Your friend, the Electrical Inspector
If you're like many electrical contractors, you
probably think your inspector is an overly officious guy who loves to
nit-pick your every completed installation. If that's what you think,
you may be missing out on a valuable asset - a person who can help your
business.Establishing a good relationship
with the inspection authorities - and keeping it - can mean the
difference between passing and failing in more ways than one. You're
lucky if you have an environment where you can freely interact with the
inspectors and maintain a good rapport with them.
The best way to pass inspections is to talk to
your inspector early and often. Ironing out any potential problems or
opinion differences beforehand saves time and money. Unless you're
absolutely sure every square inch of your project will meet Code and be
acceptable to the Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), you're best
off asking questions before you start — and certainly before you finish.
Besides, it looks more professional to everyone involved if you can
avoid an after-the-fact installation.
The rules and circumstances regarding electrical
inspection vary widely across the country. In some areas, inspectors may
be state, county or city employees. In other areas they may belong to a
private agency with, or without direct ties to state or local
governmental agencies. Some may be full-time electrical inspectors and
others may be part-time or 'multi-hat' inspectors, which means that they
are also responsible for other areas or have other duties besides
performing electrical inspections. Whatever their background or title
is, they are all recognized by the powers that be and are entrusted with
the responsibility of inspecting electrical systems for safety and
compliance.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR INSPECTOR?
Do you know what your inspector thinks, what he
does all day, what makes him tick? You might be surprised to find out
that despite the impression you have (or that he may want you to have)
he most likely a "regular guy."
On Long Island, electrical inspections are
performed by agencies that are authorized by the local municipalities to
do inspections. The largest and best known is the New York Board of Fire
Underwriters. In many areas, a number of smaller agencies are approved
to do inspections. My personal experience dealing with our local
inspectors has been overwhelmingly positive. I firmly believe that
maintaining a good relationship with electrical inspectors is crucial to
success in the electrical trade.
A DAY IN THE INSPECTOR'S LIFE
This "typical day in the life of an inspector"
scenario is based on my personal experience and interviews with local
inspection authorities.
The inspector's day starts early. He walks into
the office and hits the ground running. There are messages on the
answering machine, inspection applications that must be sorted, and
locations plotted on a map. Planning the day to get the most done can be
a real challenge. Avoiding known detours and heavy traffic areas while
trying to keep a schedule is part of the game he plays every day.
As he goes over the applications and tries to
decipher chicken scratch, he wishes that contractors had learned better
penmanship in school - or had learned to type.
He fantasizes briefly about applications being
neatly typed and logically organized, but there's no time to daydream.
The phone rings almost constantly in his office. As the inspector plans
his day, a contractor may walk in and ask for advice or a special
appointment to go over something on-site or accommodate another
contractor's tight schedule.
His planned driving route must now change. After
some more juggling of appointments, it's time to leave and he says a
silent prayer that the day will go just fine.
After stopping at a usual place for coffee, he's
off to stop number one for a rough-in inspection. He knocks and a
smiling homeowner opens the door, anxious to show off what he is sure to
be a first-class installation. As the inspector looks around he tries
not to let his expression reveal what he is really thinking about what
he sees. Most work like this is very familiar to him and violations
stand out quite easily.
As he goes over the installation much of his
thoughts are focused on how he is going to address the customer to make
suggestions or ask for changes. He wants to be supportive and makes a
conscious effort to not seem condescending. Although a bit sloppy, the
installation seems to be safe and he only sees the need to add a few
cautions and make sure that the person is aware of some details needed
to finish the job correctly. As he leaves he makes notes about specific
things to check when he comes back for the final inspection.
His second stop is a commercial location, which is
undergoing renovations such as a new drop ceiling and lighting fixtures.
He makes sure the contractors involved are allowing for the support of
the new lighting fixtures as required by Code. He notices that there are
no ducted returns being put in for the HVAC system being installed. He
advises the electrician there that some existing Romex (NM cable) must
be removed from the area above the ceiling grid.
And so the inspector's day goes. During a typical
day, he may inspect a variety of installations in different types of
occupancies. Much of his day is routine and without many surprises. Most
of the contractors he deals with are experienced in the work they do and
aware of established codes. When codes change, he may have to keep after
some of them for a while before they are doing things the right way
consistently, because sometimes old habits are hard to break. An example
might be the installation of outside receptacles that were once allowed
to be on a kitchen small appliance circuit, but are not anymore.
GETTING ALONG WITH THE INSPECTOR
Most people the electrical inspector deals with
are really trying to do a good and safe job and he enjoys helping them.
He is always happy to share what he knows with those that are interested
- and looks forward to a challenge. One of his favorite things to do is
to find a Code-compliant solution for difficult and "impossible"
situations. Sometimes an electrician will ask him to help design an
installation in a hazardous location that should really have been done
by an engineering team or special consultants and not simply left to the
electrician. But that's why he's there to help.
Your inspector may have some pet peeves, like
"picking on" labeling of panelboards and other NEC Code requirements
that he is required to enforce and yet many choose to ignore. Another
cause of concern and a bit of a mystery to him is why homeowners and
even some electricians will attempt unfamiliar types of electrical work
with whatever materials and advice are provided by a local home center
or supply house employee. Good examples of bad work include the swimming
pool and hot tub installations that he inspects. He expects
electrical-wiring ignorance in homeowners, but is often surprised about
the about potential dangers that contractors cause. The inspector tries
to make himself available for questions about such things and even has
many drawings and detailed handouts that he has made on his own time and
offers to all that are interested.
As you might expect, he can tell some good
"nightmare" stories about difficult people (and dogs) that he's dealt
with. He prides himself in being intuitive about people and situations
that may be deceiving, and he's prepared for the unexpected - he tell
you (with a smile) as he pulls a dog biscuit from his top pocket. New
installations or modifications done on older premises can sometimes
cause complications. He makes judgment calls on what portion(s) of
existing installations must be modified to meet present requirements
even though the original installation may have been done per code at the
time. A simple example of this might be where the installation of a
ground rod and a new waterpipe clamp (if needed) may be requested when a
residential service panelboard is changed. A ground rod was not required
when the original service was installed but it would be according to
present codes and the clamp might be in poor condition after many years.
THE BANE OF THE CODE ENFORCER
One thing I am reminded of, that many may not
realize, is that in our area and perhaps many others, the electrical
inspector is really enforcing the state or local building code as it
pertains to electrical installations rather than the NEC itself. There
may be additional requirements in these building codes that do not
appear in, or differ from the NEC. Some better-known examples of things
required in building codes and not the NEC might include the
requirements for the installation and placement of smoke detectors and
exhaust fans in certain locations.
We also have restrictions prohibiting the use of
aluminum service entrance cable in many areas. As an example of
something that may not be well known, I am told that our New York State
Building Code has provisions in it that can require the replacement or
removal of existing wiring systems that are exposed during renovations
if they are deemed to be in unsafe condition or are non-compliant by
today's standards and are being modified or additional loads are being
added.
A situation where this rule was enforced (and a
good example of why it is necessary) involved a local house with
aluminum wiring in which handicapped people were living. The building
was undergoing major renovation, all the walls were opened up and the
wiring was exposed. The contractor had intended to close the walls up
again without replacing any wiring until the inspector stopped him and
told him that he must remove it and replace it with copper wiring to
make the renovation comply with the requirements of the State Building
Code.
He enjoys a good debate, and there seems to be a
glint in his eye as he picks up his dog-eared copy of the NEC, and
pauses for effect before reading from it. His facial expression as he
reads with special emphasis on words like 'shall' and 'shall
not', reflect his interest in the NEC and eagerness to share his
knowledge. Debates are mostly academic in nature, often hinging on the
interpretation of a single word. They may go on for quite some time and
the contractor may score some solid points, but we both know that
whatever the outcome is we will abide by his rule if the situation ever
arises. Interpretation and enforcement are part of his job and something
he has to justify. Smart contractors ask questions way in advance and,
therefore, have no qualms about his judgment. We each have a job to do,
and the better we can get along the easier it is for both of us.
Bill Addiss
Electrical Contractor Network
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