Inspections, what to expect

[lostemma]

Hi, I am hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on Building inspections.

I am one of those odd owner builders and having finished frame and cladding etc, asked council to comeout and do a Frame/lock-up inspection.

After a few weeks they turned up, and the inspector has now told me that I have to get the Manufacturer of my home to come out and do the frame inspection as he doesnt inspect Steel frames, he only does wooden frames.

I thought that seeing as they had my plans, which states its a steel frame house, they would have sent someone familiar with steel frames.

My bank came out and inspected, they are happy with frame and lock-up but has a catch they want top see the councils inspection before draw-down of money.

Am I being duped somewhere?

[womble]

doesn't sound like a qualified building inspector to me....contact council and ask questions, an inspector should be able to sign off on any building project

[ozwinner]

After a few weeks they turned up,

:eek: A coupla weeks. :eek:

Where do you live, Back o Burke??

A coupla day tops, not weeks..
Sounds like the inspector is pulling your chain..

Al :eek:

[bitingmidge]

I am one of those odd owner builders ......

Am I being duped somewhere?

Nope. You aren't being duped, but I suspect as an owner builder you may be inadvertantly tugging his chain, or paying the price for a long line of owner builders doing so.

If you trawl through some of the archives, you'll see a number of threads re owner building, in which tradesmen (like my dear friend Ozwinner) and professionals (like me ) alike agree that most owner builders, though they may be nice people, cause much angst through their ignorance of the process, and the relevant standards. No offence intended, but this is a bit like the position you are in now except you are caught between a supplier, and the certifier.

Building Surveyors have one book to go on: The Building Code of Australia, if it's not in there, they can't give it a tick.

In that code there are a number of "deemed to comply" building methods setout, and they are of course based on common construction methods, ie timber framing. (I haven't checked the latest update, but I'll bet there's no steel framing detail there.)

Anything that is not set out in the BCA is beyond the scope of the Building Certifier to Certify, and an independant professional certification is required. The people who sold you your steel frame will be able to advise whether this is in the scope of the Certifier, and give you the relevant clauses to refer him to, or should have advised you somewhere in your contract with them that you would need further certification.

This is not unusual. Every timber roof truss for instance comes with the certification of its designer, the steel frame should be no different.

In the meantime, do what you can to assist the building surveyor, and he might turn up the next day!

Cheers,

P

[ozwinner]

Funny you should mention this Midge.
When I did an extention on the place we are in at the moment, I did it solid brick (funny that).
When the inspector came to do the "frame" inspection, he just stood there and said "nice", signed and walked off..

Al

[thebuildingsurv]

If you provide the inspector with the wall and roof frame comps and strucural details, I can not see why they can not carry out the frame inspection. You should have called for it prior to the cladding going on but this should not be a huge drama. It should have been mentioned in the application process if you need to get the manufacturer to inspect the frame, the inspector doesnt sound very competant, does he inspect steel frame sheds. Steel frames arent that common in many areas so the inspector may not have the confidence to carry out the inspection. You call always complain to your local councillor about the proces however you may get the inspector offside. If it doesnt cost you much to get the manufacturer out there, it may just be easier to keep the inspector happy. I have knocked back things with steel frames and had the Manufacturer re-inspect and approve things that have differed from the approved engineering plans, and thus shift the liability back on them. They may be more leinient.

[lostemma]

thank you all for your comments, the inspector/valuer from the bank was a building inspector (unfortunately no longer a registered inspector), his comments were that everything was right and he was very surprised that the council inspector said that he didnt inspect steel frames

yes I live about 20km from the council office so they only come to my area once a week or so.

The frame was supplied by a kit home manufacturer, so I didnt make up the frame myself, I thought it would be a routine inspection.... ie
is the frame where its supposed to be,
is it screwed in the way its supposed to be ....those type of things.

I guess I'll just have to wait for his report to find out what he says about my frame inspection.