23.05.130 Inspections.
A. General. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this chapter, the technical codes, or of other ordinances of the city. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this chapter, the technical codes, or of other ordinances of the city shall not be valid. It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the city shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection. When the installation of an electrical system is complete, an additional and final inspection shall be made. Electrical systems and equipment regulated by the National Electrical Code shall not be connected to the energy source until authorized by the building official.
B. Preliminary Inspections. Before issuing a permit, the building official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed.
C. Required Inspections. The building official, upon notification, is authorized to make the following inspections:
1. Footing and Foundation Inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to inspection. Materials for the foundation shall be on the job, except where concrete is ready-mixed in accordance with ASTM C 94, the concrete need not be on the job.
2. Electrical Underground. Underground inspection shall be made after trenches or ditches are excavated and bedded, piping and conductors are installed, and before backfill is installed. Where excavated soil contains rocks, broken concrete, frozen chunks and other rubble that would damage or break the raceway, cable or conductors, or where corrosive action will occur, protection shall be provided in the form of granular or selected material, approved running boards, sleeves or other means.
3. Concrete Slab and Under-Floor Inspection. Concrete slab and under-floor inspections shall be made after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, slab insulation, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.
4. Lowest Floor Elevation. In flood hazard areas, upon placement of the lowest floor, including the basement, and prior to further vertical construction, the elevation certification required in IBC Section 1612.5 or IRC Section R322 shall be submitted to the building official.
5. Exterior Wall Sheathing Inspection. Exterior wall sheathing shall be inspected after all wall framing is complete, strapping and nailing is properly installed but prior to being covered.
6. Roof Sheathing Inspection. Roof sheathing shall be inspected after all roof framing is complete. No roof coverings shall be installed until inspections are made and approved.
7. IMC/UPC/GAS/NEC Rough-In Inspection. Rough-in mechanical, gas piping, plumbing and electrical shall be inspected when the rough-in work is complete and, if required, under test. No connections to primary utilities shall be made until the rough-in work is inspected and approved. Electrical rough-in inspection shall be made after the roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and all wiring and other components to be concealed are complete, and prior to the installation of wall or ceiling membranes. All required equipment grounding conductors installed in concealed cable or flexible conduit systems must be completely installed and made up at the time of the rough-in cover inspection.
Exception: Ground-source heat pump loop systems tested in accordance with IMC 1208.1.1 shall be permitted to be backfilled prior to inspection.
8. Frame Inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, heating wires, pipes and ducts are approved.
9. Lath Inspection and Gypsum Board Inspection. Lath and gypsum board inspections shall be made after lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, are in place, but before any plastering is applied or gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.
Exception: Gypsum board that is not part of a fire-resistance rated assembly or a shear assembly.
10. Fire-Resistant Penetration Inspections. Protection of joints and penetrations in fire-resistance-rated assemblies shall not be concealed from view until inspected and approved.
11. Energy Efficiency Inspection.
a. Envelope.
i. Wall Insulation Inspection. To be made after all wall insulation and air vapor retarder sheet or film materials are in place, but before any wall covering is placed.
ii. Glazing Inspection. To be made after glazing materials are installed in the building.
iii. Exterior Roofing Insulation. To be made after the installation of the roof insulation, but before concealment.
iv. Slab/Floor Insulation. To be made after the installation of the slab/floor insulation, but before concealment.
b. Mechanical.
i. Mechanical Equipment Efficiency and Economizer. To be made after all equipment and controls required by this chapter and the technical codes are installed and prior to the concealment of such equipment or controls.
ii. Mechanical Pipe and Duct Insulation. To be made after all pipe and duct insulation is in place, but before concealment.
c. Lighting and Motors.
i. Lighting Equipment and Controls. To be made after the installation of all lighting equipment and controls required by this chapter and the technical codes, but before concealment of the lighting equipment.
ii. Motor Inspections. To be made after installation of all equipment covered by the energy code, but before concealment.
12. Electrical. The building official may require special inspection of equipment or wiring methods under the following conditions:
a. Where the installation requires special training, equipment, expertise, or knowledge;
b. Where there is insufficient evidence of compliance with the provisions of this code;
c. Where the material or method does not conform to the requirements of this code; or
d. To substantiate claims for alternative materials or methods.
Where such special inspection is required, it shall be performed by an accredited electrical products testing laboratory approved by the state of Washington under WAC 296-46B-999 and acceptable to the building official. The special inspection person/agency shall be designated and approved prior to beginning the installation of wiring or equipment. A written report from the designated special inspection agency indicating that the installation conforms to the appropriate codes and standards shall be received by the building official prior to that installation being approved. All costs for such testing and reporting shall be the responsibility of the permit holder.
13. Final Inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the permit is completed.
D. Reinspection. The building official may require a structure or portions of work to be re-inspected. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete, when corrections called for are not made, when the approved plans and permit are not on site, or when the building is not accessible.
E. Other Inspections. In addition to the inspections specified above, the building official is authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the technical codes and other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety.
F. Special Inspections. In addition to the inspections specified above, the building official is authorized to make or require special inspections for any type of work related to the technical codes by an approved agency at no cost to the city.
G. Final Inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed. If the property is located in a flood hazard area, documentation of the elevation of the lowest floor as required in International Building Code Section 1612.4 shall be submitted to the building official prior to the final inspection.
H. Inspection Agencies. The building official is authorized to accept reports of approved inspection agencies, provided such agencies satisfy the requirements as to qualifications and reliability.
I. Inspection Requests. It shall be the duty of the permit holder or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this chapter and the technical codes.
J. Approval Required. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the building official. The building official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed, or notify the permit holder or his or her agent wherein the same fails to comply with this chapter and the technical codes. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the building official. (Ord. 6531 § 4, 2020; Ord. 6407 § 4, 2018; Ord. 6291 § 4, 2016; Ord. 6113 § 5, 2013; Ord. 5937 § 6, 2010; Ord. 5528 § 2, 2004.)