Would you report this

Specific Inspection Topics Structural Inspections
21

I think many of the comments in this thread are right on the money. Inspectors are not code experts, even though most seem to try to be up-to-date on code requirements, and yes, it is true that a building can meet code and still be an inferior or even an unsafe building.

In my practice, not only was everything designed “to code”, but also to conform to what I know as “good practice”, and therefore exceeded code minimums when necessary. It is true that whenever someone imposes a minimum, it becomes a maximum for many builders and even some architects. Good practice should always govern, augmented but not dominated by code. How many times have you as inspectors and we as architects heard from builders, when questioned about a construction issue, “Hey, it passed a code inspection.” The correct response to that is often “Yes, but IS IT RIGHT?”

22

All good points!

When I see something that I know to be a local code violation (such as a dishwasher drained to the disposer) and the builder or sales agent says that it “passed code”, I ask them:

  1. Are you a code inspector? I am not. I am state licensed, not a mere municipal employee, and as such I have to comply with state law, not just mere local ordinances.
  2. Please show me your documentation that this a) was code inspected and b) passed that inspection and c) the name of the inspector.
  3. Did the code inspector, specifically, look at this particular item and approve it?

Shuts them up, every time.

And to Jim’s point (not to disagree, just to provide my experience), I have had builders and builder’s agents, many times, that if I “killed the deal” they would sue me, etc. But, it has never happened.

To my point, if they did sue me, then I would have the need to supena their work documents (code inspection sign offs) and to depose the particular code inspectors they had. Neither the builder or the city (at least in this area) wants that.

Just because the AHJ is the AHJ does not make them the be all and end all of authority, nor can they force my client to buy the house, nor can they force me to change my report to my client.

Hope this helps;