Special_Inspections-_Category_Definition_.pdf

Special Inspections:

General Requirements/Responsibilities:

• Please note the required Special Inspections supplement but do not replace PLI inspections.

• The design professional (architect or engineer) is responsible to provide a Statement of Special

Inspections to identify all required Special

Inspections associated with the proposed construction.

• The owner is responsible to engage a qualified

Special Inspector(s) for all required Special

Inspections identified on the permit or by the

Inspector.

• The permit holder is responsible to:

o Notify the Special Inspector when work is ready for inspection.

o Keep work exposed until authorized to conceal by the PLI Inspector and the Special Inspector.

• Site visits must be performed at least once per week during construction of special inspections elements.

In addition to the Special Inspections identified by the current International Building Code, the following types may apply:

• Performance Scoring Verification: required if the

Performance Scoring Method is selected as the compliance path. The Special Inspector is responsible for verifying that existing conditions and construction are in accordance with PLI-approved scoring.

• Landscaping: Required as identified by the DCP under Zoning Development Review (ZDR) application and identified on the Permit. The Special Inspector is responsible to confirm that landscaping has been installed in accordance with DCP approval.

Vendors do not need to qualify for every application listed below, as not all special inspection types apply to every project.

Special inspections per approved construction documents and applicable code requirements may include material sample collection and laboratory testing; inspection of fabricators; steel, concrete, masonry, wood and earthwork construction; proofroll testing and compaction, gravity retaining walls, foundations and drainage, driven-deep foundations, drilled cast-in-place pier foundations and grade beams, helical pile foundations, reinforced concrete slabs and piers, reinforced concrete masonry, structural timber, structural steel, cold-formed metal framing and decking; sprayed fire resistant materials, mastic/intumescent fire-resistant coatings; exterior insulation and finish systems; smoke control systems, fire-resistant penetrations and joints

Special Inspector qualifications/certifications:

• Steel: ICC Structural Steel and Bolting SI and ICC

Structural Welding SI certification or American

Welding Society (AWS) Certified welding inspector

(CWI).

• Concrete: ICC Reinforced Concrete SI certification or

ACI Concrete Construction SI certification, and ICC

Prestressed SI certification (as applicable).

• Structural Masonry: ICC Structural Masonry SI certification.

• Wood construction, Fabricated Items, Wind

Resistance, Seismic Resistance: PA licensed structural engineer.

• Soils: ICC Soils SI certifications or National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)

III Soils certification.

• Driven deep foundations & Helical pile foundations:

PA licensed geotechnical and structural engineer.

• Cast-in-place deep foundations: ICC Reinforced

Concrete SI certification or ACI Concrete

Construction SI certification, ICC Prestressed SI certification (as applicable), and Geotechnical and structural engineer.

• Spray-applied Fireproofing & Mastic and intumescent fire-resistant coatings: ICC Spray-applied Fireproofing SI certification.

• Exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS):

Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry AWCI

EIFS Inspector certification or architect.

• Fire-resistant penetrations and joints: ICC Fire

Inspector I certification and Factory Mutual Global

(FM) firestop examination or International Firestop

Council certification.

• Smoke Control Systems: PA licensed engineer(s) with fire protection and mechanical engineering experience and certification as an air balancer

(Associated Air Balance Council (AABC) technician certification). Alternately, Licensed engineer(s) with fire protection and mechanical engineering experience based on balance reports provided by certified air balancer.

• Land Operations Permits: as applicable o Grading: ICC Soils SI certifications or National

Institute for Certification in Engineering

Technologies (NICET) III Soils certification.

o Steep slopes, landslide-prone, or undermined sites and vegetation/ground cover removal: PA licensed geotechnical engineer.

o Concrete work: ICC Reinforced Concrete SI certification or ACI Concrete Construction SI certification, and ICC Prestressed SI certification

(as applicable) o Masonry work: ICC Structural Masonry SI certification.