10/23/2019

Typical Code Deficiencies Noted During A Partial/Final Inspection

I. Structural Deficiencies
1. Install seismic bracing at top of masonry block walls.
2. Remove flux from structural welds and retest welds.
3. Break un-sheared off ends of TC bolts and torque the connection.
4. Weld moment plates as required.
5. Place required re-bars at negative moments at pile caps.
6. Grout column bearing plates.
7. Install the required additional re-bars at slab & wall openings.
8. Remove debris from expansion joints.
9. Complete the return on welded connections.
10. Provide test reports for controlled backfill material.

II. Architectural Deficiencies

1. ADA compliance not completed.
2. Bracing for non-bearing walls not installed.
3. Fire rated doors not installed or labeled.
4. Lighting fixtures within suspended ceiling, weighing in excess of 56 lbs or more not
independently supported.
5. Vertical wires not installed properly to the ceiling system.
6. Install seismic bracing at top of masonry block walls.
7. Install expansion fittings in mechanical/electrical piping at expansion joints.

III. Mechanical Deficiencies

1. Required breakaway connections for duct system, penetrating through rated walls not installed.
2. Required sleeves for piping system penetrating through rated walls not installed.
3. Seismic bracing for sprinkler gas and other piping as well as all mechanical and electrical piping
systems not installed.

IV. Electrical Deficiencies

1. Enclosure for high voltage equipment not completed.
2. GFCI receptacles not installed.
3. Grounding for manholes and electrical component/equipment not completed.
4. Labeling for electrical equipment, components and panels not completed.

V. Fire Protection Design Issues

1. Clean Agent Systems:
i. Protected spaces fail initial acceptance room pressurization tests. Construction does not
satisfactorily seal the space to contain the extinguishing agent. Repeated attempts are
conducted to get a successful test. Alternate fire suppression systems could be used such
as pre-action sprinkler systems.
2. Fire Fighting Foam Systems:
i. Installed inside of buildings where code required initial acceptance and routine
inspection, testing, and maintenance is not performed. Design must include ability to
perform the required testing.
3. Deluge Sprinkler Systems:
i. Installed inside of buildings where code required initial acceptance and routine
inspection, testing and maintenance is not performed. Design must include ability to
perform the required testing.
ii. Provide appropriate drainage in the design of the system.
CAPTURE THESE REQUIREMENTS ON DESIGN DRAWINGS
4. Approved Equal:
i. QAD inspectors find different equipment or systems than what was identified on
approved design drawings. Changes made during construction were approved by an
EOR, who is an outside consultant. PA Engineering Design is not aware of the change.
PA Engineering Design should confirm changes to fire protection and life safety systems
or equipment.
5. Certified Contractors:
i. Fire Protection staff have found out at final acceptance inspections that contractors are
not certified to perform the work as required by NJ. REO claims that is not required
under the contract specifications.
 VI. Fire Protection Deficiencies
1. Install/repair emergency exit signs, due to obstruction/impairment.
2. Install and test missing fire dampers in fire rated walls.
3. Install/repair emergency lightings, due to obstruction/impairment.
4. Install rated doors/glass in fire rated walls.
5. Install fire extinguishers and fire hoses as required.
6. Retesting of smoke detectors for the fire alarm systems.
7. Retesting of fire shutters.
8. Retesting of sprinkler/standpipe/deluge systems.
9. Retesting of fire alarm system to receive signals in the remote police station.
10. Retesting of the fire suppression systems.
11. Retest pressurization for fire suppression systems.
12. Retest interlocking systems for HVAC systems.
13. Retest sprinkler systems hydrostatically.
14. Retest leak detection system for fuel tanks.
15. Install additional or relocate sprinkler heads due to obstruction.
16. Install seismic bracing and retaining straps for sprinkler piping systems.
17. Seal explosion proof electrical conduit fittings.
18. Install suspended ceiling light fixture bracing wire.
19. Install duct breakaway connection with proper access door in rated walls & slabs.
20. Provide locks for circuit breakers of emergency lighting and fire alarm panel.
21. Replace painted sprinkler heads and caps.
22. Provide clear path of egress within and beyond the occupancy areas.
23. Seal penetrations in fire rated walls.
24. Complete/patch missing fire proofing of structural steel.

VII. Vertical Transportation – General Deficiencies

1. The vast majority of code deficiencies we find for new construction occurs where other trades
interface with the elevator trade (e.g. smoke detector fire recall, standby generator power,
communications, hoistway ledges, pit drains and sump pumps, sprinklers in hoistways, glass
hoistways, glass hoistway and car doors, vision panels in hoistway and car doors).
2. The following must be permanently marked ANSI Z97.1 or 16 CFR Part 1201 and be visible
after installation:
i. Glass hoistway enclosure walls + must be laminated.
ii. Glass car enclosure walls + must be laminated.
iii. Glass car doors + must be laminated.
iv. Glass hoistway doors + must be laminated.
v. Transparent glazing material for hoistway door vision panels, if not clear wire glass.
vi. Laminated glass car door vision panels if not clear wire glass:
Glass or plastic escalator balustrade panels.
Glass or plastic escalator deck barricades.
Glass or plastic escalator ceiling intersection guards.
CAPTURE THESE REQUIREMENTS ON DESIGN DRAWINGS

VIII. Vertical Transportation – Elevator Deficiencies

1. Provide smoke detector inside the car.
2. Provide smoke recall.
3. Provide smoke and heat detectors in the machine room.
4. Provide smoke detector inside the pit.
5. Provide heat detector inside the pit for hydraulic elevator.
6. Provide smoke detectors at top of elevator shaft.
7. Provide heat detector inside the pit where sprinklers are more than 2 feet above the pit floor.
8. If sprinklers are installed in the hoistway provide NEMA4 enclosures for all electrical items
located within 4ft above pit floor. The associated wiring must be rated for wet locations as per
NFPA.
9. Provide communication system in the car.
10. Connect the emergency telephone to a location where it will be answered 24/7 by personnel that
will take appropriate action (e.g. elevator maintenance company).
11. Provide a means to automatically redirect the emergency telephone to a location where it will be
answered 24/7 by personnel that will take appropriate action (e.g. elevator maintenance
company) when on-site personnel do not answer it.
12. Provide a means on the emergency telephone to indicate on demand to the authorized personnel
answering the call the building location and the elevator number.
13. Provide a permanent label on the mainline disconnect with the elevator/escalator unit number.
14. Provide a permanent label on all electrical disconnects that indicate the feeding location for the
disconnect.
 15. Label all disconnects in the elevator machine room (car lighting, oil cooler…etc.).
16. Provide an ABC rated fire extinguisher in the elevator machine room, properly hang the fire
extinguisher and locate it convenient to the access door.
17. Provide self-closing and self-locking door hardware for machine room.
18. Install a simplex NON-GFCI outlet for the pit sump pump.
19. Perform required weight test.
20. If the use of elevator glass is allowed by building code:
i. Replace all the glass panels in the hoistway and elevator cab that do not confirm to ANSI
Z97.1 or 16 CFR Part 1201. All glass must be legibly and permanently marked 16 CFR
Part 1201, “American National Standard Z97.1” or the characters “ANSI Z97.1” and
shall be marked also with the manufacturer’s distinctive mark or designation. A few
hoistway panels were observed and the “ANSI Z97.1” etching was not visible.
21. Label all elevator entrances with the elevator unit number. The lettering of the elevator unit
number must be a minimum of 3 inches in height.
22. Provide a code data plate in plain sight and securely attached to the controller or mainline
disconnect that indicates the code in effect at the time of installation.
23. Provide the code required door time data plate for the front and/or rear car doors.
24. Provide a permanent and legible sign that is on or adjacent to the machine room door. The sign
should state “ELEVATOR MACHINE ROOM” with the elevator unit numbers associated with
the room.
25. Do not paint over the fire rating label on the machine room door and its associated frame.
26. Provide 19 foot-candles of light at any point in the elevator pit floor.
27. Provide the maintenance control program (MCP) for the unit and locate it in the machine room.
28. Clean the elevator machine room, pit, car top, hoistway door tracks, car door tracks of dust,
debris, dirt, loose wire.
29. Remove all non-elevator items from machine room.
30. Elevator cars that are made to accommodate an ambulance stretcher (as per the applicable
building code) must be identified by the international symbol for emergency medical services
(star of life). The symbol shall be not less than 3 inches in height and shall be placed on both
sides of the hoistway door frame at all floors.
31. Provide fall protection guarding between the deck barricade and the adjacent wall/balustrade at
both landing.
32. Glass in hoistway doors must be flush with the door frame on the landing side.
33. Glass in car doors must be flush with the door frame on the car side.
34. In NYC all hoistway ledges (except divider beams) over 4 inches (instead of 2 inches in ASME
A17.1) must be beveled at an angle not less than 75° with the horizontal and meet the strength
requirements.

IX. Vertical Transportation – MRL Elevator Deficiencies

1. Access to elevator spaces from roof tops. If access to elevator spaces from roof tops are
required, then guard rails should be provided for fall hazard protection. If the elevator space on
the roof is more than 35 inches from the roof top, then a permanent, noncombustible stairs that
are no more than 60 degrees from the horizontal and have standard noncombustible railings,
should be provided to access the platform or upper roof levels.
2. Pathways on roofs to elevators spaces and elevator access doors on roofs should be provided
with adequate lighting and should be provided with means to prevent falls and trips etc.
3. Access openings in elevator hoistway enclosures where full bodily entry is not necessary for
maintenance and inspection of components shall be:
i. Located to permit the required maintenance and inspection.
ii. Of maximum width of 600 mm (24 in.) and a maximum height of 600 mm (24 in.). These
dimensions shall be permitted to be increased, provided that any resultant opening
through the access opening into the hoistway shall reject a 300 mm (12 in.) diameter ball.
iii. Provided with doors that shall be kept closed and locked. Keys to unlock the access doors
to the elevator hoistways shall be of Group 1 Security*.
* Group 1 covers access or operation of equipment restricted to elevator
personnel. This key shall not be part of a master key system.
iv. Labeled "ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT" with letters not less than 51 mm (2 in.) high.
v. Labeled "DANGER: ELEVATOR HOISTWAY" with letters not less than 51 mm (2 in.)
high and have an electrical safety switch that will remove power from the hoist machine
and brake if the door is opened.
vi. Labeled with the elevator number (ex: PE1, PE A1, PE B2…etc.).
4. If access doors are provided to access elevator governors, the governors should be within arm’s
reach to for resetting and maintenance purposes.
5. Where a floor or platform is provided at the top of the hoistway, machinery spaces above such a
floor or platform shall have a clear headroom of not less than the following:
i. Spaces containing motor-generators 84 in.
ii. Spaces containing only overhead, secondary, or deflecting sheaves, 42 in.
 iii. Spaces containing overhead, secondary, or deflecting sheaves, and governors, signal
machines, or other equipment, 53 in.
6. For machine room less (MRL) elevators located in NYC, a permanent sign must be located on or
adjacent to the Phase I key switch. The sign must indicate the location of the mainline disconnect
switches for that bank of elevators. Lettering must be a minimum of 6 mm (0.25 in.) high in red
or a color contrasting with a red background.

X. Vertical Transportation – Escalator Deficiencies

1. Install sprinkler system.
2. Install smoke detectors.
3. Retest stop-switches.
4. Retest threshold plates.
5. Test for proper timing of unit shutdown.
6. Provide fall protection guarding between the deck barricade and the adjacent wall/balustrade at
both landing.
7. The escalator shuts down when smoke detector or pull stations are activated.
8. Provide a 15 second warning from the escalator emergency stop switch alarm prior to shutting
down the escalator.
9. Provide the maintenance Control Program (MCP) for the unit.
10. The sides and undersides of the escalator trusses and machinery spaces must be enclosed in fire
resistive materials (per the building code) to protect these spaces in case of a fire. This is
different than protecting the building from a fire that starts in the escalator. Enclosure of the truss
or machinery space in a fire rated ceiling or installing sprinklers in these spaces is not an allowed
in lieu of enclosing them.
11. If glass or plastic is used for the escalator (balustrade panels, deck barricades, ceiling intersection
guards etc..) it must conform to ANSI Z97.1 or 16 CFR Part 1201.
12. Provide tamper resistant fasteners for the deck barricades
13. Provide a permanent and legible label at the entrance or egress ends of the escalator with the
escalator unit number.
14. Enclose the sides and undersides of the escalator truss or group of trusses with noncombustible
materials.
15. Test as required to verify that the handrail speed monitor will activate if the speed of the handrail
deviates from the speed of the steps by more than 15% continuously for more than 2 seconds and
satisfactorily test. This procedure must be verified in the field.
16. Store an inspection control run box in the top pit.
17. Store a copy of the escalator schematics in the top pit.
18. Provide a permanent and legible code data plate on the escalator controller or mainline
disconnect, that is visible and indicates the code in effect at installation.
19. Repair as required so that the seams of the handrail guides are substantially flush.
20. Clean the escalator pit and exterior of dust and debris.

XI. Other Information – Missing Records

1. Special Inspection reports.
2. Special Inspection Checklists.
3. Test reports.
4. Required warranties.
5. Confirmation for completion of life safety systems, structural integrity and code issues by REO.