Special Inspections (SI) of the International Building Code (IBC) are required by many municipalities. Implementing SI is a coordinated effort sometimes led by the local building official, whose goal is to confirm that the project is constructed as the designers intended. The building official approves a SI firm based on their experience, qualifications and certifications. It is the SI firm’s responsibility to, upon completion of the project, provide an opinion regarding whether the project was constructed in accordance with the project plans and specifications. Ultimately, the successful implementation of a Special Inspections program enhances the safety, health and welfare of the general public.
So how is a program administered? Prior to construction, the designer, using guidance provided in the 
IBC, submits a list of inspections that should be accomplished for specific building components. The SI firm utilizes this list to determine the types of inspections and tests, and the associated frequency. Some items need to be inspected continuously while others can be periodically inspected. During construction, the SI firm coordinates with the contractor to accomplish the inspections. The SI reports are constantly routed back to the designers and building officials for review and comment. The SI firm records and tracks any discrepancies that occur and reports back to the design and construction team the disposition of those discrepancies. Upon completion, building officials issue occupancy permits only after the SI firm issues an opinion that the project was successfully constructed and special inspection discrepancies have been resolved.
Initially, SI were limited to soils, foundations, structural elements, concrete, masonry, steel and wood framing, with an emphasis on structural safety. Over time, the IBC has added non-structural elements with life safety considerations, such as fire resistive materials, seismic restraints, Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS) and other items to the list of required SI.
The Building Official approves the Field Representatives who must demonstrate through certifications that they are qualified to perform a specific test. Geotechnology currently has 80 Field Representatives including 5 International Code Council (ICC) Master Special Inspectors and 39 Professional Engineers.
Geotechnology has provided SI services for a variety of markets including: hospitals, higher education, industrial facilities, large scale distribution and manufacturing, large entertainment facilities, zoos and mission critical facilities.
The Building Official approves the Field Representatives who must demonstrate through certifications that they are qualified to perform a specific test. Geotechnology currently has 80 Field Representatives including 5 International Code Council (ICC) Master Special Inspectors and 39 Professional Engineers.
Geotechnology has provided SI services for a variety of markets including: hospitals, higher education, industrial facilities, large scale distribution and manufacturing, large entertainment facilities, zoos and mission critical facilities.
Typical items that require special inspections include:
- Reinforced concrete, shotcrete, prestressed concrete, precast concrete
- Soils, excavation, filling, piers, piles, earth retaining structures and detention basins
- Steel construction including welding, high strength bolting and steel framing
- Fire resistant materials/Firestopping
- Masonry construction
- Seismic resistance and structural observations
- Exterior insulation and finish systems
- Smoke control
- Wood construction
- Cold-formed metal framing
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Let us know where you are located and what information you would like further details on. We currently have AIA approved presentations for: Special Inspections, Earthquake Engineering – Geotechnical Perspective, Environmental Due Diligence, Geophysics, Geotechnical Engineering, and Indoor Environmental Hazards.. We can also provide presentations on our services that fit your firm or project needs.