Replies

1. 
   4Lorn1 | Jan 01, 2006 07:45am | #1

   Stress, politics.

   Head inspectors and mayors, often in the pocket of the builders, don't back them up. Despite the rules or the risks involved with not following them compromises are often forced by political pressure. Despite what most BI want poor HOs are sometimes leaned on, despite financial burdens, this while well heeled builders, on projects which will affect hundreds, get breaks and special interpretations.

   The constant abuse from builders who try to push the limits. If the code says a receptacle every 12' it is surprising to see haw many will try to get by with 12'-1/2". Many want some special consideration or breaks for being nice or following code except in this one case.

   Contractors too often want the BI to design the job for them. Tradesman want to be taught the code they should already know. I have been on many jobs where someone told the BI something along the lines of 'how am I supposed to know that'. Tradesmen, even some on this forum, are openly hostile to BIs and any enforcement of even common sense rules. The ones complaining the loudest are often those with the least understanding.

   Everyone want to get the job done as cheaply as possible and no one ever thinks a cut corner will come back to haunt Them, in particular.

   BIs seldom ever bring good news. It is a negative job where few are happy to see them. If they say anything it is usually to correct something wrong or deliver bad news and it usually cost time and/or money. Under pressure from the builder's associations many BI offices are massively under funded. BIs underpaid for the time spent in education, training and stress.

   BIs have a tough job. A job where few, if they do the work as it is meant to be done, will ever be happy with anything they do.

1. 
   experienced | Jan 01, 2006 10:33am | #2

   Well said.

   From what I see BI's going through, it's a job that probably no one that criticizes them could ever hope to do- so do they criticize BI's from resentment?

   -They have to train the weak minded that do not know the rules of their own trade, don't own their own code books or never show up at code training sessions!!

   -they have to cover their asses so that no one can lay a bad design/failure on them. (has happened here where the inspector/building dept took the rap for a bad engineer's drawing.

   Good BI's are worth a lot more than all but a few give them credit for!! About 1+1/2 years ago in a small town here, a BI shut down and cleared a demolition project as he didn't like what he saw. An hour or so later, the building collapsed with major masonry falling onto the sidewalk of the main street.

    

   Edited 1/1/2006 10:58 am ET by experienced

2. 
   Shacko | Jan 01, 2006 06:37pm | #3

   Where I live certain counties dont pay inspectors a trade wage until they have 5 yrs. in. Not too manny people can wait that long.

1. 
   poetwithhammer | Jan 01, 2006 06:51pm | #4

   this is a good, sensitizing discussion. Thanks. I'm going to alert the local building inspector to this discussion.

3. 
   maddog3 | Jan 01, 2006 06:58pm | #5

   the brand new county Elec inspector is making $11/hr. of course he is retired from the trade, so may be the pay just gives him some extra cash.

   How he became the new inspector is still open to speculation, since he did not actually "apply " for the job.....but managed to get hired by the Building Commissioner in spite of that little detail.

4. 
   ponytl | Jan 01, 2006 07:12pm | #6

   around here they seem to be here for life... good pay, great retirement, many are "double dippers" retired fire & police...  they use to be able to retire after 20yrs.. so there were alot of retired 42-45yos  who were use to hang'n out with the guys... plus about half the firemen were already in some other trade... then @65yo they now have 2 retirements...

   then you have the guys who were in the trades that just didn't want to work that hard... or had medical conditions where they couldn't... still alot of skills  just couldn't do the work... these are usually the guys you liked to deal with...not that any around here are bad... in close to 30yrs building I've only had one bad experience and chances are it was my fault...

   It seems here that there really is no "code" if an engineer designs it and stamps it you can build it...  More and more I see BI not willing to tell you anything because so many have been burned...  sad  but guess thats the way of the world... sue not the guy who did the stupid crap but the guy who maybe should have known...

   p

5. 
   nailbanger | Jan 01, 2006 11:00pm | #7

   We're like ponytl around here. The inspectors are good and have been at it for a while. They try to give us all a level playing field. They are also more than willing to come out and walk through those odd situations with you and help you work out the code issues (no they won't design it for us or spend time on what should be normal code issues). You know those jobs, most of us have had them at one time or another. Our last one was a garage addition as part of a residential remodel and there was going to be a rental apartment above the garage all of which shared a common wall, the existing gable wall, with the home. All sorts of issues with change of use between the garage & the living space as well as making it all work within the multi-family code (where do all the fire walls have to be, what abot the penetrations between, change of use between the garage and the rental apartment etc...). Our BI came out and hepled us walk through it all so that we only had to build it once. The designer who happened to be the home owners brother or some such wanted it done one way but something really didn't feel right so we made an appointment with the BI. Well worth it as he helped prevent problems at inspection time and also heped us understand why he wanted it a specific way (big grey area in the code).

   BILL