Job Details
Sector(s)
Construction
Median Pay
$61,640 per year
Job Type
Mid-Level
Typical Entry-Level Education and Work Experience Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent, experience in a construction trade.
Position Title
Construction and Building Inspector
Alternate Titles
Quality Control Inspectors
Job Description
Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and federal building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.
Education and Training Description
Most employers require construction and building inspectors to have a high school diploma and prior experience in a construction trade. Trade experience might include work as an electrician, plumber, carpenter, or mechanic prior to working as a construction and building inspector.
Generally, construction and building inspectors receive on-the-job training under an experienced inspector to learn about inspection techniques; codes, ordinances, and regulations; contract specifications; and recordkeeping and reporting duties. After completing the required training, most states and localities require inspectors to earn a license or certification. Some states may require individual licensing programs, while other states require certifications by associations such as the International Code Council, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors.
Job Profile
Construction and building inspectors in the hydropower industry ensure safety compliance of structures and systems across the site. Examples of these structures and systems include: buildings, dams, roads, electrical systems, heating and air-conditioning, plumbing systems, etcetera.
Inspectors typically check a project several times throughout the construction stages. They will often perform an initial check in the early construction phase, follow-up inspections as the project progresses, and a comprehensive examination after its completion. After each inspection, they may provide written or oral feedback about their findings.
Special inspectors are a specialized type of construction inspector that are critical to the hydropower industry. Special inspectors ensure that critical construction components used in hydropower plant construction and maintenance, such as high-strength concrete, steel fabrication, and welding, are installed and tested according to design specifications.
Construction and building inspectors typically do the following:
- Review building plans and approve those that meet requirements
- Monitor construction sites periodically to ensure overall compliance
- Use equipment and testing devices, such as moisture meters, to check for plumbing leaks or flooding damage and electrical testers to ensure that electrical components are functional and properly grounded
- Inspect plumbing, electrical, and other systems to ensure that they meet code
- Use survey equipment to verify alignment, level, and elevation of structures and ensure buildings meet specifications
- Issue violation notices and stop-work orders if building is not compliant
- Keep daily logs, which may include digital images from inspections
- Document findings in writing.
Job Skills
- Communication skills. Inspectors must be able to explain problems they discover and to write a report that clearly describes their findings.
- Detail oriented. Inspectors thoroughly examine many different construction activities. They must pay close attention so as not to overlook any details.
- Mechanical knowledge. Inspectors use a variety of testing equipment to check complex systems and must therefore understand how the systems operate.
- Physical stamina. Inspectors are frequently on their feet and often climb and crawl through attics and other tight spaces. As a result, they should be physically fit.
More Information
For more information on construction and building inspectors see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Construction and Building Inspectors