Section 1704A — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)

SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS, CONTRACTOR RESPONSIBILITY AND

STRUCTURAL OBSERVATION

1704 A .1 General. Special inspections and tests, statements of special inspections, responsibilities of contractors, submittals to the building official and structural observations shall meet the applicable requirements of this section.

1704 A .2 Special inspections and tests. Where application is made to the building official for construction as specified in Section 105, the owner shall employ one or more approved agencies to provide special inspections and tests during construction on the types of work specified in Section 1705 A and identify the approved agencies to the building official. These special inspections and tests are in addition to the inspections by the building official that are identified in Section 110.

[OSHPD 1 & 4] The inspectors shall act under the direction of the architect or structural engineer or both, and be respon- sible to the Owner. Where the California Administrative Code (CAC) Section 7-115 (a) 2 permits construction docu- ments to be prepared under the responsible charge of a mechanical, electrical or civil engineer, inspectors shall be permitted to work under the direction of engineer in appro- priate branch as permitted therein.

Exceptions:

Special inspections and tests are not required for construction of a minor nature or as warranted by conditions in the jurisdiction as approved by the building official.
[DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] Reference to Section 105 and Section 110 shall be to the California Adminis- trative Code instead.

17A-4 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS

1704 A .2.5.1 Fabricator approval. Not permitted by DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC or OSHPD.

1704 A .3 Statement of special inspections. Where special inspections or tests are required by Section 1705 A, the registered design professional in responsible charge shall prepare a statement of special inspections in accordance with Section 1704 A .3.1 for submittal by the applicant in accordance with Section 1704 A .2.3.

Exception: The statement of special inspections is permitted to be prepared by a qualified person approved by the building official for construction not designed by a registered design professional.

1704 A .3.1 Content of statement of special inspections. The statement of special inspections shall identify the following:

The materials, systems, components and work required to have special inspections or tests by the building official or by the registered design professional responsible for each portion of the work.
The type and extent of each special inspection.
The type and extent of each test.
Additional requirements for special inspections or tests for seismic or wind resistance as specified in Sections 1705 A .12, 1705.13 and 1705 A .14.
For each type of special inspection, identification as to whether it will be continuous special inspection, periodic special inspection or performed in accordance with the notation used in the referenced standard where the inspections are defined.

1704 A .3.2 Seismic requirements in the statement of special inspections. Where Section 1705 A .13 or 1705 A .14 specifies special inspections or tests for seismic resistance, the statement of special inspections shall identify the equipment/components that require special seismic certification and seismic force-resisting systems that are subject to the special inspections or tests.

1704 A .3.3 Wind requirements in the statement of special inspections. Where Section 1705 A .12 specifies special inspection for wind resistance, the statement of special inspections shall identify the main windforceresisting systems and wind-resisting components that are subject to special inspections.

1704 A .4 Contractor responsibility. Each contractor responsible for the construction of a main wind- or seismic forceresisting system, installation of equipment/components requiring special seismic certification or a wind- or seismic force-resisting component listed in the statement of special inspections shall submit a written statement of responsibility to the building official and the owner or the owner’s authorized agent prior to the commencement of work on the system or component. The contractor’s statement of responsibility shall contain acknowledgement of awareness of the special requirements contained in the statement of special inspections.

1704 A .2.1 Special inspector qualifications. Prior to the start of the construction, the approved agencies shall provide written documentation to the building official demonstrating the competence and relevant experience or training of the special inspectors who will perform the special inspections and tests during construction. Experience or training shall be considered to be relevant where the documented experience or training is related in complexity to the same type of special inspection or testing activities for projects of similar complexity and material qualities. These qualifications are in addition to qualifications specified in other sections of this code.

The registered design professional in responsible charge and engineers of record involved in the design of the project are permitted to act as an approved agency and their personnel are permitted to act as special inspectors for the work designed by them, provided they qualify as special inspectors.

1704 A .2.2 Access for special inspection. The construction or work for which special inspection or testing is required shall remain accessible and exposed for special inspection or testing purposes until completion of the required special inspections or tests.

1704 A .2.3 Statement of special inspections. The applicant shall submit a statement of special inspections pre- pared by the registered design professional in general responsible charge in accordance with Section 107.1 as a condition for construction documents review. This statement shall be in accordance with Section 1704 A .3.

[DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] Reference to Section 107.1 shall be to the California Administrative Code instead.

1704 A .2.4 Report requirement. The inspector(s) of record and approved agencies shall keep records of special inspections and tests. The inspector of record and approved agency shall submit reports of special inspections and tests to the building official and to the registered design professional in responsible charge as required by the California Administrative Code . Reports shall indicate that work inspected or tested was or was not completed in conformance to approved construction documents as required by the California Administrative Code and this code . Discrepancies shall be brought to the immediate attention of the contractor for correction. If they are not corrected, the discrepancies shall be brought to the attention of the building official and to the registered design professional in responsible charge prior to the completion of that phase of the work. A final report documenting required special inspections and tests, and correction of any discrepancies noted in the inspections or tests, shall be submitted at a point in time agreed upon prior to the start of work by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent to the building official.

1704 A .2.5 Special inspection of fabricated items. Where fabrication of structural, load-bearing or lateral loadresisting members or assemblies is being conducted on the premises of a fabricator’s shop, special inspections of the fabricated items shall be performed during fabrication.