Under Construction Phase Inspections
Contents
References
- Document for Alaska - [1]
- Inspection Descriptions Florida - [2]
- Guidelines Georgia - [3]
- South Carolina - [4]
Specifics
Site Plan
- this is the first inspection
Grading Inspection
- This is inspected in Georgia.
Foundation
- Slab inspection happens before pouring
- Plumbing under-slab may be inspected prior to covering
Complete Rough
- Rough-in inspections include plumbing, electrical, and framing:
- Includes house wrap inspection?
- DO NOT INSULATE EXCEPT CONCEALED WALLS, SUCH AS BEHIND SHOWERS AND CANTILEVERED FLOORS
- Is it ok to insulate behind the stairway?
- Includes caulking inspection. Caulking may mean firestop for electrical, plumbing, and other penetrations
- Does it include interior doors? No, interior doors appear to be after the rough-in phase [7]
- Fire blocking shall be in place. Use ASTM E136 caulk and other approved material to seal [8]
Electrical
- includes wiring and breakers
- Includes ground conductor
- Includes all enclosures - breaker boxes, outlet boxes
- Switches, receptacles and fixtures should not be installed at the rough-in.
- If possible, permanent power inspection may be scheduled at rough-in. [9]
- The panel box needs to have the grounds and neutrals made up. No breakers are required. Service entrance must be run.
- Unless the meter base and the service panel are located back-to-back or next to adjacent stud cavity, a four wire system with an exterior service disconnect is required. The sub-panel must isolate neutrals from the grounds. (NEC 230.70a and 230.91a). I pull up service disconnect at [10]
- Note distinction between service disconnect and meter disconnect. Service disconnect is main breaker on breaker box. Meter disconnect is before the meter. The meter is before the house breaker panel.
- A four wire service is required for stoves and dryers. - what if we have a small dryer?
- Receptacle spacing on walls shall be: not more than 12 feet apart; within 6 feet of a door. Any wall greater than 2 feet in length needs a receptacle. (E3801.2.1)
- A minimum two 20-amp circuits are required in the kitchen, one in the laundry and one for the bathrooms. All must be wired with 12-gauge wire size. (E3603)
- Countertops can serve a 'toaster with 2' cord'
- Smoke detector wiring must be installed. One is required inside each sleeping room, immediately outside the sleeping room and each floor level of habitable spaces.
- You can run water and electric close to each other - 12" or more is recommended, though lower than this is also ok. If they touch, use tape to separate them. ref
- All bathroom receptacles are GFCI [11], and keep them 6' from bathtub. [12]
Plumbing and Mechanical
- One piece shower tubs are installed as they are too big to do later and they often 'change size' and thus must be installed with the framing to match [13]
- Prior to any enclosure, plumbing is inspected
- Includes water, drain, waste, and vents
- Sinks/showers etc not installed yet.
- Water supply system shall be tested and proven to be water tight under a water pressure test not less than the working pressure system (40 lbs) or by an air test not less than 50 psi. (100 for pex). (P2503.6).
Mechanical
- Condensate and HVAC line sets should be installed and fire-stopped. (M1411, M1412).
- M1411.6 Insulation of Refrigerant Piping - Piping and fittings for refrigerant vapor (suction) lines shall be insulated with insulation having a thermal resistivity of not less than R-4 and having external surface permeance not exceeding 0.05 perm [2.87 ng/(s • m2 • Pa)] when tested in accordance with ASTM E 96.
- Clothes dryer exhaust shall be roughed-in. Maximum length shall not exceed 25 feet. (G2439.5.1)
- Includes HVAC vents; range, dryer and bathroom vents; water heater and venting; others. If water heater is not fuel-fired,
- Bathroom exhaust fans must be installed in every bathroom and water closet and duct run to outside air.
Framing
- Includes both interior and exterior walls, load bearing or not. Inspection is done after all rough-in plumbing and electrical, and ducting is in place.
- Stair headroom must be 6'8" [14]
Insulation
- This follows rough-in - and is prior to walls being covered
Final Inspection
Schedule this when the building is ready for occupancy. May include:
- Building Final - such as wall covering
- Landscape Final - erosion so grass is growing etc?
- Electrical Final -
- Plumbing Final
- Mechanical Final
- Gas Final
Other
- P2503.4 Building Sewer Testing - The building sewer shall be tested by insertion of a test plug at the point of connection with the public sewer, filling the building sewer with water and pressurizing the sewer to not less than a 10-foot (3048 mm) head of water. The test pressure shall not decrease during a period of not less than 15 minutes.
