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SPECIAL INSPECTION BULLETIN Building Inspection, 1010 Tenth Street, Suite 3100, P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA 95353 (209) 577-5232 Revised 1/12/09 Special Inspection – Preconstruction Conference: Since May 1, 1986, preconstruction conferences have been arranged prior to the issuance of a permit for the purpose of clarifying Code requirements, procedures and policies for those projects that require special inspections as required by Section 1704 of the California Building Code. The conference participants may include, but not limited to, the owner, the contractor, the designer, and a representative of the Building Department. The conference will elaborate on such areas as selection and approval of special inspectors, methods of reporting, identification of special inspection, and completion of our form entitled “Required Tests and Inspection Schedule Checklist.” It is the owner’s (or his agent’s) responsibility to submit the names and qualifications of those individuals that will be performing the duties of a special inspector (see page These will be reviewed by our division and either approved or rejected based on their qualifications and the required disciplines of the project. We would also like for the designers to list on the first sheet of their plans those areas that require special inspection. Included in this bulletin is a three page form (pages 3-5) to be completed for projects requiring special inspection. This will also be discussed in the conference described above. This emphasis on special inspection is being promoted by all of the Building Departments that are members of the Yosemite Chapter of ICC. This organization is made up of the Building Departments of Stanislaus, Merced, and San Joaquin Counties. This program is consistent with that administered in the Bay Area. Your cooperation in this effort will eliminate the confusion over the requirements of special inspection and who performs them. Duties of a Special Inspector: Section 1704.1 of the California Building Code states that in addition to the normally required inspections, the owner is to employ a special inspector for certain types of work. The types of work requiring special inspections are listed below (exceptions are not listed): 1. CONCRETE: During the taking of test specimens and placing of all reinforced concrete and pneumatically placed concrete. 2. DUCTILE MOMENT-RESISTING CONCRETE FRAME 3. REINFORCING STEEL AND PRESTRESSING STEEL: a. During all stressing and grouting of prestressed concrete. b. During placing of reinforcing steel, placing of tendons and prestressing steel for all concrete required to have special inspection by Item No. 1. 4. WELDING: a. Ductile moment-resisting steel frames. b. All structural welding, including welding of reinforcing steel. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. HIGH-STRENGTH BOLTING: During all bolt installations and tightening operations. 6. STRUCTURAL MASONRY: During preparation of masonry wall prisms, sampling and placing of all masonry units, placement of reinforcement, inspection of grout space, immediately prior to closing of cleanouts, and during all grouting operations. 7. REINFORCED GYPSUM CONCRETE 8. INSULATING CONCRETE FILL: During the application of insulating concrete fill when used as part of a structural system. 9. SPRAY-APPLIED FIREPROOFING 10. PILING, DRILLED PIERS AND CAISSONS: During driving and testing of piles and construction of cast-in-place drilled piles or caissons. 11. SPECIAL GRADING, EXCAVATION AND FILLING 12. SPECIAL CASES: Work which, in the opinion of the Building Official, involves unusual hazards. STATEMENT OF SPECIAL INSPECTIONS: The registered design professional in responsible charge shall prepare a Statement of Special Inspections in accordance with Sections 1704.1.1 and 1705. SPECIAL INSPECTION RESUMES: The following is a sample of what we expect to receive from the agencies that are proposing to provide special inspection by the Building Code: TO: Modesto Building Inspection FROM: Testing Lab SUBJECT: Special Inspection As per your request, we are attaching the resumes of the technical personnel presently on our local staff. As you can see, these resumes include technicians from our civil department, as well as our nondestructive testing and examination department. We will specify for each project the technician or technicians assigned to perform the duties of a special inspector. We will also identify the type of inspection he is to perform so that you can verify that his experience and training are appropriate for this duty. We will also specify which technicians will be performing the special inspections prior to commencing our duties. Further, we will update our resumes on a yearly basis and also submit new resumes should we reduce, increase, or change our staffing during the year. We will also update the qualifications of our staff should they change. We will leave a handwritten daily record at the job site that reflects our observations and inspections and will follow that up with a formal weekly report sent to your office. Should you need more specific information regarding experience, training, or qualifications of any of our technicians, please call our office. Testing Lab Responsible Engineer ---PAGE BREAK--- STRUCTURAL TESTS AND INSPECTIONS SCHEDULE See Appendix A on Page 5 for a list of possible special inspections. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR 1. The special inspector shall observe the work assigned to be certain it conforms to the design drawings and specifications. 2. The location of these reports for the Building Inspector shall be by prearrangement to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector. Handwritten reports shall be left at the job site each day that the special inspector is present. In addition to these handwritten reports, more formal reports may be prepared and sent to our office weekly. 3. The special inspector shall submit a final signed report stating whether the work requiring special inspection was, to the best of his knowledge, in conformance with the approved plans and specifications and the applicable workmanship provisions of this Code. The undersigned special inspector or agent of the testing laboratory agrees to comply with the above- listed duties and responsibilities of the special inspector as described in the Uniform Building Code. Testing Inspection Agency Address Inspector or Agent’s Signature Date ---PAGE BREAK--- Prior to issuance of a building permit, the owner and contractor, on the advice of the architect or engineer, shall complete, sign and submit this form to the Building Official. Project Name Permit Number Date Project Address Owner’s Name Contractor’s Name hereby certifies that the testing inspection agency named on Page 3 has been engaged to perform structural tests and special inspections during construction, as checked on Page 5, to satisfy all applicable portions of the Building Code. This hereby certifies that the undersigned architect or engineer has advised the owner and contractor of the special inspections and structural test as deemed necessary by him and in accordance with the Uniform Building Code. Architect or Engineer and Number Signature The undersigned owner and contractor will assume the responsibility of scheduling and notifying the testing laboratory of the required tests and inspections. The undersigned also state that they understand the duties and responsibilities of the special inspector as described in the Uniform Building Code. Owner’s Name Contractor’s Name Owner’s Signature Date Contractor’s Signature Date ---PAGE BREAK--- REQUIRED TESTS AND INSPECTION SCHEDULE CHECKLIST APPENDIX A (PLEASE REQUEST “BUILDERS BULLETIN NO. 165” FOR FURTHER REQUIREMENTS ON SPECIAL INSPECTION) REINFORCING STEEL: Cont. Periodic Tensile & Bend, one set per heat per ____tons Inspection of Placement Inspection of Welding Carbon Content or Mill Test Reports MASONRY: Preliminary Acceptance Tests (Masonry Units, Wall Prisms) Subsequent Tests (Mortar, Grout, Field Wall Prisms) Inspection of Grouting Inspection of Placement & Grouting CONCRETE, GUNITE, GROUT & MORTAR: Concrete Gunite Grout Mortar Agg Tests for Designs Suitability of Agg Mix Designs Test Panel Batch Plant Inspection Cement Grab Sample Inspect Placing Compression Tests Cast Specimens Pick-up Samples Shrinkage Bars Yield Check Air Check Dry Unit Weight PRECAST CONCRETE: Reinforcing Tests Inspection of Reinforcing Placement Tendon Tests Inspection of Tendon Placement Inspection of Concrete Placement Inspection of Concrete Batching Inspection of Panel Attach & Inserts Inspection of Panel Installation Compression Tests Inspection of Stressing/Transfer PILING, CAISSONS, CAPS, TIES: Inspection of Reinforcing Placement Inspection of Concrete Placement Inspection of Concrete Batching UNDERPINNING: Inspection of Tiebacks Inspection of Steel Fabrication Inspection of Reinforcing & Forms Inspection of Concrete Placement STRUCTURAL STEEL: Sample & Test (list specific members on attachment) Shop Ident. & Welding Inspection Shop Ultrasonic Inspection Shop Radiography Field Welding Inspection Field Bolting Inspection Field Ultrasonic Inspection Field Radiography Metal Deck Welding Inspection ASPHALTIC CONCRETE: Mix Designs Inspection of Batch Plant Core Test Field Inspection Suitability Tests Specific Gravity Asphalt Content Sieve Analysis K Factors Stabilometer Value Swell INSULATING CONCRETE: Sample & Test Unit Weights FIREPROOFING: Inspection of Placement Density Tests Thickness Tests Inspect Batching FILL MATERIAL: Acceptance Tests Moisture-Density Determination Field Density ROOFING: Inspection of Placement Sample & Test STRUCTURAL WOOD: Inspection of Fabrication Inspection of Truss Joist Fab. Sample & Test Components Inspection of Glu-lam Fab Nailing 1705 REQUIREMENTS Heat/Vent & A/C Equip. Piping Sys. Mech. Units Anchorage or Elect Equip. Ext. Wall Panels Suspended Ceiling Sys. Access Floors Steel Storage Racks ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS