Push me and I will use a four letter word.

Submitted by DonHester on Tue, 10/21/2014 - 09:06.

Push me and I will use a four letter word. Wenatchee Home Inspections

Ahh the infamous four letter words. We all know what they are, or do we?

Well in the world of home inspections “THE FOUR LETTER WORD” is “CODE”. This word will evoke many emotions in the world of home inspectors. It seems that we avoid the word like leprosy. Why is that, and really what is the logic behind it, it is the set of rules that dictate how it is to be done, at a minimum.

Even in my State of Washington in the WAC (Washington Administrative Code) which is the law of the land for us as Washington State Home Inspectors will not use the “CODE” word in the “CODE”.

Chapter 308-408C of the WAC is where our “CODE” comes from. They use the words “Industry Standards”. What the heck is that you say? Well it really is implying “CODES”. That is what the “Industry Standards” are, the rules that are used to build a home.

So now lets jump into some “Industry Standards”.

From the 2012 IRC (Residential CODE)

R105.8 Responsibility.

It shall be the duty of every person who performs work for the installation or repair of building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, for which this code is applicable, to comply with this code.

Yep, if you work on a home you are responsible to know the “CODE” no matter who you are, homeowner, contractor or Uncle Bob (who seems to bear much of the blame). Oh boy this is fun.

Now comes the real life story. On a recent home inspection on a very nice custom home. I figured out that none of the upper bathroom exhaust fans were venting to the exterior. My guess from what I could hear was they were venting into the soffit by the bird blocking.

So I write this issue up and that a “Qualified Contractor” evaluate and repair as necessary. But this is where it really gets fun. The “Qualified Contractor” states that it is okay to vent to the soffit... WHAT!

This is where I get to use “FOUR LETTER WORD” - “CODE”. Yes that dirty little word that when I am pushed I will use. Because without it what are going to say, I don’t like it, It should not be done this way etc…

It is unfortunate but often you have to reach for that higher authority which is the “CODE”. I actually hate doing this because I do not feel this ever needs to be a Home Inspector versus Contractor thing. It should be about doing the right thing.

So to help my client I use the code that was in play at the time of build.

2006 - 2012 IRC (same verbiage for three code cycles)

IRC M1501.1 Outdoor discharge.

The air removed by every mechanical exhaust system shall be discharged to the outdoors in accordance with Section M1506.2. Air shall not be exhausted into an attic, soffit, ridge vent or crawl space.

So yes per industry standards you have to get those exhaust fans to the exterior just like the “pain in the bottom” Home Inspector recommended who is just Furnishing Unique Contractor Knowledge when need be.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection- Bellingham Technical College

www.ncwhomeinspections.com 509-670-9572

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Push me and I will use a four letter word.