City and County of San FranciscoGavin Newsom, Mayor
Department of Building Inspection Vivian L. Day, C.B.O.,Director
DRAFT #2
ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN
NO. AB-046
DATE:August 11, 2009 [Revise bulletin dated 9/18/02, updated 1/1/08]
SUBJECT:Permit Process; SpecialInspection
TITLE:Special Inspection, Structural Testing, and Structural Observation Procedure
PURPOSE:The purpose of this Administrative Bulletin is to describe the procedures to be used in the administration and enforcement of special inspection, structural testing, and structural observation requirements of the San Francisco Building Code (SFBC). It is intended as an aid for registered design professionals in their preparation of special inspection, structural testing, and structural observation programs. It provides information for building owners, registered design professionals, contractors, and special inspection agencies about their responsibilities regarding special inspection and structural observation and references standardized forms and formats applicable to these functions.
REFERENCE:2007 San Francisco Building Code
- Section 108A.1 Inspections, General
- Chapter 17 Structural Tests and Special Inspections
- Administrative Bulletin AB-036: Special Inspection for Demolition Work
- Administrative Bulletin AB-040: Referral of Design Professionals and Contractors to Regulatory Agencies
DISCUSSION:
I.DEFINITIONS
In addition to definitions listed in SFBC Section 1702, the following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this Administrative Bulletin, have the meanings shown herein.
A.Compliance: Conformity in fulfilling specified requirements.
B.Daily Report: A report that includes a record of inspections, observations, sampling and testing activity, non-compliances and resolutions that took place on that day.
C.Final Report: A final report to close out the special inspection requirements with separate sections for Certificate of Compliance, Area Acceptance Reports, Non-Compliance Reports with Records of Correction, Daily Reports, Final Materials Testing Reports.
Special Inspection Agency: An agency approved by the Building Official to conduct special
inspections as required by the SFBC. (Note: Approved agency is in Section 1702)
D.Structural Observer: A Registered Design Professional with experience and expertise in the design and construction of the type of construction work to be observed.
E.Non-Compliance Report: A report to the Building Official and to the Contractor that an item was found that did not conform to the requirements of the approved construction documents, and that had not been corrected within 24 hours of notification to the Contractor.
F.Record of Correction: A report used to clear a non-compliance report or other non-compliant work.
G.Registered Design Professional in Responsible Charge: For smaller projects, the registered design professional in responsible charge could be one individual, licensed in the State of California as an architect or engineer. For larger projects with multiple design professionals, the structural engineer of record may be the registered design professional in responsible charge for determining the special inspection, structural testing, and structural observation for structural components of the structure; the architect of record may be the registered design professional in responsible charge for determining the special inspection and structural testing requirements for fire proofing and similar fire resistive construction, and the fire protection engineer of record may be the registered design professional in responsible charge for the special inspection and testing requirements of the smoke control system.
II.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A.Duties and Responsibilities of the Project Owner
1.Employ an approved agency and/or structural observer to provide special inspections, structural testing, and/or structural observations during construction as required by SFBC Chapter 17 and/orotherwise delineated in the Statement of Special Inspections and/or Statement of Structural Observation.
2.Engage the services of Registered Design Professional services during
construction as required.
B.Duties and Responsibilities of the Registered Design Professional(s) in Responsible Charge
1.Identify the specific special inspection, structural testing, and structural observation services required.
2.Verify that the construction documents indicate the items requiring special inspection, structural testing, and structural observation.
3.Submit the Statement of Special Inspection and/or Structural Observation and Schedule of Structural Tests forms to the Building Official for review and approval.
4.Where required pursuant to SFBC Section 1709, the Registered Design Professional in
Responsible Charge of the structural design shall perform relevant structural observation in
accordance with SFBC Section 1702, as follows:
(i)Submit schedule of structural observations to the Building Official for review and approval prior to the start of any construction work.
(ii)Provide visual observation of the structural system for general conformance to the approved construction documents at significant construction stages and at completion of the structural system.
(iii)Report in writing to the owner’s representative, Special Inspector, Contractor and the Building Official any relevant observations related to the site visit, including construction not in conformance with the approved construction documents. A copy of Field Report documenting site visits shall be maintained at the job site.
(iv)At the conclusion of all work requiring structural observation, the Structural Observer shall submit to the Building Official a written statement that the site visits have been made and the structural system as observed has been constructed in general conformance to the approved construction documents. If there are deficiencies in the construction, then the written statement must identify the deficiencies that, to the best of the Structural Observer’s knowledge, have not been resolved. The Structural Observation Final Compliance Report, along with all Field Reports, shall be submitted to the Building Official at least 10 working days prior to a request for final inspection.
5.Respond to field discrepancies bypreparing design changes and submission of such changes to
the building official for approval.
In the event that the design professional of record has not been retained by the Owner for services during construction, a separate Registered Design Professional in Responsible Charge shall be retained by the Owner and shall be responsible for preparing any design changes and for submission of such changes to the building official for approval.
6.Upon satisfactory completion of all work requiring special inspection, the Registered Professional
in Responsible Charge shall review the Final Report by the Special Inspector or the Approved
Agency for special inspection and submit to the Building Official for approval.
C.Duties and Responsibilities of the Special Inspector or Approved Agencyfor special inspection
Duties and responsibilities of the Special Inspector or Approved Agency include the
following:
1.Inspect the types of work identified in the Schedule of Special Inspection and Schedule of Structural Tests for conformance with the DBI approved construction documents and applicable provisions of the code. Other construction documents, such as shop drawings, that do not carry the DBI approval stamp may only be used as an aid to inspection. If the approved construction documents are not available on the premises at the time of the inspection, the Special Inspector shall immediately notify the Contractor, write a non-compliance report, and submit a copy of the non-compliance report to the Building Official within 24 hours.
2.Prepare and distribute written reports as required. The Special Inspector shall complete a Daily Report for each day during which a relevant inspection visit occurred. The Special Inspector or
ApprovedAgency shall furnish these reports directly to the Building Official, Registered Design
Professional(s) in Responsible Charge of the design of the work, and Contractor.
3.Notify the Contractor and Building Official immediately in writing of non-conformance to the approved construction documents within the scope of the special inspection activities. Non-
Compliance Reports shall be submitted directly to the Building Official within 24 hours of
inspection. If any such item is not resolved in a timely manner or is about to be incorporated in the
work in such a manner as to prevent resolution or remedy of a non-compliance issue, the
Registered Design Professional(s) in Responsible Charge and the Building Official shall
be notified immediately.
4.Submit to the Building Official a Record of Correction upon the completion of corrective actions that bring non-compliant construction into conformance with approved construction documents
5.Duties and responsibilities of the Approved Agency for special inspectionare as follows:
(i)Employ only approved special inspectors to perform special inspection work as specified in the
SFBC and this Administrative Bulletin.
(ii)Insure that an adequate number of qualified special inspection personnel are on the job based on the intensity of activities, nature of work being performed and other factors.
(iii)At the Building Official’s request, submit to the Building Official a list of special inspector assignments. This list shall detail all current work assignments within the City and County of San Francisco for the period requested.
(iv)Upon satisfactory completion of all work requiring special inspection, the Approved Agency shall submit to the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge a Final Report. The Final Report shall indicate the area of work that was inspected by the special inspector(s) and was determined to have been constructed in conformance with the approved construction documents. The Final Report shall include all Daily Reports, Non-Compliance Reports, and Records of Correction, and shall be signed by the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge of that area of the special inspection work. At the Building Official’s request, the Final Report shall be submitted to the Building Official at least 10 working days prior to final inspection.
(v)Upon satisfactory completion of all work requiring special inspection, the Approved Agency shall submit to the Building Official a Special Inspection Certificate of Compliance. The Special Inspection Certificate of Compliance shall indicate that all work requiring special inspections has been constructed in conformance with the approved construction documents. The Special Inspection Certificate of Compliance may be a part of the Final Report and shall be signed by the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge of the special inspection work. The Special Inspection Certificate of Compliance shall be submitted to the Building Official at least 10 working days prior to a request for final inspection.
Commentary: Depending on the contractual obligations between the Approved Agency and the Owner, the Final Report and the Special Inspection Certificate of Compliance may be submitted to the DBI via the Owner, Contractor, or Registered Design Professional. It is the intent of the Building Official to allow for 10 working days to review and process special inspection reports prior to a request for final inspection by the Owner and/or the Contractor.
6.Conduct all required testing as indicated in the Schedule of Structural Tests, as follows:
(i)Submit written reports and test results directly to the Registered Design Professional(s) in Responsible Charge of the design of that portion ofthe work, and Contractor.
Commentary: It is the intent of the Building Official to receive and review final reports and test results only, with the exception of non-compliant test results as indicated below. Intermediate or progress test results need not be submitted to the Building Official. From time-to-time on a case-by-case basis, progress test results may be required at the request of the Building Official.
(ii)Notify the Registered Design Professional in Responsible Charge, the Contractor, and the Building Official of any non-compliant test results within 24 hours. Non-compliant test results shall be submitted to the Building Official.
(iii)Upon satisfactory completion of all work requiring structural testing, the Approved Agency shall submit to the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge a Final Report. The Final Report shall indicate the scope of the structural testing work and conformance with the approved construction documents. The Final Report shall include all test reports, Non-Compliance Reports, and Record of Corrections, and shall be signed by the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge of the material testing work. At the Building Official’s request, the Final Report shall be submitted to the Building Official at least 10 working days prior to final inspection.
(iv)Upon satisfactory completion of all work requiring sampling and testing, the Approved Agency shall submit to the Building Official a Structural Testing Certificate of Compliance. The Structural Testing Certificate of Compliance shall indicate that all work requiring sampling and structural testing are in conformance with the approved construction documents. The Structural Testing Certificate of Compliance may be a part of the Final Report and shall be signed by the Registered Professional in Responsible Charge of the material testing work. The Structural Testing Certificate of Compliance shall be submitted to the Building Official at least 10 working days prior to a request for final inspection.
Commentary: Depending on the contractual obligations between the Approved Agency and the Owner, the Structural Testing Certificate of Compliance may be submitted to the DBI via the Owner, Contractor, or Registered Design Professional in Responsible Charge. It is the intent of the Building Official to allow for 10 working days to review and process special inspection items prior to a request for final inspection by the Owner and/or the Contractor.
D.Duties and Responsibilities of the Building Official
1.Review and examine plans, specifications and contract documents for general compliance with
special inspection, structural tests, and structural observation requirements. The level of detail of
such examination shall be at the discretion of the Building Official.
2.Periodically, at the discretion of the Building Official, monitor the special inspection and structural
observation activities to confirm 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.
4.Enforce correction of non-compliance items.
5.Review the final report. The Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until the final report has
been received and approved by the Building Official.
6.Maintain lists of Approved Agencies for special inspection.
E.Duties and Responsibilities of the Contractor:
1.Submit a written statement of responsibility to the Building Official and the owner prior to the commencement of work on the construction of a primary wind- or seismic-force-resisting system, designated seismic system, or a wind- or seismic-resisting component listed in the statement of special inspections. The Contractor’s Statement of Responsibility shall include an acknowledgement of awareness of the special requirements contained in the statement of special inspections.
2.Notify the Special Inspector or Approved Agency for special inspection regarding special inspections required by the Department of Building Inspection.
3.Provide access to approved construction documents at the job site and fabrication shops to the special inspector and the DBI inspector upon request. Note that shop drawings are not considered approved construction documents.
4.Maintain special inspection, structural observation and structural testing records at the job site and make them available for review by the DBI inspector upon request.
III.SPECIAL INSPECTOR AND APPROVED AGENCY FOR SPECIAL INSPECTION
QUALIFICATIONS
Approved Agencyfor special inspection performing materials and structural testing for construction projects must be accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) or approved by the Building
Official. A list of approved Approved Agencies for special inspection shall be maintained by the Building Official.
Special Inspectors performing special inspections of construction projects must meet the minimum requirements outlined in the table below. Special inspection personnel must also demonstrate competence to the satisfaction of the Building Official, which includes achieving and maintaining nationalcertifications, as detailed in the table. Special Inspectors shall be employed by an Approved Agency for
special inspection conforming to the requirements of ASTM E329.
Except for testing of materials and reporting of numerical results, the Special Inspector shall work under the general supervision of a Registered Design Professional with expertise in special inspection work, and all reports and certification of compliance must be signed by the Registered Professional in
Responsible Charge of the special inspection work.
Commentary:. Special inspectors possess technical knowledge, education, and related experience. Because proper weighting of the relative importance of these three qualifications is a subjective decision, the evaluation of overall qualification, including emphasis of certification, is most appropriately performed at the local level by the building official. The City and County of San Francisco has requirements for minimum experience; minimum experience requirements are higher for projects requiring structural observation such as high-rise buildings.
TABLE: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPECIAL INSPECTORS
Steel Construction – Structural Steel and High Strength BoltingCertification Required / Minimum Experience / Minimum Experience for Projects Requiring Structural Observation
ICC Structural Steel and Bolting Special Inspector
or
AWS/AISC Certified Steel Structure Inspector / three years of verified work experience in structural steel and high strength bolting inspection, and/or structural welding inspection / five years of verified work experience in structural steel and high strength bolting inspection, and/or structural welding inspection
Steel Construction – Welding
Certification Required / Minimum Experience / Minimum Experience for Projects Requiring Structural Observation
ICC Structural Welding Special Inspector
or
AWS Certified Welding Inspector / three years of verified work experience in structural steel and high strength bolting inspection, and/or structural welding inspection with minimum of one year of verified work experience in structural welding inspection / five years of verified work experience in structural steel and high strength bolting inspection, and/or structural welding inspection with minimum of two years of verified work experience in structural welding inspection
Steel Construction – Nondestructive Testing of Welds