Blog: City Blog

#KnoxvilleJobDone: Plans Review and Inspections Employees Keep Us Safe

The City's 15 building and safety inspectors in the Plans Review and Inspections Department take their jobs seriously.

They know that what they do on the front end, when a new house or business is being built, can prevent tragedies down the road from radon leaks, electrical fires and other mishaps.

"Our role is to proactively ensure life safety," says Plans Review and Inspections Director Peter Ahrens. "We ensure that structures will stand the test of time and be safe environments for the people who live or work in them."

Robinson also prepares to enter a crawlspace to inspect the floor framing, foundation piers and the radon mitigation system.

Inspector Ben Robinson prepares to enter a crawlspace to inspect the floor framing, foundation piers and the radon mitigation system.

Inspector Eric Lett checks the depth of a trench meant to be the final resting place of a building's electric service line.

While the number of staff out in the field is small, there are some big numbers associated with the City's Plans Review and Inspections Department.

In the current fiscal year, Plans Review and Inspections has issued 1,995 building permits for projects valued at $618,329,470. That's $618 million in construction and renovation work, in just one year.

The Plans Review and Inspections Department also is trying to get the word out to developers, builders, architects and property owners about tools available to enable them to make their investments and property upgrades faster and more efficiently.

For example, Plans Review examiners have reviewed 1,471 sets of plans. But only 18 of those sets were reviewed using the expedited review process, available at no additional cost to the applicant. (For details on how to take advantage of this option of setting up a meeting and getting on-the-spot permits for less-complicated projects, click HERE.)

The department this year held six pre-submittal conferences for complex construction or renovation projects. At these sessions, City staff will review a preliminary copy of plans, offer comments, provide answers to specific questions and offer possible solutions to difficult design challenges. This will help to ensure a successful project when it is submitted later for the official Plans Review. And a pre-submittal conference is also available at no charge to the applicant.

Here's one more big number!

Plans Review and Inspections this year issued 6,776 trade permits (electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits).

Inspector Don Garrett confers with a project superintendent on the "how's" and "why's" of the National Electrical Code and on the requirements of a safe electrical system.

Inspector Ben Robinson prepares to climb up into an attic to perform a final inspection of the roof structure, insulation levels and HVAC systems.

Robinson prepares to climb up into an attic to perform a final inspection of the roof structure, insulation levels and HVAC systems.

This at-a-glance look at the Plans Review and Inspections Department is part of a week-long series of City Blog posts during National Public Works Week. If you see a City inspector at a job site, thank him or her for keeping us safe!

#PublicWorksWeek
#KnoxvilleJobDone

Posted by evreeland On 22 May, 2020 at 1:58 PM