. Steel easily transfers heat or cold.
I inspected the system in the attached photo for connectors, tubing and piping that might be installed in a way that exposes them to physical damage. Additionally, I inspected the central cooling equipment using normal operating controls for the unit.
I also made sure to inspect the air filter and exterior condensor unit and associated components. I carefully looked at the air-conditioning coils for any accumulation of dirt and/or dust. and listened for any squeaks or noised while manually inspecting the system. Lastly, I found the condensate drain and checked for clogs because condensation that builds up during HVAC use must drain properly to prevent rust from forming on internal parts.
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COMPRESSOR: Compresses the refrigerant from a low temperature, low pressure gas to a high temperature, high-pressure gas.
CONDENSER: Is actually a radiator in which the refrigerant condenses from a gas to a liquid form as it is cooled.
ORIFICE TUBE / EXPANSION VALVE: Regulates the liquid refrigerant going into the bottom of the evaporator. Actually acts as a restrictor to the flow of the liquid refrigerant.
EVAPORATOR: This is where the refrigerant evaporates from a liquid form back into a gaseous form. As the refrigerant evaporates it gets very cold and allows the cars interior to be cooled off.
ACCUMULATOR / DRIER: A storage tank and filter for the freon. Its main purpose is to remove moisture from the refrigerant.
REFRIGERANT: More commonly known as freon is the liquid or gas which passes through all the other components in the A/C System.
CHARGE PORT / SCHRADER VALVE: The valve where refrigerant is put into the system and system pressures are checked.
COMPRESSOR CLUTCH: Engages and disengages the compressor.
REFRIGERANT OIL: The system lubricant.
HOSE ASSEMBLY: A combination of rubber and steel or aluminum pipes through which the freon passes between the other major components.
CYCLING SWITCH: Regulates the operation of the compressor depending on system pressures or temperatures.
CONTROL PANEL: Where you select the temperature, quantity and location of air to come from the heater/ air conditioning system.
