§ 10-11. Inspections and testing.

(a)

General. Construction or work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by the building official and such construction work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. Approval following an inspection is not an approval of a violation of the provisions of this chapter or of other ordinances of the city. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this chapter or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction are not valid. It is the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the city are liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

(b)

Preliminary inspection. Before issuing a permit, the building official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined building, structures and sites for which an application has been filed.

(c)

Required inspections and tests. The building official, upon notification, shall make the inspections and tests set forth in paragraphs (1) through (13).

(1)

Footing and foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to the inspection. Materials for the foundation shall be on the job, except where concrete is ready mix in accordance with ASTM C 94, the concrete need not be on the job.

(2)

Underground. Underground inspections shall be made after trenches or ditches are excavated and bedded, raceways and cable or conductors installed, and before backfill is put in place. Where excavated soil contains rocks, broken concrete, frozen chunk and other rubble that would damage or break the raceway, cable or conductors, or where corrosive action will occur, protection shall be provided in the form of granular or selected material, approved running boards, sleeves or other approved means.

(3)

Concrete slab and under-floor inspections. Concrete slab and under-floor inspections shall be made after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

(4)

Lowest floor elevation. In flood hazard areas, upon placement of the lowest floor, including the basement, and prior to further vertical construction, the elevations certification required in Section 1612 of the IBC, as amended, shall be submitted to the building official.

(5)

Plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical systems inspections and tests. Concealment or rough-in inspections of plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical systems shall be made prior to covering or concealment, before fixtures or appliances are set or installed, and prior to framing inspection.

Exception: For one- and two-family dwellings, back-filling of ground-source heat pump loop systems tested in accordance with Section M2105.1 of the 2018 IRC, as amended, prior to inspection shall be permitted.

(6)

Duct test for one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes. All ducts for one- and two-family dwellings as well as townhomes, in unconditioned spaces, shall be duct tested prior to covering or concealment to disclose leaks and defects. Tests shall be made by an independent certified RESNET energy rater or an alternative approved by the building official using objective, verifiable testing criteria and results provided to the building official. Apparatus, material and labor required for testing a mechanical system shall be furnished by the independent certified RESNET energy rater or building official approved alternate. Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made to achieve compliance with this chapter. The work or installation shall then be re-submitted to the building official for inspection and testing. See also section 403.3.3 of the 2018 IECC, as amended.

(7)

Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, heating wires, pipes and ducts are approved.

(8)

Lath and gypsum board inspection. Lath and gypsum board inspections shall be made after the lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, is in place, but before any plastering is applied or any gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

Exception: Gypsum board that is not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly or a shear assembly.

(9)

Waterproofing. Where balconies or other elevated walking surfaces are exposed to water from direct or blowing rain, snow or irrigation, and the structural framing is protected by an impervious moisture barrier, all elements of the impervious moisture barrier system shall not be concealed until inspected and approved.

Exception: Where special inspections are provided in accordance with Section 1705.1.1, Item 3.

(10)

Fire- and smoke-resistant penetrations. Protection of joints and penetrations in fire-resistance-rated assemblies, smoke barriers and smoke partitions shall not be concealed from view until inspected and approved.

(11)

Energy efficiency inspections. Inspections shall be made to determine compliance with chapter 4(RE) of the 2018 IECC for detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhomes) as well as Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade plane, and chapter 4(CE) of the 2018 IECC for all other occupancies, as amended, and shall include, but not be limited to, inspections for: envelope insulation R- and U-values, fenestration U-value, duct system R-value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency. For detached one and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhomes) as well as Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade plane, an independent certified RESNET energy rater or an alternative approved by the building official using objective, verifiable testing criteria, shall test and inspect the air barrier as per section R402.4 Air leakage, of the 2018 IECC. The results must be submitted on a form approved by the building official. The form shall show that construction is in compliance with the 2018 IECC.

(12)

Other inspections. In addition to the inspections specified above, the building official is authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this chapter and other laws that are enforced by the department of development services.

a.

Prefabricated construction assembly with electrical work.

1.

Evaluation report. Prior to the approval of a prefabricated construction assembly having concealed electrical work and the issuance of an electrical permit, the building official requires the submittal of an evaluation report on each prefabricated construction assembly, indicating the complete details of the electrical system, including a description of the system and its components, the basis upon which the system is being evaluated, test results and similar information, and other data as necessary for the building official to determine conformance to this chapter.

2.

Evaluation service. The building official shall designate the evaluation service of an approved agency as the evaluation agency and review such agency's evaluation report for adequacy and conformance to this chapter.

3.

Follow-up inspection. Except where ready access is provided to the electrical systems, service equipment and accessories for complete inspection at the site without disassembly or dismantling, the building official is authorized to conduct the in-plant inspections as frequently as necessary to ensure conformance to the approved evaluation report or shall designate an independent, approved inspection agency to conduct such inspections. The inspection agency shall furnish the building official with the follow-up inspection manual and a report of inspections upon request, and the electrical system shall have an identifying label permanently affixed to the system indicating that factory inspections have been performed.

4.

Test and inspection records. Required test and inspection records shall be available to the building official at all times during the fabrication of the electrical system and the erection of the building, or such records as the building official designates shall be filed.

(13)

Special inspections. For special inspections, see Section 1704 of the IBC, as amended.

(14)

Final inspection. The final inspections shall be made after work required by building-related permits is completed. Failure to request a final inspection within thirty (30) days after the completion of a permit's work is a violation of this chapter.

(d)

Inspection agencies. The building official is authorized to accept reports of approved inspection agencies, provided such agencies satisfy the requirements as to qualifications and reliability.

(e)

Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building-related permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this chapter.

(f)

Approval required. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official. The building official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed, or notify the permit holder or his or her agent wherein the same fails to comply with this chapter. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the building official.

(g)

Reinspection and retesting. Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the necessary corrections shall be made so as to achieve compliance with this chapter. The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the building official for inspection and testing. To receive a reinspection or retest, the applicant shall make a request to the building official and pay the reinspection fee in accordance with the fee schedule prior to the inspection or test.

(Ord. No. 2018-06-21-0493 , § 1, 6-21-18)