valhalla360 wrote:
Technically true but often used for ulterior purposes.
Small harmless things often are overlooked if the authorities are fine with the project. If the inspector let's it slide, there is plausible deniability that they must have accidentally mis-measured, so no real risk letting it slide.
If the authorities are against a project, 3/8" suddenly becomes a big deal and the project comes to a halt.
The code books are typically big enough that if the inspector wants to cause problems, they can come up with an issue even if the owner/contractor knows what they are doing.
I can agree with most of that, but as a contractor we do not play around with ADA requirements, nor do many inspectors "let it slide" on ADA items.
Too many so called lawyers running around with a knowledge of ADA, and a tape and a level, who go weaseling around checking things. Then they have a list of disabled people to use in the lawsuit they file against the business, contractor, code official, municipality etc, and its off to the bank. Usually ends up as a nice cushy settlement that is kept as quiet as possible and amounts to legalized extortion. More of that happens than most people realize. I've sat in the dispositions.
Here in PA the local code enforcement person is audited by the state. The local person inspects and issues the certificate of occupancy. The state may come along later and reinspect/audit. If they find the inspector lets things go, especially ADA, it gets ugly. It does not take many bad audits for an inspector to lose his credentials.
