Gas line sediment trap question

Specific Inspection Topics Plumbing Inspections
21

Here you go:

CodeNotes_2015IFGC.pdf

Here is an AI generated response:

csst bonding requirements - Google Search

CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing) gas piping systems require direct bonding to the electrical service grounding electrode system. This bonding is crucial for safety, particularly to prevent potential damage from lightning strikes or the buildup of static electricity.

That’s a good response, although I would take out “installation appears to be a post construction modification” because it could be construed as though you’re guessing.

Personally, I prefer to keep it simple and just stick to the facts - CSST gas piping was observed that was not bonded. Recommend that a qualified contractor make corrections as needed.

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22

Thanks for the information.

I like that response. I’ll keep that in mind and remove any guesses on my part.

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23

Sorry about your health issues David. I hope you have recovered well. Your website doesn’t mention health reasons, just the reason that I mentioned. Maybe I’m reading more into it, but you just seem to have a contemptuous attitude towards the home inspection industry.

I agree. The intent is to protect consumers from shady practices. The majority of disciplinary actions against home inspectors in Indiana are because they don’t know the rules. Anywhere from not providing their license number on the report to not providing a report at all to compensating realtors for referrals. I am not aware of any disciplinary action against an inspector for exceeding the SOP.

24

Well you should get ready for licensing in Utah. Your legislators passed a bill a few weeks ago that will now allow licensing of home inspectors.

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25

OOP! Time to move!!

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26

“now allow”? Not require?

It should require it. I currently hold a real estate license and a mortgage license, and I previously held a general contractor’s license until I closed my renovation company at the end of 2022. I have no issue with requiring a license—especially in an industry like this where proper regulation is necessary.

Also, that’s not my current website. www.utahinspectionsllc.com

27

It’d be great if you could contribute in at least a somewhat professional manner, just a little effort would be nice. :smile:

Also why would I move? I’ve been pushing for home inspector licensing for years.

28

The bill that was passed will allow for licensing to take place.

House Bill 58 establishes licensure for private home inspectors in Utah.
The bill set forth a definition for a Private Home Inspector and requires that a
Private Home Inspector be licensed by the Division of Professional Licensing. HB
58 also requires that the minimum qualifications licensure to be established in
rule by the Division of Professional Licensing in collaboration with the Uniform
Building Code Commission.

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29

Edit: never mind, it was introduced in 2023. Glad it finally passed .

It would be really nice if they did require it, that would weed out some of the inspectors that probably that shouldn’t be doing it.

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30

It will be required once the DPL and UBCC develops the rules for the law. They are working on it now. Should be good to go by the first of the year, but time will tell. Utah has done this differently from any other state. They first passed a Bill to be able to enact the license law instead of just passing the license law to start with!

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31

Yeah, it’s backwards. And the thing that has bugged me for years is, they are strict on mortgage and realtor licenses but absolutely nothing for home inspectors.

I’ll keep an eye on it and get a jump on the requirements as soon as they release something.

32

At least they don’t have to compete with home inspectors that are also grocery baggers, landscapers, etc. they’re also going to get tested on their knowledge. Much more difficult than the InterNACHI you got 60 seconds to pick one of four answers.

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33

I am in an unlicensed state. I am curious if licensing has reduced harm to homeowners. Is there a way to track this? I bet the insurance companies know the answer :slight_smile:

34

I don’t know. Your doctor is required to have a license. Next time you need to see a doctor just go ask your grocery bagger if she can help.

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35

Most professions have other competency requirements, such as apprenticeships, residency, etc. SC appears to provide an education only path to a license. Sure, it may be better than a grocery bagger, but I haven’t come across an inspector such as this. I think the market resolves these things naturally.

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36

Not correct. An education is required along with an exam. In addition to that will be a business and law exam. Just like a doctor is required to get an education and be tested for their license. There’s no practical hands on exam.

As long as the grocery baggers are competing with you for $200 an inspection, they’ll always have work.

IMG_8270
IMG_8270866×582 107 KB

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37

I would not say it reduces harm but it does set a bar that prospective individuals must meet in order to obtain a license. In most of the 36 licensed states they have a pre-license education requirement, some have a required number of field inspections and 34 of those states require passage of the NHIE as well as mandatory GL insurance and many require E&O coverage. Utah and Iowa passed license law legislation this year and a bill is on the Montana governors desk.

A good license law offers protection to not only the consumer and to the home inspector by laying out the standards that the inspector must follow and the limitations of the inspection. Most of the license laws also have a time limit on liability.

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38

And we all know how that worked out with Driver Licenses!!!

39

Where are you finding this information? There was talk about it, but I cannot find where it went through. I have also talked to other inspectors, and they have not heard anything.

40

Thank you, Scott!
I try to press on that perspective all the time, but it does not seem to catch on. No one likes to be controlled by the government, but from the opposite perspective, State Control protects the HI in many ways. For one, it requires you to protect yourself, from yourself, with insurance. It states what you are not required to do as a HI. The client always thinks you’re supposed to find anything that they found after their purchase. Even the HI doesn’t know what they have to do half of the time, even with the rules in place. They don’t memorize the Rules. They also like to step outside their scope to be better than the other guy, or impress the client.

I started before the licensing requirement in TN. I don’t know if you remember the Home Inspector and his infamous lawyer friend calling out HI’s in Nashville for being worthless on the news, but I got into a tangle with a homeowner who was using his lawyer friend before the law. Prior to this case, I elected to use the SOP set by ASCHI (one of the few SOPs out there) before litigation and TN required licensing. Well, TN SOP was basically adopted exactly from ASCHI (as well as did several other states). I was using the SOP before there was the SOP. That SOP was my defense in this case. They were making up crap that turned out not to be part of the State SOP on home inspection. The home inspection licensing board had a legal department at the time, and they struck down the case I was pulled into. They were my defense!

Some here claim I am against the HI Industry.
I am simply pointing out to those currently in trouble, or about to be, that their actions that go beyond their state SOP is putting the liability solely on them. If they are wrong, or don’t know what they are doing with these ancillary offerings, that they now must carry their liability on their own. When their actions do not get caught, it does not make it OK to do.

If we consider Home Inspection as a legit business, we need to treat it like a real business.

By the way, as the years passed, I worked cases for law firms where this Inspector was involved in some way. He was not the defendant, but his inspection standards were questioned against my findings. I was questioned why my statements were not like his, after all, he was a news celebrity with a lawyer in his pocket! My defense, “Here is a copy of the State Home Inspection Standards”!

We may get away with stuff, but sometimes it can find it’s way back to us.

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