Residential Building Inspector B1General Administration, Legal, and EnforcementMedium
A residential building inspector discovers that a newly installed water heater lacks the required temperature and pressure relief valve discharge pipe. The homeowner states they plan to install it themselves after the final inspection. What is the inspector's primary responsibility in this situation, according to the IRC?
- AIssue a Certificate of Occupancy with a condition to install the pipe within 30 days.
- BFail the inspection and refuse to approve the water heater installation until the pipe is correctly installed.
- CAdvise the homeowner on the proper installation but allow the final inspection to pass.
- DApprove the installation, noting the homeowner's intent to complete the work.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Fail the inspection and refuse to approve the water heater installation until the pipe is correctly installed.
The inspector's primary responsibility is to ensure compliance with the code before approving work or issuing a Certificate of Occupancy. A missing TPR valve discharge pipe is a safety hazard, and the installation cannot be approved until it is correctly installed.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A Certificate of Occupancy cannot be issued for incomplete or non-compliant safety critical installations.
- C. Advising is helpful, but passing non-compliant work is unacceptable for an inspector.
- D. Approving non-compliant work is a dereliction of duty and creates a safety hazard.
Inspector's Responsibility
The duty of the building official or inspector to enforce the provisions of the adopted building code, ensuring compliance and safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare.
- Cannot approve work that does not comply.
- Prioritizes life safety and structural integrity.
- Decisions are based on code requirements, not homeowner intent.
Memory trick: An inspector's duty is to ensure code compliance, no exceptions for safety items.