Commercial Building - Footing

• Determine if the soil has the minimum bearing capacity as designed. Check geotechnical test results.
• Verify that the soil in the area of the footings is consistent (No soft spots, color changes, exposed strata, debris, or water).
• Verify that weather conditions are suitable for placing concrete or that proper precautions are used to adjust for adverse conditions.
• Compare actual dimensions with those on approved drawings.
• Determine if the bottom of the footing is below the frost line; unless otherwise protected (30" below finished grade).
• Verify that the ground wire or horizontal ground rod is in place where applicable.
• Verify that reinforcement steel is placed in accordance with approved drawings.
• Verify that approved dowels are in place where required.
• Prior approval must first be obtained when professional third party inspectors are used. Submit the engineer's certification to the Building Inspections office as soon as possible. All engineer's certificatiions shall list the building address, permit number and have the engineer's original stamp and signature. Fax # 410-313-1861.

Commercial Building - Slabs

• Determine if the required base material is four inches thick and consists of clean, graded sand, gravel, crushed stone or crushed slag.
• Determine if a vapor retarder is provided and that it is a 6 mil visqueen vapor retarder with joints lapped not less than six inches and placed at the bottom of the slab.
• Determine if the slab thickness and reinforcement is in accordance with design criteria and compares favorably to approved plans.
• Verify that the concrete mix will result in a compressive strength equal to the design criteria. (Check Delivery Tickets)
• Verify that required and approved perimeter slab insulation is installed properly.
• Verify that all requirements to the approved plans have been met.

Commercial Building - Framing

• Compare joists species, grade, size, clear span and spacing of the joists with design specifications, approved drawings, codes, and manufacturers details.
• Compare headers and girders species, grade, size, clear span and spacing of the joists with design specifications, approved drawings, codes, and manufacturers details.
• Determine if the length of the bearing point is at least 1½ inches if the supporting element is wood or metal, or at least 5 inches if masonry.
• Determine if the joists are supported by an approved and properly installed joist header or ledger strips at least 2 inches by 2 inches, where joists are framed into the side of a wood beam or girder.
• Verify that there are no notches in the middle 1/3 of any joist span.
• Verify that notches on the ends of the joist do not exceed ¼ the depth of the joist.
• Verify that notches between the ends and middle 1/3 of the span do not exceed 1/6 the depth of the joist.
• If the top notches in the ceiling joists exceed 1/6 of the joist depth, then verify that they are located no further than the joist depth from the face of the support and that they do not exceed 1/3 of the joist depth.
• Verify that notches are not longer than 1/3 of the joist depth.
• Verify that the tension side of the member is four inches or greater in nominal thickness and is not notched, except at the ends of the member.
• Check that there are no bored holes within two inches of the top or bottom of the joist.
• Confirm that the diameters of bored holes do not exceed 1/3 of the depth of the joist.
• Check that there are no holes within two inches of another hole or notch. Determine if the joists are toe nailed to the sills or girders with at least 3-8d nails.
• If posts are used to support beams and girders, then determine if positive connections are installed.
• Determine if the joists parallel to the bearing walls above are doubled OR an equivalent beam is used as a minimum.
• Determine if the header span is greater than four feet. If so, then the header is to be at least doubled.
• Determine if approved joist hangers are used to connect the header and trimmer joists for header joist spans greater than six feet.
• Determine if the ends of the joists NOT over an intermediate support, are laterally supported by full-depth, 2-inch thick solid blocking, a header, band or rim joist, or to adjoining stud.
• Ensure that 6' - 8' minimum headroom exists in all stairways.
• Verify that floor penetrations are properly fire safed with approved materials.
• Verify that spray on fire protection for structural steel members is applied completely.
• Verify that exterior wall veneer balloon framing is properly fire stopped.
• Verify that interior shaft walls are configured per the approved plan.
• Verify that Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection rough-in inspections have been approved. 

Commercial Building - Final

Exterior Inspections

• Ensure that the bold, readily visible, street address is posted. Numbers/letters should be 6 inches minimum in height.
• Verify exits are properly identified with exit signs and have required hand / guardrails.
• Verify Handicapped accessibility is properly installed (correct slope) and identified; signs have minimum 7 foot clearance from ground.
• Collect all required structural certifications as enumerated on Plan Reviews approval letter.
• Ensure that sediment control measures are protecting adjoining properties.
• Ensure that the finished grade, down spouts, and splash blocks are directed away from the building.
• Determine that the lot improvements, i.e., paving, walks, storm water facilities, entrance culverts, landscaping, miscellaneous structures, etc., are in substantial compliance with the permit documents.
• Determine that the building is sealed against moisture penetration, i.e., painting, caulking and flashings.
• Determine that chimneys and flues are terminated in accordance with applicable codes and manufacturers instructions.
• Ensure that approved window screens are in place, where applicable.
• Ensure that no emergency vehicles or private homeowner access to the new b