this is a photograph of a handicap accessible ramp that is longer than 6 feet, in turn there are rails on both sides. The length and slope of it require it to have an adequate sized landing in the middle
Many of the older commercial buildings will have inoperable mechanical equipment, however an inspector should give their best description of the unit even if its not operating. An inspector should not attempt to start or activate any of them to be able to get a better idea
Supply
The building is supplied with a 2-inch diameter polyethylene water supply line into the building.
The main shut off valve is located in a vestibule between the grocery store and the vacant unit.
Each of the 3 units has a separate water meter.
All supply plumbing examined is copper.
Waste
The majority of the waste piping is under-slab and not visible for observation. Visible piping was PVC.
Safety Tips for Inspectors
Always wear the appropriate PPE. For chemical and other types of high-risk exposure, this means coveralls and gloves to prevent direct contact with harmful substances, and a respirator that can filter out harmful gases and particulates, as well as protect your mucous membranes.
If a home or commercial property has components that contain hazardous substances, limit your exposure by limiting your time and contact. This may mean doing something as simple as going outside for a break and resuming your inspection after youve had an opportunity to clear your lungs and dust off your PPE. If your respiratory tract is sensitive or sore, drinking milk or having a snack of yogurt or other dairy product can coat your throat and protect it short-term from chemical irritants.
This is the the water supply for a small commercial condominium bay. It is a 3/4 main with a shut-off valve. The white tag is the main shut-off identification tag which was supplied by the installing plumber. After the shut-off valve is the water meter which is owned and read by the city.
New safety guidelines for commercial roof inspectors
As of Nov. 2017 OSHA requires all roof inspectors to tie off for safety reasons. This mean building owners are required to install ridge anchors so that inspectors and roofing contractors have a secure location to attach their fall arrest equipment.
this pic of a fire hydrant and a swing gate has a couple issues I called it out on. First the gates were installed in a location that when they swung open, would bang up against the hydrant. Secondly, the gate was installed only 32" away from hydrant, when 36" clear space is required.
in the picture of the double swinging fire doors, i am looking to see if the plaques/signage on the doors are attached with adhesive only. looking for any signs of unusual wear or damage. I’m checking all the mechanisms ( push bars, hinges, auto closures) for proper function. Also checking the clearances around the doors.
ADA accessibility access is important, since everyone has the right to access many buildings safely. The slope and width of a ramp is intended to make it possible to push a wheelchair up the slope. Some ramps do not need to be obvious.
A Caution on Using XRF Alone for the Identification of Problem Drywall
Interesting article, in that it confirms that we are still not sure why the Chinese drywall is a problem or what is actually causing the corrosion. XRF identifies a marker element only.
The picture shows water pooling on TPO type roof. This pooling could potentially lead to cracks, leaks and faster deterioration of the material. With this pooling, debris will build up and potentially clog any drains located on the roof. TPO is already prone to tears due to traffic and the more you are on the roof doing maintenance the more you are putting the roof at risk to failure.
Many commercial roofs have TPO or EPDM installations. It is important to inspect the seams for any tears as once the tears begin in this material they will easily get bigger and potentially cause leaks in the roof. This also includes any flashing on the roof.
For my writing assignment I’ve chosen to talk about the deck support post in the attached picture. The deck was totally encapsulated with skirt, making access nearly impossible. I made an extra effort to squeeze through an opening by the stairs and found multiple defects including this support post haphazardly installed.
For my research and writing assignment I’ve chosen to write about the article, “Commercial and Home Inspector Safety: Carcinogens on the Job” by Nick Gromicko and Kate Tarasenko. During an inspection there are times when protecting yourself with the right PPE can seem too time consuming or unnecessary. The truth is, commercial and residential properties can contain hazardous substances that can lead to mild irritation all the way to hospitalization due to exposure.
This inspection was of a masonry fireplace damper. The damper was rusted and corroded due to a lack of spark arrester rain cap. Also noted due to gas piping assembly a damper spacer was missing. The damper was stuck in the closed position as well. Further evaluation and repairs are recommended by a licensed chimney sweep.
This inspection was of a masonry fireplace damper. The damper was rusted and corroded due to a lack of spark arrester rain cap. Also noted due to gas piping assembly a damper spacer was missing. The damper was stuck in the closed position as well. Further evaluation and repairs are recommended by a licensed chimney sweep.
This water heating device would be considered defective for two reasons. one being that the temperature& pressure pop off line is directed into overflow pan and not to the exterior of building within 6 in of ground and also the overflow pan has no drain line attached
bonding is a very important part of the electrical system to provide a path of electrical current back to the grounding electrode to provide a more safe environment… bonding wire needs to be no less than a #8 AWG wire.The bonding wire should be made of copper,copper alloy,or stainless steel
I seen this on a rental property and saw that wires are exposed and was creating a hazard and asked if this could be fixed so no one would get hurt. They fixed it as I was inspecting other areas of the property
One of the biggest issues I seen is propane tanks and their location. I have seen not properly taken care of hoses are out dated or has a leak in them I brought it to manager attention and they made sure it was taken care of before use again.