Special inspections are a mandatory part of any construction project as well as a key step for the success of your project. Whether a completely new construction or a repair, upgrade, or renovation, your project will require special inspections. There are several different kinds of special inspections, and nature of your project dictates the types of inspection needed.
Property owners are required by the Department of Buildings (DOB) to carry out special inspections for safety purposes. The main purpose of performing special inspections is to guarantee the safety of any building or structure that is undergoing construction. Through these surveys, licensed special inspectors evaluate various elements of your building such as the mechanical systems, structural integrity, and insulation. Special inspectors make sure that all construction is done in accordance with the codes laid out by the DOB.
The resulting report helps you and your team account for and remediate any deviations from building codes and design. In addition to ensuring safety, the other most important outcome of a special inspection is the prevention of costly mistakes. Finding discrepancies in building plans, code, and all systems in the early stages of a project helps your contractor correct their mistakes before it’s too late and too expensive.
Listed below are specific types of inspections your project may require:
Architectural Inspections
Architectural inspections include the inspection of interior items such as lighting, egress, and exit sign markings, small building inspections, and final review.
Energy Inspections
Energy inspections are progress inspections confirming that components of energy systems comply with approved building plans. These inspections include a review of air sealing and insulation, shutoff dampers, HVAC and service water heating equipment and system controls, as well as HVAC insulation and sealing.
Fire Inspections
Fire inspections are life safety inspections that test all of the elements related to fire protection. Inspections may include survey for penetration of fire-resistant assemblies and firestops, and/or mastic and intumescent fire-resistant coatings applied to structural elements. Spray fire-resistant materials is an involved inspection process that may be required.
Mechanical Inspections
Mechanical inspections are inspections that determine whether a building’s mechanical systems are functioning optimally. Mechanical systems that require a certificate of compliance with AC 28-116.4.1 of the Administrative Code will be inspected in accordance with the approved construction documents.
Structural Inspections
All structural components of a building must be analyzed and verified in relation to building code. The New York City Buildings Department carefully specifies materials, application standards, and safety requirements of a building’s structural components.