Special Inspections…
Valuable tool of the building code

By: Paul Becker, P.E. and Jim Landau, P.E.

The nature of construction has evolved and changed greatly since the turn of the century, not unlike other industries which serve the needs of a capitalist society. New technologies and new materials are constantly introduced to offer lighter, more efficient structures which reduce material costs and offer the possibility of greater spans and larger volumes. With the rapid changes in technology and mounting requirements prescribed by building codes, structural systems for buildings have become more sophisticated and in many cases, quite intricate.

The BOCA Building Code, widely used in Maine, recognizes that a fundamental change has taken place in the building industry and that the need for structural inspections has never been more critical. The 1996 edition of the BOCA code requires the owner of a project to provide Special Inspections of the structural portions of a construction project. These inspections are to be performed specifically on structural components and assemblies used within a project to verify their as-built compliance with design documents. Special Inspections is a quality assurance procedure for the benefit of the owner and the public.

Although the intent of the code is clearly to assure structural safety, current terminology in the code permits someone other than the Structural Engineer of Record (registered engineer responsible for the structural design of the building) to develop and administer the Special Inspections. Without the direct and continued involvement of the Structural Engineer of Record during the special inspection process, sufficient assurance of structural safety cannot be provided. The U.S. House of Representatives investigated the problem of structural failures in the United States and issued House Report 98-621 which stated in part: "The structural engineer is one of the most important individuals in the construction process. His regular presence on the construction site can prevent errors which lead to structural failures and his absence can permit serious mistakes to go unnoticed and uncorrected. The structural engineer is the person most likely to observe defects on-site, for it is he and his associates who make the calculations and review the project drawings as the construction design is developed. The structural engineer is thus intimately familiar with the details of the project when actual fieldwork begins; no other person involved in the process shares this familiarity....". Clearly code provisions should be revised to clarify and strengthen the role of the Structural Engineer of Record.

Furthermore, although the BOCA Code mandates special inspections, compliance is extremely low. The State of Maine has not adopted a State Building Code. Without a single source code, many towns and municipalities are using building codes which are 10 years old. Those which have adopted more recent codes are not enforcing them. Without enforcement by code officials, owners are unwilling to pay for special inspections although the cost of conducting the Special Inspections is estimated at only one-half of one percent of the construction cost. The benefit of the additional cost is increased structural safety and a reduction in repair and maintenance costs over the life of the structure. The question becomes, with the instrument of Special Inspections available, how can we as citizens not demand that our public safety be protected to the highest degree possible. We must encourage Building Officials to execute their assigned duties by requiring compliance with BOCA Section 114 and 1705. There should be a Statement of Special Inspections on file for that new school or new office in your neighborhood. See for yourself if there is compliance. It’s right, it’s smart and it’s time.

(Paul Becker is the Sole Proprietor of Becker Structural Engineers and Jim Landau is Manager of Structural Engineering at Neill and Gunter. Both are on the Board of Directors of SEAM)