Special Inspection
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In Practice: Special Inspection
Masonry Construction, Quality Assurance, and Inspection
All types of construction are inspected. Inspection is a way of
ensuring that builders are doing what the designer intended, and
ultimately, that the owner is getting what they want. As masonry
construction continues to evolve, it’s increasingly important
to know how to inspect the work. There is guidance in various building
codes and specifications to help us know what to inspect for each
type of building and how often to inspect it.
What are some of the reasons we need to inspect construction? For
one thing, contemporary masonry construction can be more highly
detailed than in the past. For another, this is a way of catching
mistakes while they are still relatively easy to correct. Having
someone check the builder’s work is a reasonable and necessary
safeguard.
In many parts of the country, building codes define requirements
for inspection to ensure that masonry structures provide for public
lifesafety. “Special inspection” is the designation
given to this activity, with specific requirements for activities
and frequency of them to ensure quality in construction.
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| Grout cleanouts, which the contractor uses
to prepare the space for grouting, allow inspectors to verify
that reinforcement has been properly placed and tied. |
Inspection is only one aspect of a quality assurance (QA) program,
which is the overall plan for verifying construction. QA programs
are how compliance with contract documents is verified. Public safety
is addressed by instituting minimum code requirements, which may be
modified by the local building authority. In the United States, the
International Building Code (IBC) and the Masonry Standards
Joint Committee (MSJC) Building Code Requirements and Specification
for Masonry Structures are typically referenced for inspection
requirements. Both documents define different levels of inspection
for masonry construction on the basis of facility importance and design
procedure. However, the IBC designates two levels of special inspection
(Level 1 and Level 2) while the MSJC Code and Specification
designates three levels of quality assurance provisions (Level A,
Level B, and Level C), which include inspection requirements. IBC
Level 1 special inspection requirements generally parallel MSJC Level
B criteria and IBC Level 2 parallels MSJC Level C, although there
are some differences, primarily in requirements for frequency of inspection.
MSJC addresses inspection in the Code in Section 1.15 under the
heading "Quality Assurance Program" and in the Specification
in Section 1.6 under the heading "Quality Assurance."
The IBC addresses inspection requirements in Section 1704.5.
Within the MSJC Code and Specification, Level A is the basic, or
least stringent level and Level C is the most rigorous. From one
level to the next, requirements are progressive, so whatever you
do for Level A, you have to do that and more for Level B, and you
have to address all of these requirements for Level C. Where you
can use each level is outlined in the following table, although
an owner or designer always has the option of increasing the inspection
requirements.
Quality Assurance
Level |
Where to Use |
Construction |
A |
Nonessential facilities* |
Empirically designed masonry
Glass unit masonry
Masonry veneer |
B |
Nonessential facilities* |
Engineered masonry |
B |
Essential facilities* |
Empirically designed masonry
Glass unit masonry
Masonry veneer |
C |
Essential facilities* |
Engineered masonry |
*As
defined by building code, a facility’s importance and
the design procedures employed define the appropriate level
of inspection. A hospital is one example of an essential facility. |
Qualified inspectors should observe construction to verify compliance
with material specifications and that the as-built project conforms
to the contract documents and building code.
References
Building Code
Requirements for Masonry Structures and Specification for Masonry
Structures and Commentaries, Masonry Standards Joint Committee,
American Concrete Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers,
The Masonry Society, Boulder, Colorado, 2005.
International
Building Code, International Code Council, Whittier, California,
2003. A newer version,
published in 2006, is also available. (Both versions are likely
to be used for the next several years.)
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