Verification and inspection of elements of buildings and structures shall be as required by this section.
Special inspections shall be required for proposed work that is, in the opinion of the building official, unusual in its nature, such as, but not limited to, the following examples:
1. Construction materials and systems that are alternatives to materials and systems prescribed by this code.
2. Unusual design applications of materials described in this code.
3. Materials and systems required to be installed in accordance with additional manufacturer’s instructions that prescribe requirements not contained in this code or in standards referenced by this code.
The special inspections for steel elements of buildings and structures shall be as required in this section.
Exception: Special inspection of the steel fabrication process shall not be required where the fabricator does not perform any welding, thermal cutting or heating operation of any kind as part of the fabrication process. In such cases, the fabricator shall be required to submit a detailed procedure for material control that demonstrates the fabricator's ability to maintain suitable records and procedures such that, at any time during the fabrication process, the material specification, and grade for the main stress-carrying elements are capable of being determined. Mill test reports shall be identifiable to the main stress-carrying elements when required by the approved construction documents.
Special inspection for structural steel shall be in accordance with the quality assurance inspection requirements of AISC 360.
Special inspection for steel construction other than structural steel shall be in accordance with Table 1705.2.2 and this section.
TABLE 1705.2.2
REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION OTHER THAN STRUCTURAL STEEL
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION | CONTINUOUS | PERIODIC | REFERENCED STANDARDa | |
| 1. Material verification of cold-formed steel deck: | ||||
| a. Identification markings to conform to ASTM standards specified in the approved construction documents. | — | X | Applicable ASTM material standards | |
| b. Manufacturer’s certified test reports. | — | X | ||
| 2. Inspection of welding: | ||||
| a. Cold-formed steel deck: | ||||
| 1) Floor and roof deck welds. | — | X | AWS D1.3 | |
| b. Reinforcing steel: | ||||
| 1)Verification of weldability of reinforcing steel other than ASTM A706. | — | X | AWS D1.4 ACI 318: Section 3.5.2 | |
| 2) Reinforcing steel resisting flexural and axial forces in intermediate and special moment frames, and boundary elements of special structural walls of concrete and shear reinforcement. | X | — | ||
| 3) Shear reinforcement. | X | — | ||
| 4) Other reinforcing steel. | — | X | ||
| For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. |
| a. Where applicable, see also Section 1705.11, Special inspections for seismic resistance. |
Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification shall be in accordance with this section.
Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification for cold-formed steel floor and roof decks shall be in accordance with AWS D1.3.
Welding inspection and welding inspector qualification for reinforcing steel shall be in accordance with AWS D1.4 and ACI 318.
Where a cold-formed steel truss clear span is 60 feet (18 288 mm) or greater, the special inspector shall verify that the temporary installation restraint/bracing and the permanent individual truss member restraint/bracing are installed in accordance with the approved truss submittal package.
The special inspections and verifications for concrete construction shall be as required by this section and Table 1705.3.
Exception: Special inspections shall not be required for:
1. Isolated spread concrete footings of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock.
2. Continuous concrete footings supporting walls of buildings three stories or less above grade plane that are fully supported on earth or rock where:
2.1. The footings support walls of light-frame construction;
2.2. The footings are designed in accordance with Table 1809.7; or
2.3. The structural design of the footing is based on a specified compressive strength, f 'c, no greater than 2,500 pounds per square inch (psi) (17.2 MPa), regardless of the compressive strength specified in the construction documents or used in the footing construction.
3. Nonstructural concrete slabs supported directly on the ground, including prestressed slabs on grade, where the effective prestress in the concrete is less than 150 psi (1.03 MPa).
4. Concrete foundation walls constructed in accordance with Table 1807.1.6.2.
5. Concrete patios, driveways and sidewalks, on grade.
TABLE 1705.3
REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION | CONTINUOUS | PERIODIC | REFERENCED STANDARDa | IBC REFERENCE |
| 1. Inspection of reinforcing steel, including prestressing tendons, and placement. | — | X | ACI 318: 3.5, 7.1-7.7 | 1910.4 |
| 2. Inspection of reinforcing steel welding in accordance with Table 1705.2.2, Item 2b. | — | — | AWS D1.4 ACI 318: 3.5.2 | — |
| 3. Inspection of anchors cast in concrete where allowable loads have been increased or where strength design is used. | — | X | ACI 318: 8.1.3, 21.2.8 | 1908.5, 1909.1 |
| 4. Inspection of anchors post-installed in hardened concrete membersb. | — | X | ACI 318: 3.8.6, 8.1.3, 21.2.8 | 1909.1 |
| 5. Verifying use of required design mix. | — | X | ACI 318: Ch. 4, 5.2-5.4 | 1904.2, 1910.2, 1910.3 |
| 6. At the time fresh concrete is sampled to fabricate specimens for strength tests, perform slump and air content tests, and determine the temperature of the concrete. | X | — | ASTM C172 ASTM C31 ACI 318: 5.6, 5.8 | 1910.10 |
| 7. Inspection of concrete and shotcrete placement for proper application techniques. | X | Xc | ACI 318: 5.9, 5.10 | 1910.6, 1910.7, 1910.8 |
| 8. Inspection for maintenance of specified curing temperature and techniques. | — | X | ACI 318: 5.11-5.13 | 1910.9 |
| 9. Inspection of prestressed concrete: | ||||
| a. Application of prestressing forces. | X | — | ACI 318: 18.20 | — |
| b. Grouting of bonded prestressing ten- dons in the seismic force-resisting system. | X | ACI 318: 18.18.4 | ||
| 10. Erection of precast concrete members. | — | X | ACI 318: Ch. 16 | — |
| 11. Verification of in-situ concrete strength, prior to stressing of tendons in post-ten- sioned concrete and prior to removal of shores and forms from beams and struc tural slabs. | — | X | ACI 318: 6.2 | — |
| 12. Inspect formwork for shape, location and dimensions of the concrete member being formed. | — | X | ACI 318: 6.1.1 | — |
| For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm. |
| a. Where applicable, see also Section 1705.11, Special inspections for seismic resistance. |
| b. Specific requirements for special inspection shall be included in the research report for the anchor issued by an approved source in accordance with ACI 355.2 or other qualification procedures. Where specific requirements are not provided, special inspection requirements shall be specified by the registered design professional and shall be approved by the building official prior to the commencement of the work. |
| c. Exception: Periodic verification and inspection is permitted upon approval of the structural engineer of record and the building official. |
In the absence of sufficient data or documentation providing evidence of conformance to quality standards for materials in Chapter 3 of ACI 318, the building official shall require testing of materials in accordance with the appropriate standards and criteria for the material in Chapter 3 of ACI 318. Weldability of reinforcement, except that which conforms to ASTM A706, shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of Section 3.5.2 of ACI 318.
Masonry construction shall be inspected and verified in accordance with TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5 and TMS 602/ACI 530.1/ASCE 6 quality assurance program requirements.
Exception: Special inspections shall not be required for:
1. Empirically designed masonry, glass unit masonry or masonry veneer designed by Section 2109, 2110.or Chapter 14, respectively, where they are part of structures classified as Risk Category I, II or III in accordance with Section 1604.5.
2. Masonry foundation walls constructed in accordance with Table 1807.1.6.3(1), 1807.1.6.3(2), 1807.1.6.3(3).or 1807.1.6.3(4).
3. Masonry fireplaces, masonry heaters or masonry chimneys installed or constructed in accordance with Section 2111, 2112.or 2113, respectively.
Periodic verification and inspection of grout placement is permitted, upon approval of the structural engineer of record and the building official.
The minimum special inspection program for empirically designed masonry, glass unit masonry or masonry veneer designed by Section 2109, 2110 or Chapter 14, respectively, in structures classified as Risk Category IV, in accordance with Section 1604.5, shall comply with TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5 Level B Quality Assurance.
Special inspection shall be performed in accordance with Section 1705.4 for vertical masonry foundation elements.
Special inspections of the fabrication process of prefabricated wood structural elements and assemblies shall be in accordance with Section 1704.2.5. Special inspections of site-built assemblies shall be in accordance with this section.
High-load diaphragms designed in accordance with Section 2306.2 shall be installed with special inspections as indicated in Section 1704.2. The special inspector shall inspect the wood structural panel sheathing to ascertain whether it is of the grade and thickness shown on the approved building plans. Additionally, the special inspector must verify the nominal size of framing members at adjoining panel edges, the nail or staple diameter and length, the number of fastener lines and that the spacing between fasteners in each line and at edge margins agrees with the approved building plans.
Where a truss clear span is 60 feet (18 288 mm) or greater, the special inspector shall verify that the temporary installation restraint/bracing and the permanent individual truss member restraint/bracing are installed in accordance with the approved truss submittal package.
Special inspections for existing site soil conditions, fill placement and load-bearing requirements shall be as required by this section and Table 1705.6. The approved geotechnical report, and the construction documents prepared by the registered design professionals shall be used to determine compliance. During fill placement, the special inspector shall determine that proper materials and procedures are used in accordance with the provisions of the approved geotechnical report.
Exception: Where Section 1803 does not require reporting of materials and procedures for fill placement, the special inspector shall verify that the in-place dry density of the compacted fill is not less than 90 percent of the maximum dry density at optimum moisture content determined in accordance with ASTM D1557.
TABLE 1705.6
REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF SOILS
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION TASK | CONTINUOUS DURING TASK LISTED | PERIODICALLY DURING TASK LISTED |
| 1. Verify materials below shallow foundations are adequate to achieve the design bearing capacity. | — | X |
| 2. Verify excavations are extended to proper depth and have reached proper material. | — | X |
| 3. Perform classification and testing of compacted fill materials. | — | X |
| 4. Verify use of proper materials, densities and lift thicknesses during placement and compaction of compacted fill. | X | — |
| 5. Prior to placement of compacted fill, observe subgrade and verify that site has been prepared properly. | — | X |
Special inspections shall be performed during installation and testing of driven deep foundation elements as required by Table 1705.7. The approved instruction documents prepared by the registered design professionals, shall be used to determine compliance.
TABLE 1705.7
REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF DRIVEN DEEP FOUNDATION ELEMENTS
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION TASK | CONTINUOUS DURING TASK LISTED | PERIODICALLY DURING TASK LISTED |
| 1. Verify element materials, sizes and lengths comply with the requirements. | X | — |
| 2. Determine capacities of test elements and conduct additional load tests, as required. | X | — |
| 3. Observe driving operations and maintain complete and accurate records for each element. | X | — |
| 4. Verify placement locations and plumbness, confirm type and size of hammer, record number of blows per foot of penetration, determine required penetrations to achieve design capacity, record tip and butt elevations and document any damage to foundation element. | X | — |
| 5. For steel elements, perform additional inspections in accordance with Section 1705.2. | — | — |
| 6. For concrete elements and concrete-filled elements, perform additional inspections in accordance with Section 1705.3. | — | — |
| 7. For specialty elements, perform additional inspections as determined by the registered design professional in responsible charge. | — | — |
Special inspections shall be performed during installation and testing of cast-in-place deep foundation elements as required by Table 1705.8. The approved geotechnical report, and the construction documents prepared by the registered design professionals, shall be used to determine compliance.
TABLE 1705.8
REQUIRED VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF CAST-IN-PLACE DEEP FOUNDATION ELEMENTS
| VERIFICATION AND INSPECTION TASK | CONTINUOUS DURING TASK LISTED | PERIODICALLY DURING TASK LISTED |
| 1. Observe drilling operations and maintain complete and accurate records for each element. | X | — |
| 2. Verify placement locations and plumbness, confirm element diameters, bell diameters (if applicable), lengths, embedment into bedrock (if applicable) and adequate end-bearing strata capacity. Record concrete or grout volumes. | X | — |
| 3. For concrete elements, perform additional inspections in accordance with Section 1705.3. | — | — |
Special inspections shall be performed continuously during installation of helical pile foundations. The information recorded shall include installation equipment used, pile dimensions, tip elevations, final depth, final installation torque and other pertinent installation data as required by the registered design professional in responsible charge. The approved geotechnical report and the construction documents prepared by the registered design professional shall be used to determine compliance.
Special inspections itemized in Sections 1705.10.1 through 1705.10.3, unless exempted by the exceptions to Section 1704.2, are required for buildings and structures constructed in the following areas:
1. In wind Exposure Category B, where Vasd as determined in accordance with Section 1609.3.1.is 120 miles per hour (52.8 m/sec) or greater.
2. In wind Exposure Category C or D, where Vasd as determined in accordance with Section 1609.3.1.is 110 mph (49 m/sec) or greater.