Best Of

I was a building inspector for a while -- and I learned a tremendous amount just talking to the various contractors we worked with. I remember a few times when we both sat down with the code book and tried to figure out what it really meant... and whether it made any sense to do it that way...

There were also a few times when my partner and I just pitched in and helped somebody do something. We had a big Ford Country Squire station wagon, and pretty much any plumbing or electrical tool you could want was in back there somewhere.

On the other hand, there were a few contractors -- out of state folks who didn't know how things worked in [unnamed State] who gave us a hard time, and we did have a few slightly quirky state-specific regulations. One of the things I learned rather early on was that it was literally impossible to do everthing exactly according to code (we used three -- National Electrical, Uniform Building, and National Plumbing -- this was years and years ago) and, honestly, if someone was being difficult...

Back when I started working in NJ, there was no HVAC license. There was an electrician and a plumbing license but not HVAC. Since I was not an electrician or a plumber, I needed to get the local municipality contractor license in order to pull a permit. Since I worked the entire county, in some years I had up to 7 different licenses. I always renewed my Sea Isle City license because where I lived did not require a license. Then when I needed a permit, I would fill out all the forms and ask if this town required a municipal license? I showed my Sea Isle Local License, my insurance certificate and my registered company name for a NJ corporation. This was usually enough.

One time I had all the papers filled out for Lower Township NJ with the local license app, the sub-code form for plumbing, a gas pipe diagram and walked into the office and asked for the plumbing inspector. I told him that I was installing about 6 ft of gas pipe for a wall hung non-vented space heater. There was no electric, no chimney or vent connection and the gas company had already piped in the service riser from the street.

Now since I started work at 7:30 AM and the code office was not open until 9:30 AM and the plumbing inspector did not show up until 10:00 AM, I had 90% of the work done and just wanted to get the paperwork done so I could get a gas pressure test inspection.

This BOZO went to the customer's home and told her that she should not have let me into her home, because I was unlicensed, and had no insurance, and was probably going to try to rip her off.

That afternoon I returned to finish the pipe and put a pressure test on it. The customer started to scream at me and was so upset with me because of what the inspector told her. After she calmed down, I explained that I do not have a license in every town, but only get that town's license when I need to get a permit. I showed her the photocopies of the application, my insurance and the other 2 licenses I had from other towns. All good... Because I have been doing her oil burner service for about 5 years by then.

When I got the call from Lower Township three days later, to say the permit was ready and the cost was going to be a little over $300.00 and to bring 2 separate checks because the license and the permit could not be paid with the same check. No problem. I showed up the following day and got the breakdown for the permit and license

$100.00 License application for 1984
$ 75.00 License renewal for 1985 because the work could not possibly be inspected until the next year (it was November and they were sure that I was not going to be finished before the end of the year)

$35.00 Minimum charge for gas line inspection for a heating appliance (plumbing)
$35.00 Minimum charge for electrical permit. Obviously you need to wire up that heater
$35.00 Minimum charge for a fire inspection. Any gas heating appliance needs to have a fire inspection.
$25.00 The cost of filing a permit with the building department

So those 4 forms will cost $130.00

Total to get permission for installing a gas pipe and having it inspected $305.00

Do you know what I charged the customer for the gas pipe? $250.00 for parts labor and hanging the gas heater on the wall that she purchased from a big box store, where she wanted it.

So… Who is doing the ripping off here?

I called the Mayor’s office and said that the building department slandered ME, and my company in front of a Voter, The plumbing inspector told said Voter that I was ripping her off, And now wants me to pay them over $300.00 for permission to do a job that I only charged that voter $250.00 for. I made that call from the building department’s phone so they all could hear me.

As it turns out I paid for the license application $100.00 and 35.00 for the gas pipe inspection. It turns out that I did not need a building permit because the building was already there. The fire inspector only inspects the venting system on gas furnaces and boilers, and this was an unvented appliance, so nothing to inspect. And there were no electrical connections because the gas valve ran on a pilot generator. Even the optional fan would just plug into the wall. But what do I know, I was just a kid back then.

$135.00 and I only needed one check. The plumbing inspector wrote a letter of apology to that customer because he misspoke.

A steam boiler failing every ten years is the true sign of excessive make up water caused by leaks weather on the wet side or on the steam side it’s a sign of a heating contractor just changing parts and not finding the leaks and repairing . True some small leaks are near impossible to find until they final give way and give visual signs of leakage . As the doom looms on gas appliances wonder what the story will be when every thing is electric in homes that are ancient that will never be energy eff I gather it will be cold and high bills to remain cold . It would seem that to keep the ball rolling in a larger pic nothing can last forever things must fail and the endless cycle continues like birth life and death it’s the same w mech things it s the same cycle . You pick your poison and cross your fingers make the sign of the cross and spit on it to seal the deal . What’s one to do . One must pick their fate deal w the cards they’re dealt and move on . It may seem off base from the topic at hand but think about it and think cause and effect and reflect and think about the past where we are today and if maybe just a little bit of foresight in the past would have led us all down a possibly better road then the toll based pot holed ridden roads that we all drive on and accept and tolerate while we pay tolls ,fuel road taxes and qod only knows what else and the holes get bigger . Why would anything ina private for profit bussinesss make anything which lasts forever . In reality they all really want a piece of the toilet paper business one wipe and it’s gone zero liability zero complaints would not that be excellent one use no complaints and money in the bank . There getting close 2 year or 24 k warranty ona new car just like toilet paper one wipe and it down the drain .
Ok enough rant more coffee nicotine Benzedrine wish me luck .
Quoted jerry Reid
Peace and good luck clammy

It happens here quite a bit . In Jersey you must require the inspector to cite what chapter , paragraph , sub paragraph you are in violation of . He must oblige . When he does this then you can attempt to have a civilized discussion with him in the case he is incorrect .In the case he is and does not understand or has an issue in interpretation we make a formal request for interpretation to the Division of Consumer Affairs , code assistance unit . They give us an opinion within 72 hours max but usually faster .
As Swei stated that usually calms the beast and they tend to become human and realize that they are not the Authority having Jurisdiction . By that I mean that most States have an adopted model code that the inspector enforces . He does not get to make up his own facts and rules , that's for Politicians