Now the building inspector is coming.
In Episode 50 of What the RFI?, we’re breaking down the occupancy inspection — what happens when the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) arrives on site, what the building inspector and fire department may look for, how the construction team should prepare, and what happens when an inspection deficiency stands between your project and an occupancy permit.
This is Part 3 of our four-part Occupancy & Project Closeout Series.
🏗️ WHAT WE COVER
* What is an AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)?
* Who is involved in an occupancy inspection?
* Why the occupancy process varies between municipalities
* When to start communicating with the building inspector
* Why you shouldn’t meet the inspector for the first time on occupancy day
* How to perform your own pre-occupancy walkthrough
* Exiting, egress and life-safety requirements
* Accessibility requirements
* Fire department inspections and requirements
* Who should attend the occupancy inspection
* How to document AHJ deficiencies
* What to do when the inspector identifies something unexpected
* Re-inspections and closing deficiencies
* Partial and conditional occupancy
* Getting the final occupancy approval
One of the biggest lessons from Construction Administration:
Walk the building BEFORE the inspector does.
Put on your building-inspector hat and look at the project differently.
Forget the paint touch-ups for a moment. Follow the path of egress. Open the doors. Check the hardware. Look at accessibility. Look at guards and handrails. Look at fire separations and fire department access. Make sure the life-safety systems are actually ready.
And when the AHJ finds something — because they probably will — don’t panic and don’t immediately argue.
Understand the concern.
Document it.
Assign it.
Resolve it.
Keep the project moving toward occupancy.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 The Building Inspector Is Here
00:20 Welcome to What the RFI?
02:00 What Is an AHJ?
03:30 Know Your AHJ
04:46 Don’t Meet the Inspector on Occupancy Day
07:24 Walk the Building Before They Do
08:49 What Will the AHJ Look For?
10:29 Fire Department Review
13:05 Occupancy Inspection Day
16:03 Before the AHJ Leaves
18:03 Unexpected AHJ Deficiencies
20:05 Closing the Deficiencies
23:00 Partial & Conditional Occupancy
25:02 Final AHJ Review Tips
27:01 Don’t Celebrate Yet!
🎧 OCCUPANCY & PROJECT CLOSEOUT SERIES
Follow the entire series as we take a construction project from occupancy preparation through integrated systems testing, the occupancy inspection and ultimately project closeout.
▶️ WATCH THE FULL OCCUPANCY SERIES
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDgn59YOfGm8
PART 1 — OCCUPANCY PREPARATION
What needs to happen before you can even think about calling for an occupancy inspection?
https://youtu.be/HDiwBEi4oHY
PART 2 — CAN/ULC-S1001 INTEGRATED SYSTEMS TESTING
What happens when all of the building’s life-safety systems are finally tested together?
https://youtu.be/NflfD6lh0Gs
PART 3 — OCCUPANCY INSPECTION: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE BUILDING INSPECTOR SHOWS UP?
You’re watching it!
PART 4 — PROJECT CLOSEOUT
Coming next: moving from occupancy into takeover, deficiencies, closeout documentation and the final stages of the construction contract.
🎙️ ABOUT WHAT THE RFI?
What the RFI? is a podcast about Construction Administration and what actually happens during construction.
We talk about RFIs, shop drawings and submittals, Supplemental Instructions, Change Orders, site meetings, field reviews, deficiencies, occupancy, project closeout and everything that happens between the construction drawings and the finished building.
Whether you’re an architect, construction administrator, consultant, contractor, project manager or just starting your career in the construction industry, the goal is simple:
Make Construction Administration easier to understand.
🌐 LEARN MORE
https://www.whattherfi.com
#ConstructionAdministration #OccupancyInspection #BuildingInspection
What the RFI? — The Construction Administration Podcast
Practical guidance for architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, owners, and project managers navigating construction administration.