Special Inspections

[Kuhuh]

The IBC requires ,which the CBC is mostly identical too, that the owner employ the special inspection per section 1704, or engineer of record can perform the special inspection if qualified to do so. We bid multiple projects for municipalities whom normally are exempt from having plans approved by building departments. My questions are:
1) since they are normally exempt from building department approvals, are they exempt from this code?
2) If not exempt, they sometimes have the contractor hire the inspection agency. Does this violate the code? or since they are paying us to perform the project they are technically employing the inspection agency? The code really only spells out the contractor's responsibility to ensuring they write a letter of acknowledgement of the requirement of special inspection.

or am i just reading the codes wrong. I am referencing project in California. Thanks for your responses in advance.

 

[JedClampett]

Answers to your questions:
1) In my mind, they still have to follow the code. So they still need Special Inspection. Building Department Approval is not a prerequisite.
2) This is a hazy area. I used to say, hell no, Special Inspection has to be independent of the contractor. But it's not explicitly forbidden. It says the "Owner or his agent..." is responsible for Special Inspection. So you could define the agent as the contractor. I don't agree, but if you examine the wording, it's a possibility.

 

[Ron]

Agree with JC. Special Inspection should be independent of the construction process...completely!

Stepping onto soapbox.......

Stop Bidding! That's for contractors.

........Stepping off soapbox