‘Code or not code is irrelevant to me as a HI’.
That is one of the more profound statement I have heard. Why are you inspecting if code is irrelevant to you. Everything you inspect is based on the code. Every time you write up an improperly installed water heater relief line, you have inspected to the code, you just haven’t stated code in your report. Same thing when you report on GFCI’s. ungrounded outlets, double taps, non marked legends, missing pads under condenser units, damaged attic trusses. The list goes on. Yes, we report on performance deficiencies, but if you don’t know code you should not be inspecting. When someone asks you why you wrote up that relief line that runs upward, what do you tell them. I have been challenged many times to prove why I said something was wrong. Without a citation form the building code I would not be able to do that.