It is crucial to ensure that quality development projects are carried out to guarantee that customers will be pleased with the final product.
The staff, the subcontractors, the materials, and the procedures should all be included in quality control, although this should not be considered an exhaustive list. For instance, not having proper inspection protocols in place could result in significant quality problems for a project.
In developing commercial property, this is the point at which specific procedures, such as Special Inspections, come into play. Special Inspections are “the inspection of construction requiring the expertise of an approved special inspector to ensure compliance with the code and the approved construction documents.”
These inspections are not the same as the standard inspections required to obtain a construction permit, and almost all engineering buildings are mandated to have Special Inspections.
An Overview of the Past
Special Inspection requirements have been around since 1988 when they were initially enacted by the National Building Code (BOCA). At first, these norms focused on ensuring the security of building materials. Over time, however, that shifted, and by 1996 BOCA was mandating Special Inspections of non-structural building components.
Details Regarding What They Involve
Special Inspections include testing and inspection of all materials, installation, fabrication, location, and connections to guarantee conformity with building codes and approved construction documents.
Items up for inspection include fabricators for pre-engineered structural components, a fabrication process for prefabricated wood products, and a variety of materials, including but not limited to the following:
- Concrete;
- Masonry;
- Structural steel;
- High-load wood diaphragms;
- Soils;
- Deep foundation systems;
- Sprayed fire-resistant materials;
- Mastic and intumescent fire-resistant coatings;
- Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS);
- Smoke-control systems;
- And any exceptional cases as determined by the building official.
Testing the floor’s flatness is an example of a Special Inspection. After the concrete slab has been poured, an inspector will take several measures to ensure it is level. Tenants with shelves that need to be level require these checks to ensure the floor will polish out properly.
Rebar inspections are another typical instance. Before the slab can be poured into a building, the foundation’s rebar must be scrutinized. The inspector will double-check that they use the correct rebar size. Also, ensure that they installed the correct number of bars and that everything is securely fastened.
Methods Typically Employed in Special Inspections
Regarding special inspections, standard practice dictates that contractors and developers choose from several typical ways. They are as follows:
- Without a coordinator overseeing the program within a specific design discipline, different building materials and processes may be assigned to special inspectors or testing organizations. The property owner hires each inspector or agency separately and is responsible for their distinct parts of the program.
- They assign a single overall special inspector/coordinator to supervise the whole unique inspection program for the project, comprising all design disciplines.
- Designate one special inspector coordinator per design area to oversee all inspection and testing activities for that area.
Utilizing Special Inspections like these and planning them out in advance can considerably enhance efficiency, reduce the amount of rework required, and ensure that quality construction is completed. The discovery of non-conforming objects and the prompt bringing of those items to the notice of the contractor and developer are essential steps in preventing more significant issues later in the development process.
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