NO. AB-046 : | |
DATE : | September 18, 2002 (Updated 01/01/2023 for code references.) |
SUBJECT : | Permit Process; Inspection |
TITLE : | Special Inspection and Structural Observation Procedures |
PURPOSE : | The purpose of this Administrative Bulletin is to describe the procedures to be used in the administration and enforcement of special inspection and structural observation requirements of the San Francisco Building Code. It is intended as an aid for design professionals in their preparation of inspection and observation programs. It provides information for building owners, architects and engineers, contractors, and special inspection agencies about their responsibilities regarding special inspection and structural observation and includes standardized forms and formats applicable to these functions. |
REFERENCES : | Current edition of the San Francisco Building Code - Section 108A, Inspections - Chapter 17, Special Inspections and Tests ASTM E329-21, Standard Specification for Agencies Engaged in Construction Inspection, Testing or Special Inspection |
I. DEFINITIONS
A. Special Inspection
Special Inspection is the monitoring of the materials and workmanship that are critical to the integrity of building structures or are otherwise required for public safety. Special inspection is intended to assure that the approved plans and specifications are being followed and that relevant codes and ordinances are being observed. The special inspection process is in addition to the regular inspections conducted by Department of Building Inspection building inspectors and by the engineer or architect of record. The special inspectors furnish continuous or periodic inspection as required by the San Francisco Building Code (SFBC).
Good communication between the special inspector and the designers, contractor, and building department is essential to project quality assurance.
B. Structural Observation
Structural observation is visual observation of the structural system, for general conformance with the approved plans and specifications, at significant construction stages and at completion of the structural system, as required by SFBC Section 1704.6. Structural observation does not include or waive the responsibility for the inspections required by Section 108A, 1704, 1705, or other sections of this code. [SFBC Sec. 202]
II DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIAL INSPECTION PROGRAM AND STRUCTURAL OBSERVATION PROGRAM
A. Duties and Responsibilities of the Project Owner
1. The project owner, or the owner’s agent, is responsible for funding special inspection services.
2. The owner, or the owner’s agent, shall employ the engineer or architect responsible for the structural design, or another engineer or architect designated by the engineer or architect responsible for the structural design, to perform structural observation as defined in SFBC Section 202.
3. Before final building inspection, the owner, or the owner’s agent, shall submit to DBI final compliance reports covering each item requiring special inspection and structural observation. Final reports shall be wet signed and stamped by the responsible engineer of the special inspection agency, geotechnical firm, engineer or architect of record - as appropriate to the type of report. See Attachment 2, Special Inspection Final Compliance Report and Attachment 3, Structural Observation Final Compliance Report.
B. Duties and Responsibilities of the Engineer of Record
The Engineer of Record (or Architect of Record) has many duties and responsibilities related to special inspection and structural observation activities. These include the following:
1. Identify the need for special inspection and structural observation services
The project plans that are submitted to the Building Official shall clearly indicate the design parameters and material selection. The Engineer of Record shall analyze the critical elements of the design and determine where special inspection and structural observation are required, in accordance with SFBC Sections 1704 and 1705. The Engineer of Record shall submit the Special Inspection and Structural Observation Form (Attachment 1) to DBI. The Engineer of Record shall also indicate the required special inspection and structural observation requirements on the submitted drawings. This can be accomplished by including a copy of the form on the drawings, or by including the same information on the drawings in another manner.
2. Respond to field discrepancies
The Engineer of Record is instrumental in the process of deficiency correction. The engineer or architect of record is responsible for any design changes in addition to acknowledgment and approval of shop drawings, which may detail structural information, and for submission of such changes to DBI for approval.
3. Prepare final compliance report
The Engineer of Record prepares an overall final compliance report for submittal to DBI, stating that all items requiring special inspection and structural observation were performed in accordance with the approved plans, specifications, and applicable workmanship provisions of the SFBC. See Attachment 2, Special Inspection Final Compliance Report and Attachment 3, Structural Observation Final Compliance Report.
C. Duties and responsibilities of the engineer responsible for the structural observation program
Observed deficiencies shall be reported in writing to the owner’s representative, special inspector, contractor and the Director. The structural observer shall submit to the Director a written statement declaring that the site visits have been made and identifying any reported deficiencies that, to the best of the structural observer’s knowledge, have not been resolved. See Attachment 3, Structural Observation Final Compliance Report.
D. Duties and Responsibilities of the Special Inspector
The special inspectors are individuals with highly developed, specialized skills who observe those critical building or structural features which they are qualified to inspect. Duties of the special inspectors and/or inspection agencies include the following:
1. Observe all work for which they are responsible
Special inspectors shall inspect all work for conformance with the Department of Building Inspection approved drawings and specifications and applicable provisions of the code.
2. Provide timely reports
The special inspector should complete written inspection reports for each inspection visit and provide the reports in a timely manner. The special inspector or inspection agency shall furnish these reports directly to the building official, engineer or architect of record and to the general contractor. Special inspectors shall bring all non-conforming items to the immediate attention of the contractor. If any such item is not resolved in a timely manner or is about to be incorporated in the work, the engineer or architect of record and the building official shall be notified immediately. See Attachments 5 through 8.
3. Respond to field discrepancies
Material and design discrepancies shall be brought to the attention of the Engineer of Record and the Building Official.
4. Submit a final signed report
Special inspectors or inspection agencies shall submit a final report (signed by the registered engineer or licensed architect who is responsible for the special inspection) to the Department of Building Inspection stating that all items requiring special inspection and testing were constructed, to the best of their knowledge, in conformance with the approved design drawings, specifications, approved change order and the applicable provisions of the code. See Attachment 2, Special Inspection Final Compliance Report.
E. Duties and Responsibilities of the Director
1. Review and examine plans for compliance
The Director is charged with the legal authority to review the plans for compliance with the code requirements, including special inspection and structural observation requirements.
2. Monitor the special inspection and structural observation activities
The Director shall monitor the job site to see that special inspection and structural observation is being performed and that an adequate number of special inspection staff is present depending upon the extent and complexity of the project.
3. Review inspection reports
The Director receives, reviews and makes the inspection reports part of the inspection records.
4. Review the final report
The Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until the final report has been received and approved by the Director.
F. Duties and Responsibilities of the Contractor
The contractor’s duties include the following:
1. Notify the special inspector
The contractor is responsible for notifying the special inspector or agency regarding special inspections required by DBI. Adequate notice shall be provided so that the special inspector has time to become familiar with the project.
2. Provide access to approved plans
The contractor is responsible for providing the special inspector with access to approved plans at the job site.
3. Retain special inspection records
The contractor is responsible for retaining at the job site all special inspection records submitted by the special inspector, and providing these records for review by the Department of Building Inspection inspector upon request.
III SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS: [SFBC Section 1704]
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection will accept special inspection and testing agencies working on projects in San Francisco who are recognized by the Special Inspection Joint Review Committee of participating Bay Area jurisdictions, which reviews the qualifications of inspection and testing agencies including conformance with ASTM E329 and inspector certification and experience criteria. The current list of the Joint Review Committee’s Recognized Special Inspection and Testing Agencies is available from DBI.
Alternatively, special inspectors shall be one of the following:
A. A qualified person employed by an approved inspection and testing agency conforming insofar as applicable to the requirements of ASTM E329.
Except for testing of materials and reporting of numerical results from such tests, the inspector shall work under the general supervision of a registered Civil Engineer, and all reports and certification of compliance must be signed by the engineer.
B. A registered Civil Engineer or licensed Architect who can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director that he or she has the experience and expertise to qualify as a special inspector for the specific type of inspection work, and has appropriate equipment to conduct such inspections and tests.
Note: The above applies to any engineer or architect who is not the engineer or architect of record for the project. Qualifications must be approved by the Director.
C. For life-safety provisions required by SFBC Section 403, construction review and validation testing shall be performed by, or under the supervision of a registered Electrical or Mechanical Engineer responsible for those areas of work involving his or her design. All reports on construction review and testing, and certification of compliance and full operational status, shall be signed by the engineer and endorsed by the design professional of record for the building. The design professional of record shall bear overall responsibility for the proper installation and testing of the life-safety system. When approved by the Director this responsibility may be borne by an approved independent testing agency.
D. The Engineer (or Architect) of Record.
Note: The engineer who prepared the geotechnical report may be considered the engineer of record for the geotechnical work requiring special inspection.
E. For plant fabrication of precast concrete elements, a registered civil engineer who supervises all phases of quality control work. The registered civil engineer shall be subject to the approval of the Director.
IV SPECIAL INSPECTION AND STRUCTURAL OBSERVATION OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTION
A. Plan Review Services (PRS) - Plan Check Engineers/Inspectors
1. Review Attachment 1, Special Inspection and Structural Observation form. Usually the engineer or architect of record prepares the form. Verify special inspection and structural observation items.
2. Plan checker affixes the “SPECIAL INSPECTION” stamp on the back of the application when signing that permit is approved for issuance. The plan checker makes one copy of the Special Inspection and Structural Observation form and attaches it to the applicant’s copy of the permit application, then gives the original to the Special Inspection Services staff.
3. Special Inspection Services Staff set up the special inspection file and enters the types of special inspection and structural observation required for the project in the computer record for the permit application.
4. During construction, DBI Special Inspection Services staff distribute special inspection progress reports to assigned staff. If reports indicate problems that need to be brought to the attention of the district building inspector, Special Inspection Services Staff forwards a copy of the report to the appropriate district building inspector. District building inspector will notify the contractor who in turn shall notify the engineer of record to resolve the field problems. Resolution reports shall be submitted to PRS for review and file. See Attachment 4, Special Inspection/Structural Observation Transmittal Letter.
5. When final reports are submitted, DBI staff will review for final compliance. If documentation is not sufficient, DBI staff will notify the Engineer of Record regarding missing items. If compliance has been verified, DBI staff signs and dates Special Inspection and Structural Observation form.
6. DBI staff enters final compliance approval in the computer by entering the approval date and their name for each item requiring special inspection.
7. DBI staff sends completed special inspection and structural observation files quarterly to DBI storage.
8. For permits issued over the counter when special inspection is required, DBI staff will make copy of the Special Inspection form and distribute as follows:
a. One copy to applicant
b. Original to DBI staff with the approval date.
B. Central Permit Bureau (CPB)
Staff shall give one copy of the approved Special Inspection and Structural Observation form to applicant together with the approved drawings.
C. Building Inspection Division (BID)
1. Special Inspector shall be identified to the District Building Inspector prior to start of the work for which special inspection is required. See Attachment 1, Special Inspection Requirements and Structural Observation Requirements.
2. District building inspectors monitor the special inspection activities at the project site. In the event that district building inspectors discover that required special inspection is not being performed, or is not in compliance with the approved plans, they are authorized to suspend or stop the progress of the work.
Originally signed by:
Frank Y. Chiu, Director
Department of Building Inspection
October 3, 2002
Approved by the Building Inspection Commission on September 18, 2002
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Special Inspection and Structural Observation Requirements
Attachment 2: Special Inspection Final Compliance Report
Attachment 3: Structural Observation Final Compliance Report
Attachment 4: Special Inspection/Structural Observation Transmittal Letter
Attachment 5: Special Inspection Record
Attachment 6: Special Inspection Daily Report
Attachment 7: Special Inspection Weekly Report
Attachment 8: Special Inspection Discrepancy Notice
Attachment 9: Sample matrix
Attachment 10: Agency Summary and Letter of Agreement
Attachment 11: Waiver Agreement
Attachment 12: Responsible Engineer’s Statement of Agreement
Attachment 2: Special Inspection Final Compliance Report
Attachment 3: Structural Observation Final Compliance Report
Attachment 4: Special Inspection/Structural Observation Transmittal Letter
Attachment 5: Special Inspection Record
Attachment 6: Special Inspection Daily Report
Attachment 7: Special Inspection Weekly Report
Attachment 8: Special Inspection Discrepancy Notice
Attachment 9: Sample matrix
Attachment 10: Agency Summary and Letter of Agreement
Attachment 11: Waiver Agreement
Attachment 12: Responsible Engineer’s Statement of Agreement