Maybe the inspector stays in the office because he enjoys being a jerk and wants to avoid a beatdown on the job site?
Inspectors
- Thread starter steelslaver
- Start date
We had 'em too in the phone company, some engineers were good, some bad, some awful and some that could screw up a free lunch.
OP
When I builtt my house I was outside the city limits and our county had no requirements I could basically build what I wanted anyway I wanted. Just needed an OK for the septic which was already in and the power company required an electrical inspection before they would install the meter. Electrical inspector came once I had it framed in and the wires ran, liked what he saw, said finish it up and call him back. I was 100% done with wiring when he came back, he looked inside my panel, checked a couple outlets with his meter, signed and away he went. Perfect
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Forgot to add, inspector said friend had to ADD an expansion tank to his hot water heater. Hot water heater has been there about 3 years.Friend told him it was not new, “ sit on his #%- inspector” said it didn’t matter. Forgot how much that cost him.
Switches Upside Down ? ?
Never saw a switch with label "This Side Up"
Not a trained electrician.
My rules for both two and three light switches.
All Toggles Down = Lights Off
Vertical Slots does not guarantee tight screw.
Loose screws
1) At switches
2) Inspector
Bekeart
Never saw a switch with label "This Side Up"
Not a trained electrician.
My rules for both two and three light switches.
All Toggles Down = Lights Off
Vertical Slots does not guarantee tight screw.
Loose screws
1) At switches
2) Inspector
Bekeart
Well, there are Inspectors and there are Quality Assurance professionals. Some are very good and conscientious while others seem to make it a point to show you who's boss. Thru experience and continuing education I worked my way up from a line inspector to a degreed Quality Assurance engineer; mostly in aerospace. The best compliment I ever received was being told that they like me inspecting their work as I was consistent, if a part was discrepant one time it was always discrepant and if it passed it always passed. I guess they had worked with people that made it a point to always find something to reject a first part. I went by the premise that if it met the specs it was an acceptable part. I might suggest an adjustment was merited if it was close to a limit but the part would pass. My father ( a machinist and an inspector) gave me some great advise, Don't let someone talk you into passing a bad part and don't reject an acceptable part because at the end of the day you need to go out the door with your head held up. When I retired after almost 50 years in Quality I walked out the door with my head held up and as the old saying goes I was not afraid to let them measure my shadow.
RobertK3026
Member
Toggle down does not ensure light is off.
Start with both toggle down enter room flip toggle up to turn on continue through room to the next doorway as you are leaving that switch has toggle down, but you must flip it up to turn the light off now both toggles are up.
That's just the way they work.
While I was a machinist I got a part drawing one day that had a mandated special form tool to cut grooves in part of it. Basically it was a threaded stud with grooves below the thread so it could hold tight in a poured epoxy. (I got this last from the foreman after I asked what the heck?)
Anyway, I installed the tool perpendicular to the work, made my trial piece and took it to the QC guy. Generally a nice guy. He got upset because the grooves were different depths. Drawing only gave a depth for the top groove. Took him back, showed him the form tool and that it appeared that the grooves weren't supposed be be the same depth. He didn't agree. Angled the tool, got all the grooves the same depth, run complete, we're all happy.
Some time later I got picked to do the first production run of a part and had to go to a meeting with the engineers. When I was introduced one of them knew I was the guy who did the studs and they spent a lot of time figuring out if they could use the out of spec parts. "It wasn't me, it was the QC guy. You need to add a note on the drawing that all the grooves aren't supposed to be the same depth." Can't recall what happened afterward.
Anyway, I installed the tool perpendicular to the work, made my trial piece and took it to the QC guy. Generally a nice guy. He got upset because the grooves were different depths. Drawing only gave a depth for the top groove. Took him back, showed him the form tool and that it appeared that the grooves weren't supposed be be the same depth. He didn't agree. Angled the tool, got all the grooves the same depth, run complete, we're all happy.
Some time later I got picked to do the first production run of a part and had to go to a meeting with the engineers. When I was introduced one of them knew I was the guy who did the studs and they spent a lot of time figuring out if they could use the out of spec parts. "It wasn't me, it was the QC guy. You need to add a note on the drawing that all the grooves aren't supposed to be the same depth." Can't recall what happened afterward.
My inspector experience was with the NYFD. I was working for a retail store chain owned by four Japanese brothers and had recently been promoted to store manager for one of the branches.
As Christmas approached, and we stocked up, our storerooms in the basement were overflowing. One of the brothers took me aside and said, "Pretty soon someone from the fire department is going to show up and inspect the basement. When they do, hand them a Christmas card with a $50 bill in it and say, "This is for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
I said, "Okay."
Several days later a young, smooth faced fireman showed up. He was about my age, 20 or so, I judged. He had on a sharp looking uniform and hat, but not firefighting gear, and carried a clipboard. We go down to the basement and he's looking around, writing notes on his clipboard and commenting on how much stuff there is.
I whip out the Christmas card with $50, hand it to him and say, "This is for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
He says, "What?," looking confused at the envelope in his hand.
I say, insisting, "That's for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
He tries to hand it back, saying it isn't necessary, but I keep insisting that he take it. We are both kinda confused by our interaction, but ultimately I prevail, and he, with his clipboard, Christmas card, and now perplexed face, takes off.
Several days later, one of my subordinates reports to me that there are firefighters in the basement poking around. I go downstairs to find two firemen, grizzled vets in full firefighting gear, helmets and all, no clipboards, maybe a little drunk, looking around, poking at stacks of boxes, and commenting that there sure is a lotta stuff.
"Looks like a fire hazard here."
I say, with exasperation, "You guys were already here! We made our donation to the Fireman's Ball!"
They look at me, look at each other, thinking it over...
"Okay," one finally says, and they trudge up the stairs and out the store.
As Christmas approached, and we stocked up, our storerooms in the basement were overflowing. One of the brothers took me aside and said, "Pretty soon someone from the fire department is going to show up and inspect the basement. When they do, hand them a Christmas card with a $50 bill in it and say, "This is for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
I said, "Okay."
Several days later a young, smooth faced fireman showed up. He was about my age, 20 or so, I judged. He had on a sharp looking uniform and hat, but not firefighting gear, and carried a clipboard. We go down to the basement and he's looking around, writing notes on his clipboard and commenting on how much stuff there is.
I whip out the Christmas card with $50, hand it to him and say, "This is for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
He says, "What?," looking confused at the envelope in his hand.
I say, insisting, "That's for the Fireman's Christmas Ball."
He tries to hand it back, saying it isn't necessary, but I keep insisting that he take it. We are both kinda confused by our interaction, but ultimately I prevail, and he, with his clipboard, Christmas card, and now perplexed face, takes off.
Several days later, one of my subordinates reports to me that there are firefighters in the basement poking around. I go downstairs to find two firemen, grizzled vets in full firefighting gear, helmets and all, no clipboards, maybe a little drunk, looking around, poking at stacks of boxes, and commenting that there sure is a lotta stuff.
"Looks like a fire hazard here."
I say, with exasperation, "You guys were already here! We made our donation to the Fireman's Ball!"
They look at me, look at each other, thinking it over...
"Okay," one finally says, and they trudge up the stairs and out the store.
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Truth Tables
I knew and understood the above.
Both Down is one of the two possible OFF conditions.
Verify by using a Truth Table.
I want two down to be OFF, just like the regular light switches.
Leaving no tree or politician unkicked.
I knew and understood the above.
Both Down is one of the two possible OFF conditions.
Verify by using a Truth Table.
I want two down to be OFF, just like the regular light switches.
Leaving no tree or politician unkicked.
Gee...another "let's bash the government and its employees" thread...
And some of us actually wonder why we're so divided in this country...
And some of us actually wonder why we're so divided in this country...
Back when I was working, the directive come down from on high that those of us who were doing underwriting in the Agency Department for title insurance were to go out and do underwriting practices inspections on the agents. After scratching my head because I had no idea what was expected I ended up developing the procedures for doing the inspections, and then after doing one of the inspections taught the other underwriters what to do.
My feeling was that we were all on the same team and I was not out to bust anybody. I tried to impart my experience gained after years in the business to our agents who weren't as experienced. If something needed fixed I was always gentle about it.
I can only think of one agency that I reviewed that looked like it was a problem (the owner later went to jail), and one of the other underwriters operating under my procedures found one agency that was so incompetent the company terminated it immediately. I don't know what happened after I got laid off, but I was glad that I tried to make this a supportive and not an adversarial procedure.
My feeling was that we were all on the same team and I was not out to bust anybody. I tried to impart my experience gained after years in the business to our agents who weren't as experienced. If something needed fixed I was always gentle about it.
I can only think of one agency that I reviewed that looked like it was a problem (the owner later went to jail), and one of the other underwriters operating under my procedures found one agency that was so incompetent the company terminated it immediately. I don't know what happened after I got laid off, but I was glad that I tried to make this a supportive and not an adversarial procedure.
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LVSteve
Member
Friend of mine was having a place built in Idaho a few years back. He has an engineering background and prepared a set of drawings for when the local inspector came out. The inspector not only approved all that had been done, but asked if my buddy needed a job. Apparently the local works office was "a bit short of talent."
Inspector came by when I built the addition on our house in the 'burbs. Took one look at the drains- cast iron with poured lead and oakum joints (like I was taught to do as a kid, and is still preferred under the Chicago Code) and said: "I'm done here".
LVSteve
Member
That reminds me of what happened at a UK buddy's work. QC was rejecting the big motors they were sending down. Eventually, my buddy took a close look at the schematic from the drawing office and it was pretty obvious that there was an error. His middle management type refused to kick it back upstairs and insisted that my buddy and the rest of production floor just take the motors back, fix them, and say no more. This was not the first incident of this type, and my buddy blew a fuse. Day ended up with the management guy cowering in the corner crying after my buddy told him in short words how spineless he was for not taking on the drawing office. Buddy left the company that day, and it was out of business in about a year. Wonder why.
OP
First off all the inspector of which I spoke isn't a government employ. Hardly, In fact very few industrial inspectors work for the government in any way shape or form.
Why did YOU bash a thread you know so little about?
One of my most recent jobs was with an electrical contractor.
I don't have any real inspector "horror stories".
However I do have one example of regulatory excess to share.
In the state of WA, if the location for an electrical project doesn't fall within the boundaries of a local (city or county) jurisdiction, then it defaults to the the jurisdiction of the State L&I for inspections.
Now keep in mind, that ALL of the State L&I electrical inspectors MUST be licensed electricians.
BUT four or five years ago the State, in their infinite wisdom, decided that EVERY installation of a new circuit that is 240v or higher REQUIRES that the circuit be completely isolated from the power grid. Meaning that, in at least some cases, the ENTIRE building has to be disconnected from the transformer before you complete the connections for the new circuit. So you have to schedule the "final connection" of the new circuit with the local utility company and have their employees come out and "unplug" the entire facility from the transformer. Most of the time that means doing it after hours at overtime rates (very expensive).
In addition to that, the inspectors are no longer allowed to inspect a "live" panel that has any circuits with voltages higher than a 120v. Even though they are licensed electricians!
So the inspection and approval of a new 240V circuit is done virtually. That means that you have to schedule for the inspector to get on a video chat with the electrician doing the installation, have the electrician who did the installation suit up in a full arc-flash suit (what we called a "moon suit"), and then the electrician has to use a cell phone to "show" the inspector all the connections, breakers, and anything else the inspector asks to see - using a cell-phone camera.
And of course the fees and expenses for all of this - which are pretty significant - have to get charged back to the customer. Service businesses like electrical contractors can't just "eat" those costs of doing business and still stay in business. Especially not when the inspection/compliance costs alone can add anywhere from 10%-20% to the overall cost of the project.
This is just one example of the costs of government regulations.
So, FWIW, it isn't "bashing the government" to point out how ridiculously expensive it is to maintain compliance with GOVERNMENT regulations and requirements.
JMO, based on my personal experience here in the state of WA.
YMMV...
I don't have any real inspector "horror stories".
However I do have one example of regulatory excess to share.
In the state of WA, if the location for an electrical project doesn't fall within the boundaries of a local (city or county) jurisdiction, then it defaults to the the jurisdiction of the State L&I for inspections.
Now keep in mind, that ALL of the State L&I electrical inspectors MUST be licensed electricians.
BUT four or five years ago the State, in their infinite wisdom, decided that EVERY installation of a new circuit that is 240v or higher REQUIRES that the circuit be completely isolated from the power grid. Meaning that, in at least some cases, the ENTIRE building has to be disconnected from the transformer before you complete the connections for the new circuit. So you have to schedule the "final connection" of the new circuit with the local utility company and have their employees come out and "unplug" the entire facility from the transformer. Most of the time that means doing it after hours at overtime rates (very expensive).
In addition to that, the inspectors are no longer allowed to inspect a "live" panel that has any circuits with voltages higher than a 120v. Even though they are licensed electricians!
So the inspection and approval of a new 240V circuit is done virtually. That means that you have to schedule for the inspector to get on a video chat with the electrician doing the installation, have the electrician who did the installation suit up in a full arc-flash suit (what we called a "moon suit"), and then the electrician has to use a cell phone to "show" the inspector all the connections, breakers, and anything else the inspector asks to see - using a cell-phone camera.
And of course the fees and expenses for all of this - which are pretty significant - have to get charged back to the customer. Service businesses like electrical contractors can't just "eat" those costs of doing business and still stay in business. Especially not when the inspection/compliance costs alone can add anywhere from 10%-20% to the overall cost of the project.
This is just one example of the costs of government regulations.
So, FWIW, it isn't "bashing the government" to point out how ridiculously expensive it is to maintain compliance with GOVERNMENT regulations and requirements.
JMO, based on my personal experience here in the state of WA.
YMMV...
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In my working years I had a small electrical contracting business and dealing with the inspection dept is always an “experience”. Most are just reasonable knowledgeable fellows and some you just dread to see come on the job. We had one who was a good fellow but he would always have some what if somebody did this or that and I would always just tell him we can’t do wiring by what ifs and he would just go on about his business. And sometimes the insp dept can’t give you an answer on a question, I was doing a paint mix room once which was a hazardous location and required special equipment so I went by the inspection dept to see how much airflow was required so I could size an exhaust fan without buying something huge that wasn’t necessary. While I was talking to the people in the office about the airflow business I got unbelievable conversation and no answers so when I went back to the job site the mechanical inspector guy who had been listening to the office talk came by the job and ask me if I got an answer and I said well not really. We had a good laugh about the whole thing and I just bought a small explosion proof fan and installed it and never heard anything about it. People who don’t do this stuff have no idea..
