RESIDENTIAL BUILDING - FRAMING

Special Note: All necessary certifications and new home wall check drawings must be received at the building inspection office prior to requesting a frame inspection. All approved plans, roof and floor truss drawings and manufacturers specifications must be on site for the frame inspection.

• 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.

Roof Framing Inspections

Special Note: All approved building permit drawings, manufacturers shop drawings and details, necessary certifications and prior approval of location survey submission must be in place prior to requesting this roof framing inspection.

• Compare rafter size, span, species, grade, and spacing with design specifications/drawings and code.
• Examine rafter lumber four inches and wider to verify that there are no notches on the tension side EXCEPT at either end.
• Examine rafters to verify that there are NO notches in the middle 1/3 of the span, and notches located in the top or bottom of the rafters do NOT exceed 1/6 the rafter depth. Verify that notches are no longer than 1/3 of the rafter depth.
• Examine end notches to determine that they do NOT exceed ¼ the depth of the rafter.
• Examine rafters to determine that there is NO bored hole within two inches of the top or bottom of the rafter or within two inches of another hole or notch.
• Examine bored hole (more than two inches from the top OR bottom of the rafter) to determine that the hole diameter does NOT exceed 1/3 the depth of the rafter.
• If there are notches on cantilevered rafters, verify that the remaining portion of the rafter is not less than four inch nominal and the length of the cantilever is not more than 24 inches.
• If rafter ties are used, then verify that:
  
  
  
  1. rafter ties are not more than 4' - 0" on center;
  2. Face nailed to rafter with 3-8d nails;
  3. Tie is a minimum of a 1 x 4.
  
  
  
• Determine that roof rafters are toe nailed to plate with 2-16d nails.
• Examine the ridge board to determine that the thickness is at least one inch nominal AND that the depth is not less than the cut end of the rafter.
• Determine that the roof rafters are toe nailed to ridge board with 4-16d OR face nailed with 3-16d nails. If there is no ridge board, then the rafters must be framed together with a gusset plate.
• If there are hip and valley rafters, then determine that the thickness is not less than two inches nominal and that the depth is not less than the cut end of the roof rafter.
• Determine if the roof rafters are toe nailed to hip and valley rafters with 4-16d nails or face nailed with 3-16d nails.
• Determine if the end of each rafter has at least 1½ inches of bearing on wood OR three inches of bearing on masonry.
• Determine if the rafters having a depth to thickness ratio exceeding 5:1 have lateral support at bearing points to prevent rotation.
• If the rafters have a nominal depth to thickness ratio exceeding 6:1, determine if the rafters are laterally supported by either solid blocking, diagonal bridging (wood or metal), OR 1 x 3-inch bridging nailed to the rafter at intervals no more then 8 feet.
• If the header in the roof opening is greater than four feet, then determine if the header and trimmer rafters are doubled and approved joist hangers are used to connect the header to rafters.
• Determine if the roof truss is built and installed to comply with the manufacturers design truss drawings.
• Determine if the roof truss is braced per truss design drawings.
• Check that NO roof truss member is cut, notched, drilled, spliced OR altered, unless approved by a registered design professional.
• Determine if the trusses are bearing at the proper bearing points marked on the truss.
• Determine that the girder trusses are fastened together to comply with the manufacturers design.
• Ensure that a minimum 22" x 30" attic access is provided and that an elevated platform and catwalk is provided for equipment maintenance with the service areas 30" x 30" minimum, when applicable.

Wall Framing Inspections

Special Note: All approved building permit drawings, manufacturers shop drawings and details, necessary certifications and prior approval of location survey submission must be in place prior to requesting this wall framing inspection.

• Compare bearing studs (size, spacing, grade, and species) to the requirements indicated on the approved plans and code tables.
• Determine that exterior walls have a top plate that is doubled and overlapped at the corners and intersects with the bearing walls. The top plate end joints must have a 24 inch minimum offset.
• If a single top plate is used, check that it is tied at joints, corners and intersecting walls with a 3-inch x 6-inch x 0.036-inch-thick galvanized steel plate nailed to each wall with 8-16d nails AND rafters or joints are centered within one inch of supporting studs.
• Determine that the cripple walls are less than 14 inches in height and are sheathed with plywood or structural panels on at least one side and attached to both top and bottom wall plates or constructed of solid blocking.
• If the foundation cripple walls exceed four feet in height, determine if the stud framing complies with the size requirements for an additional story by code.
• If the notches in the top plates exceed 50 percent of their width, then verify that the top plate is reinforced with a galvanized metal tie not less than 0.054 (16 gage) inch thick and 1.5 inches wide fastened across the cut plate with 6-16d nails (three at each end).
• Compare the actual headers and spans to the building code table for maximum spans allowed.
• Determine if a 1 x 4-inch let-in or approved metal strap bracing is located at each corner (end) AND at least every 25 feet on center, but not less than 16 percent of braced length.
• Determine that structural sheathing is installed per Section R-602 IRC Code and manufacturers specifications.
• Determine if each 1 x 4-inch brace is:
  
  
  
  1. Placed at an angle from horizontal between 45 and 60 degrees.
  2. Let into both top and bottom plates and adjoining studs.
  3. Correctly fastened.
  4. If metal bracing is used, then verify that the metal braces are installed and mounted in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and/or installation instructions.

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