Residential Building Inspector B1General Administration, Legal, and EnforcementMedium
An inspector discovers that the required rough-in electrical inspection was never performed on a recently completed residential basement renovation. The homeowner is now requesting a final inspection. What is the most appropriate action for the inspector to take?
- AInform the homeowner that the walls must be opened to allow for the required rough-in inspection.
- BIssue a Certificate of Occupancy with a condition that the rough-in inspection must be completed later.
- CProceed with the final inspection, making a note of the missed rough-in inspection.
- DWaive the rough-in inspection requirement since the work is already covered and complete.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Inform the homeowner that the walls must be opened to allow for the required rough-in inspection.
Critical inspections, such as rough-in electrical, must be performed before concealed work is covered. If missed, the only way to verify compliance with the code is to expose the work for inspection. The inspector cannot waive this requirement or issue a final approval without it.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. A Certificate of Occupancy cannot be issued with outstanding critical inspections that require concealed work to be exposed.
- C. Proceeding with a final inspection without critical preceding inspections is a code violation and safety risk.
- D. Waiving a critical inspection requirement compromises safety and is not permitted by code.
Concealed Work Inspection
Inspections required before any work is concealed, such as rough-in plumbing, electrical, framing, and mechanical. These inspections ensure compliance with safety and structural codes for elements that will not be visible later.
- Must occur before covering.
- Ensures safety of hidden systems.
- Essential for final approval.
Memory trick: Inspections in order keep the house in good border.