Why Building Code Compliance Inspection and Plan Reviews are Essential

FAQs
Who is authorized to conduct a building code compliance inspection and plan review?
Florida Statute, No. 553.791, known as “Private Provider Inspections” (PPI), authorizes the use of qualified engineering firms as private providers for state required building code inspections and plan review on construction projects.Statutes in other states may vary.  Before 553.792 was enacted in 2002, only governmental entities were entitled to conduct building code inspections and plan reviews.
Say I’m a commercial developer and I cut some corners in the code inspection and plan review process, am I at risk?
You could face costly state and federal penalties. More importantly, if not properly inspected and reviewed your construction project could fail at the planning stages. Worst-case scenario – your building could impose a danger to those who occupy it.
Any examples of building projects that failed to comply with codes and were actually dangerous?
Because of the legal ramifications of revealing disastrous episodes that might still be under litigation, we’ll use the example of November, 2012 tragedy in Accra, Ghana in which a 7-story shopping center collapsed, killing 14 people. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: “In this case, there were formal building codes in place, but there was a breakdown in their implementation at municipal government level. Sadly, it seems that this lack of compliance with construction standards was the sole cause of the building’s collapse.”
But could this happen in the United States?
Similar tragedies have occurred in the United States including a fire in a chicken processing plant in North Carolina in 1991 that was caused by a failed hydraulic line.  Twenty five (25) people died in the fire which investigators believe could have been prevented by a safety inspection. Incidentally, the owners of the plant went to prison and the fines levied against the negligent company was at that time the stiffest in the history of the state.
What services go into a building code compliance inspection and plan review?
At Universal Engineering Sciences these services may include Private Provider Inspection and Plan Review, Quality Assurance, Punchlist Origination, Threshold/Balcony Inspection and Due Diligence/Property Condition Assessment.
For more information about the building code compliance inspection and plan review process, visit UniversalEngineering.com or call xxx-xxx-xxxxc.