SECTION 108A – INSPECTIONS

108A.1 General. All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official, and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official. In addition, certain types of construction shall have continuous inspection by special inspectors as specified in Section 1701.

   Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.

   It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

   In the absence of evidence as to the proper location of the lot on which a building is to be erected, for which a building permit has been or may be issued, the Building Official may require the owner to have the lot surveyed and staked by a registered land surveyor, or registered civil engineer, so that the proper location of the building on the lot may be determined. A copy of this survey shall be filed with the application for the permit.

108A.2 Inspection record card. Any work requiring a permit shall not begin until the permit holder or the permit holder’s agent posts an inspection record “Job Card,” on the site. This card shall be issued at the time of permit issuance by the Department. The card must be posted in a conspicuous, readily accessible location to allow inspectors to make necessary entries; it must remain on the job site until a final inspection of all work stated in that permit has been completed. After final inspection, the card may be removed and retained as part of the building owner’s record.

108A.3 Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by a permit to notify the building official that such work is ready for inspection. The building official may require that every request for inspection be filed at least one working day before such inspection is desired. Such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the building official.

   It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspections required by this code to provide access to and means for inspections of such work.

108A.3.1 Off-hour inspections. Those desiring inspections outside normal business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays) may avail themselves of this service by prior arrangement and prepayment. See Section 110A, Table 1A-G – Inspections, Surveys and Reports – for applicable fee.

108A.3.2 Permits by other departments. Those applying for permits issued by other City departments which require an inspection, certification or report by the Department as a condition of issuance of said permits shall apply to the Department for said inspection, certification or report and pay a fee at the Department of Building Inspection. See Section 110A, Table 1A-G – Inspections, Surveys and Reports – for applicable fee.

108A.4 Approval required. No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the Building Official. Such approval shall be given only after an inspection shall have been made of each successive step in the construction as indicated by each of the inspections required in Section 108A.5. Any portions which do not comply with the provisions of this code and with the approved construction documents shall be corrected, and no such portion shall be covered or concealed until approved.

108A.5. Required inspections.

108A.5.1 General. The structural framework of any part of any building or structure shall not be covered or concealed without first obtaining the approval of the building official.

   Protection of joints and penetrations in fire-resistive assemblies shall not be concealed from view until inspected and approved.

108A.5.2 Foundation inspection. Inspection shall be made after excavations for footings is complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to inspection. All materials for the foundation shall be on the job site; however, where concrete is ready mixed in accordance with approved nationally recognized standards, the concrete need not be on the job site. Where the foundation is to be constructed of approved treated wood, additional inspections may be required by the building official.

108A.5.3 Concrete slab or under-floor inspection. Inspection shall be made after all in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are installed, before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

108A.5.4 Reinforcing steel. Inspection shall be made when reinforcing steel is in place in walls, floor and roof framing and other concrete members, and before any concrete is poured or placed. All reinforcing steel shall be visible for inspection.

108A.5.5 Structural steel. Inspection shall be made when structural steel framework, or any structural steel member of a building, is in place and before being covered or concealed in any manner.

108A.5.6 Frame inspection. Inspection shall be made after the roof, roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and all conduits, plumbing pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, and heating wires, conduits, plumbing pipes and ducts are approved.

108A.5.7 Lath or gypsum board inspection. Inspection shall be made after all lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, are in place, but before any plastering is applied or before gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

108A.5.8 Fire-rated suspended ceilings. Inspection shall be made after the installation of the hangers, lighting fixtures and air diffusers, the protective fixture boxes and main suspended ceiling members and before the ceiling is installed.

108A.5.9 Final inspection. A final inspection shall be made when the construction work has been completed, and the structure is ready for occupancy, but before it is occupied. There shall be a final inspection and approval on all buildings and structures when completed and ready for occupancy or use after plumbing, electrical and special inspection, and any other applicable approvals have been obtained. See Section 109A for certificate of occupancy requirements.

   An exclusive electrical or plumbing final approval shall not be given or posted unless it is ascertained by the Building Official that no building permit is required.

108A.6 Special inspections. For special inspections, see Chapter 17.

108A.7 Other inspections. In addition to the called inspections specified above, the building official may make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code and other laws which are enforced by the code enforcement agency.

108A.7.1 Concealed work. Whenever any work for which called inspections are required is covered or concealed without inspection, or whenever work is performed and concealed without a permit, and in cases where it is necessary to determine if the building or parts thereof are considered unsafe due to any of the conditions as set forth in Section 102A, the Building Official may require that such work be exposed for examination. The work of exposing or recovering or reconstructing such portions of the building or structure shall not entail expense to the City and County of San Francisco or any of its officials or employees, but shall be at the expense of the owner.

108A.8 Reinspection. A reinspection fee shall be assessed for each inspection or reinspection made necessary by any of the following conditions:

   1.   When such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete.

   2.   When corrections called for are not made.

   3.   When the inspection record “Job Card” is not properly posted on the work site.

   4.   When the approved plans are not readily available to the inspector.

   5.   For failure to provide access on the date for which inspection is requested.

   6.   For deviating from plans requiring the approval of the Building Official.

   The first reinspection for failure to comply with requirements shall not be assessed a reinspection fee. All subsequent reinspections on a job for the same or subsequent errors or omissions shall be charged a reinspection fee.

   Subsequent to inspector determination of reinspection fee requirements, no required or requested inspections shall be made nor shall the job be given a Certificate of Final Completion and Occupancy or final approval until the required fees are paid at the Central Permit Bureau. See Section 110A, Table 1A-G – Inspections, Surveys and Reports – for applicable fee.