- The responsible RDP and their field personnel shall possess and maintain throughout the life of the project the certifications listed below from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Exception: The RDP and their field personnel shall be permitted to obtain the required DHCD certifications within one-year of entering the Third-Party Inspections Program provided evidence of passing the corresponding exams listed below from either the International Code Council (ICC) or National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI) is provided to the building official prior to conducting inspections.
Inspection Disciplines
|
DHCD Certifications Required
|
NCPCCI
exam
|
ICC
exam
|
Residential combination inspections
|
Residential Building Inspector
|
1A
|
B1
|
Residential Energy Inspector
|
NA1
|
B3
|
Residential Electrical Inspector
|
2A
|
M1
|
Residential Mechanical Inspector
|
4A
|
E1
|
Residential Plumbing Inspector
|
5A
|
P1
|
Commercial building inspections
|
Commercial Building Inspector
|
1B
|
B2
|
Commercial Energy Inspector
|
NA1
|
B3
|
Fire Prevention Inspector
|
3B2
|
|
Electrical inspections
|
Commercial Electrical Inspector
|
2B
|
E2
|
Mechanical inspections
|
Commercial Mechanical Inspector
|
4B
|
M2
|
Plumbing inspections
|
Commercial Plumbing Inspector
|
5B
|
P2
|
Fire Protection System |
Fire Protection Inspector |
3B2 |
|
1Energy conservation certifications are offered solely by ICC
2Fire Prevention Inspector certifications are offered solely by NCPCCI
- To become an approved third-party inspections firm in Fairfax County, please submit the application or call 703-631-5101, TTY 711. For fire protection systems, please contact the Office of the Marshal by email at fire.acceptancetesting@fairfaxcounty.gov. You will need to provide the following documentation for county review in order to qualify for the program:
- The name of the responsible RDP and their credentials to include resume and certifications.
- The names of field personnel, their assigned inspection types and their credentials to include resume and certifications.
- If the RDP or their field personnel are to be replaced, the replacement personnel shall also require prior approval by the building official.
- Any personnel from an inspections firm approving work not in conformance with this policy, county-approved plans and the applicable codes and standards will lose their ability to perform future inspections.
Qualifying Inspections
Listed below are the construction types eligible to be inspected in the program up to and including final inspection. Other inspections may be requested but are subject to authorization by the building official.
Inspections for New Construction
- Building inspections of:
- Footings, foundations, and slabs on grade, when not on problem soils or controlled fill, and for which a geotechnical report is not required
- Walls, columns, floors, roofs, floor/ceiling assemblies, and roof/ceiling assemblies
- Mechanical inspections of:
- Insulation and energy conservation material
- Ductwork
- HVAC appliances and equipment (new or replacement)
- Electrical inspections of:
- Electrical systems, materials and installations
- Reconnection of electrical services in buildings where the power company has disconnected power because of vacancy
- Plumbing inspections of:
- Groundwork
- Plumbing drain, waste and vent systems
- Water distribution systems
- Gas piping
- Plumbing equipment and appliance installations
- Sprinkler system inspections:
- Underground fire line
- Piping and attached appurtances
- Fire alarm inspections:
- Fire alarm devices
- System components
- Control equipment
- Special Hazard Systems
Inspections for Tenant Spaces
- Building inspections of walls, columns, floors, roofs, floor/ceiling assemblies, and roof/ceiling assemblies
- Mechanical inspections of:
- Insulation and energy conservation material
- Ductwork
- HVAC appliances and equipment (new or replacement)
- Electrical inspections of:
- Electrical systems, materials and installations
- Reconnection of electrical services, in tenant spaces where the power company has disconnected power because of vacancy
- Plumbing inspections of:
- Groundwork
- Plumbing drain, waste and vent systems
- Water distribution systems
- Gas piping
- Plumbing equipment and appliance installations
- Sprinkler system inspections:
- Underground fire line
- Piping and attached appurtances
- Fire alarm inspections:
- Fire alarm devices
- System components
- Control equipment
- Special Hazard Systems
Inspections for the Following Construction
- Satellite dishes (free-standing, roof-mounted or wall-mounted)
- Antennas and associated equipment
- Signs (free-standing, roof-mounted or wall-mounted)
- Systems furniture
- Temporary structures (erected for a period of less than 180 days) such as, but not limited to, tents, bleachers and grandstands
- Accessory buildings and structures in Group U, including but not limited to sound/screen walls, fences and sheds
- Industrialized buildings, trailers and modular construction
- Demolition of buildings and structures
- Reroofing of buildings
- Asbestos abatement
- Outside air balancing
- Water disinfecting
- Smoke alarms and heat detectors, annual reinspection
- Commercial swimming pools annual electrical reinspection
- Medical gas certification
Inspections Process
Inspections shall not be conducted until third-party personnel have been approved by the building official or designee, construction permits have been issued and county-approved documents are available on the job site.
Inspections, as required by the Virginia Construction Code, shall be performed at appropriate times prior to concealment of work. The contractor shall provide notice to the inspectors when the construction is ready for inspection.