Special Inspection Manual: 2018 Edition

In extreme natural events such as earthquakes and hurricanes, the most common contributing factor to significant structural damage and building failure is construction that fails to comply with codes, standards and design documents. Having specialized oversight and increasing inspection frequency, duration and detail during the construction process helps mitigate construction issues.

The Special Inspection Manual gives detail to oversight and increased inspection requirements. The manual contains the requirements involving special inspection within the International Building Code, descriptions of the required special inspections and information on creating a special inspection program. It supports preparation for special inspection certification exams and aids building departments in their creation of procedures and forms to run a special inspection overview program.

The guidance in the manual is based on recommended practices and the consensus of building officials, design professionals, and inspection and testing agencies. Duties and responsibilities of the special inspector, building official, project owner, engineer or architect of record and contractor are defined. This manual is also helpful for design professionals writing statements of special inspections.