N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-2.18 - Inspections
(a) Preliminary inspection: Before issuing a
permit, the construction official and appropriate subcode official shall, where
necessary, examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and sites for
which an application has been filed for a construction permit.
(b) Inspections during the progress of work: The
construction official and appropriate subcode officials shall carry out periodic
inspections during the progress of work to ensure that work inspected conforms to
the requirements of the code.
1. Inspections of
one- and two-family dwellings for which construction must cease until the inspection
is made shall be limited to the following:
i. The
bottom of footing trenches before placement of footings;
(1) In the case of pile foundations, a pile log
and certification prepared by a licensed design professional shall take the place of
the inspection required by (b)1i above. Such certification shall include, but not be
limited to, verification that the size, type, and location of the piles conforms to
the released plans and that the piles are properly set to support the design loads.
Such certification shall be based upon personal observations made by the design
professional at the site;
ii.
Foundations and all walls up to grade level prior to covering or back filling;
(1) For new construction, a foundation location
survey showing all building corners of the foundation and the elevation of the top
of the foundation wall shall be submitted to the construction official as soon as
possible after the installation of the foundation wall. It is not necessary for work
to cease for the preparation and submission of this survey. A land surveyor licensed
in the State of New Jersey shall prepare the survey. The proposed foundation
location and elevation as shown on the original plot plan shall also be shown on the
foundation location survey.
(A) Exception: A
foundation location survey shall not be required for additions, decks, swimming
pools, sheds or similar structures.
(2) For new construction, additions, and work that
is determined to be a substantial improvement pursuant to
N.J.A.C.
5:23-6.3A, the foundation location survey,
including the lowest floor elevation and as-built elevation documentation, for a
building that is located in a flood hazard area shall be submitted to the
construction official and to the local floodplain administrator and shall include
elevation certificates as required by section 1612.4 of the building subcode or
section R322.1.10 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode; the documentation and
certificates shall be submitted prior to further vertical construction;
iii. Utility services, including
septic;
iv. Mid-point inspections shall
include the following:
(1) Building Subcode: All
structural framing, connections, wall and roof sheathing, and insulation.
(A) The framing inspection shall take place after
the rough electrical and plumbing inspections and after the installation of the
heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning duct system.
(B) For buildings containing roof or other truss
systems, a truss system and permanent truss bracing inspection shall be performed
prior to the installation of any interior roof truss covering material. Where the
truss design utilizes the interior finish as bracing for the bottom cord, that
portion of the bracing shall be part of the final inspection and shall be in
addition to the components of the final inspection in (d) below.
(C) The insulation inspection shall be performed
after all other subcode rough inspections and prior to the installation of any
interior finish material.
(D) Prior to
inspection, the responsible person in charge of work shall provide to the building
inspector a signed framing checklist (Form F390) to be verified and initialed by the
inspector and then made part of the permit file for buildings of Type V
construction.
(2) Electrical
Subcode: Rough wiring, panel and service installation.
(3) Plumbing Subcode: Rough piping.
2. Inspections for all
subcodes of construction, other than one- and two-family dwellings, shall be limited
to those required for one- and two-family dwellings and the following: fire
suppression and detection/alarm systems; heat producing devices; and any special
inspections required by any subcode of the regulations;
i. The mid-point inspection shall include a review
for compliance with
N.J.A.C.
5:23-7, the Barrier Free Subcode, for buildings
required by N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.1 to be
accessible.
ii. The requirement for a
framing checklist, established at (b)1iv(D) above, shall apply to buildings of Type
V construction of Groups R-2, R-3 and R-4 only.
3. Any additional inspections, as permitted by
this chapter and as may be required by the municipality, shall be of the type and
nature that construction may continue without interruption;
4. Additional inspection schedule: Where buildings
proposed for construction exceed two stories in height or by their nature pose
complex or unusual inspection problems, the construction official or appropriate
subcode official may specify additional inspections to the applicant in writing
prior to the issuance of a permit and during construction in the case of
unforeseeable circumstances.
(c) Notice for inspection:
1. The owner or other responsible person in charge
of work shall notify the enforcing agency, in writing, when the work is ready for
any required inspection specified herein or required by the construction official or
appropriate subcode official. This notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to
the time the inspection is desired. This notice shall represent an attestation on
the part of the owner, other than single-family owner-occupants performing their own
work, or other responsible person in charge of work, that the work has been
completed in conformance with the code and is ready for inspection. The request
shall be considered received on the next business day after it was sent if the
request was sent outside of normal business hours.
2. Inspections shall be performed within three
business days, or other such time within 30 days, as agreed upon by the enforcing
agency and the owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work, of the
time for which it was requested. The enforcing agency shall notify the owner, agent,
or other responsible person in charge of work when the inspection will be performed
within 24 hours of official receipt of the notice. The agreed upon time shall be
confirmed, in writing, and sent within normal business hours. The work shall not
proceed in a manner which will preclude the inspection until it has been
made.
(d) Final inspection:
Upon completion of the building or structure, and before the issuance of a
certificate of use and occupancy required herein, a final inspection shall be made,
and any violations of the code shall be noted and the holder of the permit shall be
notified of any discrepancies by the construction official. The final inspection
shall include:
1. Building and Fire Subcode:
Installation of all interior and exterior finish materials, sealing of exterior
joints, mechanical system and any other required equipment.
2. Electrical Subcode: Wiring, devices and
fixtures.
3. Plumbing Subcode: Piping,
trim and fixtures.
4. Tests required by
any provision of the adopted subcodes.
5. A review for compliance with
N.J.A.C.
5:23-7, the Barrier Free Subcode, for all
buildings required by
N.J.A.C.
5:23-7.1 to be accessible.
6. Verification of compliance with
N.J.A.C.
5:23-3.5, Posting structures.
(e) Inspections records: The enforcing agency
shall make a written record of all inspections, including any discrepancies or
violations noted and shall maintain those reports as a public record which shall be
available for public inspection during normal business hours.
(f) Department inspections: At the request of an
enforcing agency, the Department may assist the enforcing agency in the inspection
of any construction, provided that the enforcing agency has submitted the plans and
specifications for such construction to the Department.
(g) The construction official shall serve as an
agent of the Bureau of Housing Inspection of the Department of Community Affairs for
the purpose of inspecting newly constructed and altered hotels and multiple
dwellings in order to enforce the provisions of the regulations for the maintenance
of hotels and multiple dwellings (N.J.A.C. 5:10). Responsibility for inspection may
be delegated to the appropriate sub-code official(s).
(h) Periodic inspections: The building subcode
official or fire protection subcode official may periodically inspect all existing
buildings and structures, except one and two family dwellings, for compliance with
the rules with respect to posting. Such inspection shall specify any violation of
the rules with respect to the posting of floor load, occupancy load and use group of
the building.
(i) If the owner or
occupant improperly denies entry to the construction official, the construction
official, or his or her authorized representative, shall obtain an administrative
warrant or other legal remedy to secure entry issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
Notes
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