Who hires the special inspectors, IBC 2021 1704.2
The owner or the owner's authorized agent, other than the contractor, employs one or more approved agencies to perform the special inspections and tests listed in Section 1705, and identifies them to the building official.
- The building official receives that identification but does not hire the agencies.
- The duty sits with the owner or owner's agent, not with the registered design professional on every project.
The contractor is excluded except in narrow exceptions:
- Exception 3: the contractor may employ the agencies when the contractor is also the owner, such as a general contractor building its own headquarters on its own land.
- Exception 4: the contractor may employ them to verify temporary truss restraint and bracing.
The trap: "the contractor may never employ the agency" ignores both exceptions.
The statement of special inspections, 1704.2.3 and 1704.3
The registered design professional in responsible charge prepares it. The applicant submits it under Section 107.1 as a condition for permit issuance, not at the certificate of occupancy. The special inspector performs the inspections the statement lists; it does not write the statement afterward. The building official reviews it rather than preparing it.
What the statement contains, 1704.3.1
- The materials, systems, components and work needing special inspection or testing.
- The type and extent of each special inspection.
- The type and extent of each test.
- The additional seismic and wind requirements of Sections 1705.12 to 1705.14.
- For each inspection, whether it is continuous, periodic, or as noted in the referenced standard.
Anything commercial, such as the contract price of the work, is not on the list.
Concrete, 1705.3
Special inspections and tests of concrete construction are performed under Section 1705.3 and Table 1705.3, which list exceptions such as isolated spread footings and certain slabs-on-grade. Do not confuse the neighbours: 1704.2 says who hires, Section 3306 and Table 3306.1 cover pedestrian protection, and 3314.1 covers the fire watch.