UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIAL AND PROGRESS INSPECTION PROCESS IN NYC
What are special and progress inspections?
Special and Progress inspections are observations and/or testing of materials, installation, fabrication, erection or placement of components and connections requiring special certified expertise to evaluate whether the work meets approved construction documents, NYC Building Code Requirements and Referenced Standards for specific disciplines.
Special and progress inspections have been an intricate element in all forms of construction projects, from the preliminary phase through completion. In 2008, the NYC Department of Buildings underwent a complete overhaul of its Construction Building Code in order to maintain current standards and practices with current construction and building trends. Prior to this time, Special and Progress inspections were commonly known as “Controlled Inspections” under the 1968 NYC Building Code Chapter 17.
Under the new regulations being implemented by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), Special and Progress Inspections must be conducted by an Accredited Special Inspection Agency (SIA) whom is also registered with the NYC DOB, to verify that construction complies with the approved plans and specifications and building code requirements.
Special Inspection Agencies must be hired directly by the building owner or an owner’s representative other than the General Contractor/ Sub Contractor.
Special and progress inspections involve a third party reviewing the construction work. Therefore, a special inspector cannot be a general contractor (GC), a contractor, or a sub-contractor, as this can present a conflict of interest. The SIA is hired for the benefit of ensuring the construction work is built as designed and approved.
Special and progress inspections enter the projects’ life cycle when the Design Applicant of Record has identified which Special and/or progress inspections are required. Once these inspections and/or testing requirements are identified an SIA must be chosen. Upon hiring an SIA, a Technical Report- Statement of Responsibility (TR1) form is required to be filed with the NYC DOB. These forms are submitted at the time of permitting and require action from both the design applicant for identification purposes and the SIA confirming responsibility for conducting those identified inspections and/or testing services.
Prior to releasing a TR1 identification form, the SIA needs to review the plans and inspection list in order to prepare a proposal to the client. After reviewing this information, the SIA prepares a proposal for the services, and once accepted by the client, then officially signs on as the responsible party for the relevant inspections. When securing special inspections services, check that the SIA is registered, qualified & certified as required by DOB, to complete the inspections identified.
Now that my project is filed and permits are issued…what is my next step?
Once the project is successfully filed and construction permits have been issued, communication between the GC and SIA becomes very important. Prior to the start of inspection related work, Richmond Testing Lab, Inc. (RTL) strongly recommends that an inspection kick off meeting be held between the client, GC, subcontractors and RTL to review and discuss inspection and testing scheduling and requirements. The GC must give the SIA adequate notice to visit the site to conduct the required inspection and testing services. One common problem that consistently occurs, is when the SIA does not receive adequate notice or any notice at all to perform an inspection or inspections, and then walls are concealed and/or elements are covered before the inspector can perform the required inspection and testing service. Once this occurs, the GC must expose the concealed areas to allow for proper inspection.. Failure to have the SIA perform the identified inspections filed with the DOB will result in the SIA unable to issue completions. As a result, this can cause unnecessary additional costs to the client and delays to the project.
Ok I believe I am ready to sign off on the Special and/or Progress Inspections for my project… What is the final step?
After all the required special and/or progress inspections are performed and conform to the approved construction plans, specifications and Building Code requirements, the sign off process can begin. The SIA releases to the owner or owner’s representative a signed and sealed Technical Report (TR1) certifying and testifying that the listed special and progress inspections are completed. This Technical Report sign off is then filed at DOB along with all other completed construction documents by the projects filing representative. Upon finalization a Certificate of Occupancy can then be applied for and issued by the Department of Buildings.
To review the registration and qualifications of Richmond Testing Lab, Inc. (RTL), please click on the following link http://richmondtestinglab.com/accreditations/
For any additional questions or comments about special & progress inspections, please click the following link http://richmondtestinglab.com/contact/