Building Inspection and Its Significance
Many people assume that the benefits of a building inspection are only for the benefit of the building’s owner. They think that the inspector is looking only for things that he can sell and make money on. While it is true that the inspector is conducting the inspection to aid the insurance firm, the fact is that the inspector is doing this for the public’s benefit and the benefit of the insurance provider. It s intended to help uncover potential hazards that you might not be aware of or potential losses that might occur from a building or liability standpoint. To put it simply, here are seven essential things insurance firms look for when performing an inspection and its related benefit. Let’s take a look.
Safety – the inspector is looking to make sure there is no threat to the public from a fire, lightning, explosion or any other catastrophic event that might result in injury or death. It includes, but is not limited to, the insulation, the plumbing, roofing, electrical panel, chimney, insulation, windows and doors. If any of these items are dangerous, they will likely be replaced with one of equivalent safety. In addition, the inspector is looking to see that all critical systems and components, such as the water heater, furnace, air conditioning unit, etc., are operating correctly. If there are any defective products or components, they will need to be repaired before approval and certification.
Compliance – the purpose of the building inspection is to ensure compliance with safety and building codes. If the code has been violated or ignored, it will likely be required to be re-inspected. In addition, the inspector often looks to see if a building has adequate ventilation, a good emergency plan, fire detection and protection, adequate building maintenance, etc. That said, some building owners and contractors prefer not to have their buildings inspected. That’s where the building inspection engineers come in. They inspect the buildings on behalf of the building owners and contractors, so it’s for the benefit of all involved.
The Building Inspector is the individual who completes the building inspection. The Building Inspector checks the exterior, interior and a few other things that might affect the safety of a particular property. Once the inspection is completed, the inspector presents his findings to the client or the owner, and the client decides what, if anything, needs to be done to make the structure compliant with the building codes. Most often, this includes fixing a defect or correcting a non-permitted area. In the case of a disaster, the building inspector will let the owners know how to take care of their properties.
If you want to save money by having your property inspected, the best time to have it inspected would be during the beginning or end of the year, when the weather is usually warmer. If the building is already completed, then the inspectors are more likely to find problems. One way to find out if the building inspector finds a problem with your property is to pay him to come and look at it for two weeks. After he inspects the building and concludes that the structure is in good condition, you know you can go forward and finish your work and save money.
Structural Investigation deals with the visual inspection as well as the soil conditions and other physical aspects. It is when the inspectors examine the building from top to bottom, looking for the structural elements, the roof, floor and wall framing and any structural anomalies. It includes visual details and sometimes structural information such as joists, columns, beams and connections. A visual inspection alone will not identify all defects and flaws in a building, and the structural investigators will determine all defects in the structure.