Following is the revised Section 1701, Special Inspections, as it appears in the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Building Code:

SECTION 1701 – SPECIAL INSPECTIONS

1701.1 General. In addition to the inspections required by Section 108, the owner or the engineer or architect of record acting as the owner’s agent shall employ one or more special inspectors who shall provide inspections during construction on the types of work listed under Section 1701.5.

EXCEPTION: The building official may waive the requirement for the employment of a special inspector if the construction is of a minor nature.

 

1701.2 Special Inspector. The special inspector shall be a qualified person who shall demonstrate competence, to the satisfaction of the building official, for inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring special inspection.

 

1701.3 Duties and Responsibilities of the Special Inspector. The special inspector shall observe the work assigned for conformance with the approved design drawings and specifications. The special inspector shall furnish inspection reports to the building official, the engineer or architect of record, and other designated persons. All discrepancies shall be brought to the immediate attention of the contractor for correction, then, if uncorrected, to the proper design authority and to the building official. The special inspector shall submit a final signed report stating whether the work requiring special inspections was, to the best of the inspector’s knowledge, in conformance with the approved plans and specifications and the applicable workmanship provisions of this code.

 

1701.4 Standards of Quality. The standards listed below labeled a "U.B.C. standard" are also listed in Chapter 35, Part II, and are part of this code. The other standards listed below are recognized standards. (See Sections 3505 and 3504)

1. Concrete

ASTM C 94, Ready-mixed Concrete

2. Connections

Specifications for Structural Joints using ASTM A 325 or A 490 Bolts-Load and Resistance Factor Design, Research Council of Structural Connections, Section 1071.5, Item 6.Specification for Structural Joints using ASTM A 325 or A 490 Bolts-Allowable Stress Design, Research Council of Structural Connections, Section 1701.5, Item 6.

3. Spray-applied Fire-resistive Materials.

U.B.C. Standard 7-6, Thickness and Density Determination for Spray-applied Materials.

 

1701.5 Types of Work. Except as provided in Section 1701.1, the types of work listed below shall be inspected by a special inspector.

1. Concrete. During the taking of test specimens and placing of reinforced concrete. See Item 12 for shotcrete.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Concrete for foundations conforming to minimum requirements of Table 18-I-D or for Group R, Division 3 or Group U, Division 1 Occupancies, provided the building official finds that a special hazard does not exist.
2. For foundation concrete, other than cast-in-place drilled piles or caissons, where the structural design is based on an f’c no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 MPa).
3. Nonstructural slabs on grade, including prestressed slabs on grade when effective prestress in concrete is less than 150 psi. (1.03 MPa).
4. Site work concrete fully supported on earth and concrete where no special hazard exists.

2. Bolts installed in concrete. Prior to and during the placement of concrete around bolts when stress increases permitted by Footnote 5 of Table 19-D or Section 1923 are utilized.

3. Special moment-resisting concrete frame. For moment resisting frames resisting design seismic load in structures within seismic Zones 3 and 4, the special inspector shall provide reports to the person responsible for the structural design and shall provide continuous inspection of the placement of the reinforcing and concrete.

4. Reinforcing steel and prestressing steel tendons.

4.1 During all stressing and grouting of tendons in prestressed concrete.

 

4.2 During placing of reinforcing steel and prestressing tendons for all concrete required to have special inspection by Item 1.

 

EXCEPTION: The special inspector need not be present continuously during placing of reinforcing steel and prestressing tendons, provided the special inspector has inspected for conformance with the approved plans prior to the closing of forms or the delivery of concrete to the job site.

 

5. Structural welding.

5.1 General. During the welding of any member or connection which is designed to resist loads and forces required by this code.

 

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Welding done in an approved fabricator’s shop in accordance with Section 1701.7.

 

2. The special inspector need not be continuously present during welding of the following items, provided the materials, qualifications of welding procedures and welders are verified prior to the start of work; periodic inspections are made of work in progress; and a visual inspection of all welds is made prior to completion or prior to shipment of shop welding:

2.1 Single-pass fillet welds not exceeding 5/16 inch (7.9 mm) in size.

2.2 Floor and roof deck welding

2.3 Welded studs when used for structural diaphragm or composite systems.

2.4 Welded sheet steel for cold-formed steel framing members such as studs and joists.

2.5 Welding of stairs and railing systems.

 

 

5.2 Special moment-resisting steel frames. During the welding of special moment-resisting steel frames. In addition to Item 5.1 requirements above, nondestructive testing as required by Section 1703 of this code.

5.3 Welding of reinforcing steel. During the welding of reinforcing steel.

 

EXCEPTION: The special inspector need not be continuously present during the welding of ASTM A706 reinforcing steel not larger than No. 5 bars used for embedments, provided the materials, qualifications of welding procedures and welders are verified prior to the start of work; periodic inspections are made of work in progress; and a visual inspection of all welds is made prior to completion or prior to shipment of shop welding.

 

6. High-strength bolting. The inspection of high-strength A 325 and A 490 bolts shall be in accordance with approved nationally recognized standards and the requirements of this section. While the work is in progress, the special inspector shall determine that the requirements for bolt, nuts, washers and paint; bolted parts, and installation and tightening in such standards are met. Such inspections shall be performed on a periodic basis in accordance with the requirements of Section 1701.6. The special inspector shall observe the calibration procedures when such procedures are required by the plans or specifications and shall monitor the installation of bolts to determine that all plies of connected materials have been drawn together and that the selected procedure is properly used to tighten all bolts.

 

7. Structural masonry.

7.1 For masonry, other than fully grouted open-end hollow-unit masonry, during preparation and taking of any required prisms or test specimens, placing of all masonry units, placement of reinforcement, inspection of grout space, immediately prior to closing of cleanouts, and during all grouting operations.

EXCEPTION: For hollow-unit masonry where the fm is no more than 1,500 psi (10.34 MPa) for concrete units or 2,600 psi (17.93 MPa) for clay units, special inspection may be performed as required for fully grouted open-end hollow-unit masonry specified in Item 7.2 below.

 

 

7.2 For fully grouted open-end hollow-unit masonry during preparation and taking of any required prisms or test specimens, at the start of laying units, after the placement of reinforcing steel, grout space prior to each grouting operation, and during all grouting operations.

EXCEPTION: Special inspection as required in Items 7.1 and 7.2 above need not be provided when design stresses have been adjusted as specified in Chapter 21 to permit noncontinuous inspection.

 

 

8. Reinforced gypsum concrete. When cast-in-place Class B gypsum concrete is being mixed and placed.

 

9. Insulating concrete fill. During the application of insulating concrete fill when used as part of a structural system.

EXCEPTION: The special inspections may be limited to an initial inspection to check the deck surface and placement of reinforcing. The special inspector shall supervise the preparation of compression test specimens during this initial inspection.

 

 

10. Spray-applied fire-resistive materials. As required by U.B.C. Standard 7-6.

 

11. Piling, drilled piers and caissons. During driving and testing of piles and construction of cast-in-place drilled piles or caissons. See Items 1 and 4 for concrete and reinforcing steel inspection.

 

12. Shotcrete. During the taking of test specimens and placing of all shotcrete and as required by Sections 1924.10 and 1924.11.

EXCEPTION: Shotcrete work fully supported on earth, minor repairs and when, in the opinion of the building official, no special hazard exists.

 

 

13. Special grading, excavation and filling. During earth-work excavations, grading and filling operations inspection to satisfy requirements of Chapter 18 and Appendix Chapter 33 of this code.

 

14. Smoke-control system.

14.1 During erection of ductwork and prior to concealment for the purposes of leakage testing and recording of device location.

 

14.2 Prior to occupancy and after sufficient completion for the purposes of pressure difference testing, flow measurements, and detection and control verification.

 

15. Special cases. Work which, in the opinion of the building official, involves unusual hazards or conditions.

 

 

1701.6 Continuous and Periodic Special Inspection

 

1701.6.1 Continuous special inspection. Continuous special inspection means that the special inspector is on the site at all times observing the work requiring special inspection. 

 

1701.6.2 Periodic special inspection. Some inspections may be made on a periodic basis and satisfy the requirements of continuous inspection, provided this periodic scheduled inspection is performed as outlined in the project plans and specifications and approved by the building official.

 

1701.7 Approved Fabricators Special inspections required by this section and elsewherein this code are not required where the work is done on the premises of a fabricator registered and approved by the building official to perform such work without special inspection. The certificate of registration shall be subject to revocation by the building official if it is found that any work done pursuant to the approval is in violation of this code. The approved fabricator shall submit a certificate of compliance that the work was performed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications to the building official and the engineer or architect of record. The approved fabricator’s qualifications shall be contingent on compliance with the following:

1. The fabricator has developed and submitted a detailed fabrication procedure manual reflecting key quality control procedures that will provide a basis for inspection control of workmanship and fabricator plant.
2. Verification of the fabricator’s quality control capabilities, plant and personnel as outlined in the fabrication procedural manual shall be by an approved inspection or quality control agency.
3. Periodic plant inspections shall be conducted by an approved inspection or quality control agency to monitor the effectiveness of the quality control program.
4. It shall be the responsibility of the inspection or quality control agency to notify the approving authority in writing of any change to the procedural manual. Any fabricator approval may be revoked for just cause. Re-approval of the fabricator shall be contingent on compliance with quality control procedures during the past year.