Special Inspections Fact Sheet
What Are Special Inspections?
Special Inspections are “inspection of selected materials, equipment, installation, methods of construction, fabrication, erection or placement of components and connections, to ensure compliance with approved construction documents and referenced standards as required by Chapter 17 of the Building Code or elsewhere in the code or its referenced standards” (BC 1702.1, definition for Special Inspections).
Special Inspections have been part of the New York City Building Code since 2008, superseding what used to be called “Controlled Inspections.” Performed at critical points during most repair and upgrade projects, special Inspections verify that construction work has been conducted according to the project’s approved construction documents.
Why Are Special Inspections Required?
The purpose of Special Inspections is to enhance the safety of construction projects by improving the integrity of inspections and tests, and preventing unqualified technicians from evaluating material installations.
Tighter DOB Requirements
In 2012 the New York City Department of Buildings tightened the requirements for Special Inspections. A comprehensive Special Inspection Program must now be performed by qualified Special Inspectors working for a Special Inspection Agency registered with the Buildings Department.
New To Building Owners And Managers
Formerly, the Project Engineer or Architect performed less rigorous inspections as part of their construction administration role, and the inspections were not presented as a separate requirement to the building owner or manager. Now owners and managers must engage the services of a Special Inspections Agency, which could be the Engineer or Architect if they have the required credentials.
Special Inspection Types
There are four categories of Special Inspections:
- General Building Construction
- Fire Protection Systems & Fire-Resistant Construction
- Plumbing & Mechanical Systems
- Structural Materials & Construction Operations
TR-1: Technical Report Statement Of Responsibility
The Design Applicant for the project (Professional Engineer or Registered Architect) identifies the Special Inspections required for a project. He or she lists those inspections on the TR-1 form (the DOB’s Technical Report Statement of Responsibility). The building owner is responsible for hiring a registered Special Inspection Agency to perform all of the required Special Inspections. The DOB will not issue a work permit until the completed TR-1 is filed and completed.
Which Special Inspections Are Required?
The Special Inspections required for a particular project depend on the types of work performed. An exterior repair program may require Special Inspections of masonry, concrete, and brick veneer. A boiler replacement project could entail Special Inspections of the heating system, fuel storage, and piping.
What Gets Inspected?
Special Inspections cover a range of items, including materials, equipment, installation, fabrication, components and connections, and construction methods. For example, the Special Inspector looks at such things as:
- Is the contractor using the right products?
- Are the products properly installed?
- Are materials stored at the site according to code?
- Are trades people qualified to perform the work?
How Many Special Inspections Are Needed?
Special Inspections on certain items are typically performed multiple times throughout the course of a project. The number of inspections required depends on the contractor’s sequence of work and the quality of the construction. A foundation wall, for example, may require only a single inspection if the contractor forms the entire wall correctly before pouring concrete.
Conversely, the same wall may require several inspections if the contractor builds it in stages or if the work does not conform to the approved construction documents. Follow-up inspections may also be needed if the contractor did not properly perform the work.
How Are Special Inspections Conducted?
Inspection methods vary from project to project, ranging from visual observation with simple measurement instruments to laboratory testing with sophisticated equipment. Inspection of simple facade repairs, for example, could be performed solely via visual observation and a tape measure. Concrete construction, on the other hand, often requires several non-destructive and destructive physical tests in the field and in a lab.
Other testing methods include x-ray imaging and magnetic particle inspections of steel welds, compaction tests for soils using gamma radiation, and testing of masonry prisms using hydraulic compressive testing equipment.
Special Inspection Reports
Throughout the project, the Special Inspector submits periodic Special Inspection reports to the building owner and the contractor. The Special Inspector must immediately notify the contractor if any discrepancies are observed in the work.
The Special Inspector must immediately notify the contractor if any discrepancies are observed in the work.
If these deficiencies are not corrected, the Special Inspector must bring them to the attention of the owner and the Design Engineer/Architect. At the end of the project, the Special Inspection Agency certifies that the necessary Special Inspections have been performed and that the work does or does not conform to the approved construction documents.
Special Inspectors Are Not Responsible For Site Safety
The means and methods of construction, construction sequencing, and Site Safety Programs are the contractor’s responsibility. The Special Inspector does not have the authority to stop a contractor from proceeding with construction— only the owner or DOB does.
Who Can Perform Special Inspections?
Special Inspectors must be either a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect, or have training, education, and substantial experience for the given inspection. Inspectors who are not licensed design professionals must also obtain relevant credentials from nationally recognized construction certification programs to perform Specific Inspections.
Special Inspectors who work for the engineering or architectural firm that designed the repair project are more likely to have a comprehensive understanding of the drawings and the intent of the design, which should improve the quality and efficiency of the inspections.
How Much Do Special Inspections Cost?
The cost of the Special Inspection Program for a project depends on the number and type of inspections required, the number of Inspectors required for the project, and the required qualifications of the Special Inspectors.
Projects that require many types of Special Inspections may require more than one Special Inspection Agency. Design professionals with broad expertise can often perform multiple inspections concurrently, reducing the overall cost.
Improved Quality And Safety
While the DOB’s more rigorous Special Inspections requirements do add to the up-front cost of repair and upgrade projects, the cost is typically small compared to the overall cost of construction. Moreover, the Special Inspections requirement forces contractors to improve the quality and safety of their work, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.