CONSTRUCTION

INSPECTIONS

Inspections of the work are provided by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office to confirm compliance with the code. Inspections should be requested by the Project Contact or the contractor, utilizing the “Request for On Site Inspection” form. All requests should be forwarded to the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office administrator at buildinginspector@uconn.edu and the lead inspector to ensure the request is processed and scheduled. Please provide 24-48 hours notice so we can place the request into our schedule. An inspector will confirm the requested date and time.

Request for Inspection Form (PDF)

The Building Permit will provide a general, but not all inclusive, description of the work which SBC 109 requires to be inspected. The Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office lead inspector should be consulted throughout construction to ensure all parties are aware of the required inspections.

SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED INSPECTIONS

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.

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, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

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 Section 1612.5 shall be submitted to the building official.

Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fireblocking 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.

Lath and gypsum board inspection. Lath and gypsum board inspections shall be made after lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, is 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.

Fire-resistant penetrations. Protection of joints and penetrations in fire-resistance-rated assemblies shall not be concealed from view until inspected and approved.

Energy efficiency inspections. Inspections shall be made to determine compliance with Chapter 13 and shall include, but not be limited to, inspections for: envelope insulation R and U values, fenestration U value, duct system R value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency.

Inspection of Electrical and Mechanical systems. Inspections of plumbing heating and cooling, automatic fire suppression, and electrical systems shall be made prior to their concealment, including testing and certifications as may be required by the system’s respective codes or standards.

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 code and other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety.

Special inspections. As required by the Report of Special Inspections required through Section 1704.

Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed.

FIELD INSPECTION REPORTS

Inspections provided by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office will be documented through the Field Inspection Report. The Project Contact will receive Field Inspection Reports which will indicate observed conditions found to be compliant and those conditions found to be noncompliant with the code. These issues are typically those which are not yet completed and/or are readily corrected. The Project Contact is responsible for the necessary action to resolve any conditions found to be noncompliant and for requesting the re-inspection.

NOTICE OF DISCREPANCY

A Notice of Discrepancy will be issued by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office for noncompliant conditions which are not readily corrected as part of the contracted work, are beyond the scope of the construction documents, or work which has been completed not in accordance with the construction documents or in compliance with code. The Notice of Discrepancy will be issued to the Project Contact and copies may be forwarded to other parties by the Project Contact as deemed appropriate. The Notice of Discrepancy is to be responded to in writing, describing the proposed corrective work and the proposed schedule for providing the corrective work.

SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

A Report of Special Inspections required by SBC 1704.1 shall be submitted to the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office at the time of applying for the Building Permit for the work. In accordance with SBC 109.4, the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office may accept the reports of approved inspection agencies. A final report documenting required special inspections, and correction of any discrepancies noted in the inspections, shall be submitted at a point in time agreed upon by the permit applicant and the building official prior to the start of work.

SHOP DRAWINGS AND MANUFACTURERS’ DATA SUBMITTALS

The Building Permit will indicate a specific list of the required submittals necessary for review for code compliance. These submittals should be reviewed and approved by the design team prior to their submission to, and for review for code compliance by, the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office. The review will result in one set being returned and stamped “Reviewed for Code Compliance” as appropriate, and if warranted, its review be documented through a Construction Document Review Report.

The Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office issuance of the Building Permit for a project is based on the acceptance of the submitted construction documents as providing the necessary information to show conformance with the requirements of the State Building Code. Further submission of shop drawings or manufacturers’ literature is not required to demonstrate code compliance unless specifically requested by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office.

If a change to the construction documents is represented or authorized by the UConn Project Contact through the submission of shop drawings or manufacturer’s literature, the Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office must be specifically advised of that change prior to its execution. The change will be reviewed for code compliance with a response provided.

Submitted shop drawings or manufacturers’ literature which are not requested or which do not represent a change in the work will be retained for record only and no response will be offered.

PROJECT MEETINGS

The Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office will attend project meetings on an as needed basis though, not necessarily all meetings. Project Contacts are encouraged to let the office know when its attendance at a particular meeting would be beneficial to the project. The Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office attendance and participation at project meetings will be limited to discussions of code.