GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB
The purpose of this class is to perform comprehensive inspections and prepare reports for new and existing commercial, industrial, high-rise, assembly, and other complex building projects to ensure compliance with County-approved plans, specifications, codes, and standards. This position conducts life-safety inspections related to building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, fire suppression, sprinkler, and related codes and ordinances. The position may also assist with training and supporting residential inspections and inspections of unsafe structures as assigned.
This role interprets and applies complex building codes for contractors, design professionals, property owners, and the public, and performs related administrative and technical work. The position regularly interacts with County staff, other agencies, architects, engineers, developers, contractors, builders, trades professionals, and other stakeholders involved in construction activity. Work requires the application of advanced technical knowledge and independent judgment in an environment where codes, technology, and construction practices change frequently.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions:
- Comprehensively investigates and inspects, upon complaint or other knowledge, existing buildings and structures which may be unsafe, unfit, or unlawful.
- Firmly, fairly, and courteously enforces: the condemnation and closing of unfit, vacant buildings or structures; the vacating, temporary safeguarding, and emergency repair of unsafe buildings or structures; and either the repair or demolition and debris removal of unsafe buildings or structures.
- Issues compliance orders and notices of violation, posts properties with notices and condemnation placards, and maintains official records of complaints, investigations, communications, administrative actions, legal proceedings, and expenditures.
- Consults with property owners, neighborhood leaders, contractors, builders, trades craftsmen, and other customers in person, by telephone, and through correspondence.
- In concert with the Building Official, processes and participates in appeals to the Building Codes Board of Adjustment, regarding decisions, notices, or orders issued.
- Coordinates property maintenance, residential, and commercial inspections and administrative orders with other building inspectors and building officials.
- Assists with the inspections of demolition and debris removal vendors and manages their contractual relationships with the County.
- In consultation with the Building Official and/or Director that approves the use, and may require the testing, of alternative materials and methods of construction as deemed appropriate.
- Comprehensively inspects new and existing commercial buildings, multi-family dwellings, to ensure compliance with all applicable building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire safety, handicapped, and energy conservation codes, and County-approved plans, specifications, and standards, as well as residential construction and unsafe structures as needed to include respective codes as required.
- Firmly, fairly, and courteously enforces building code, zoning ordinance, floodplain management, and other land development regulations of Richland County.
- Keeps Building Official and Plans Examiners aware of problems discovered in field inspections. Coordinates building inspection activity with relevant County staff and external agencies. Assist with plans reviews for residential and commercial when needed.
- Assists customers with questions and interpretations concerning specific code sections, and their application to general and particular situations.
- Attends and actively participates in staff meetings to improve code enforcement.
- Prepares and processes various records and reports, such as permits, inspections, time sheets, and utility releases.
- Seeks to improve and reform department policies, procedures, and workflow to achieve more successful results. Promotes efficient use of County equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Helps develop and maintain complete, accurate, and current paper records and computer databases.
- Assists other Commercial Building Inspectors, substitutes for Residential Building Inspectors, unsafe inspectors, and performs other duties as assigned.
- Comprehensively inspects all types of new and existing construction in all occupancy groups, to ensure compliance with all applicable building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire safety, handicapped, and energy conservation codes, and County-approved plans, specifications, and standards.
- Discovers conditions of code non-compliance and issues corrective notices to responsible parties.
- Firmly, fairly, and courteously enforces building code, zoning ordinance, floodplain management, and other land development regulations of Richland County.
- Keeps Building Official and Plans Examiners aware of problems discovered in field inspections. Coordinates building inspection activity with relevant County staff and external agencies.
- Consults with architects, engineers, surveyors, developers, contractors, builders, trades craftsmen, and the general public in person, by telephone, and through correspondence.
- Assists customers with questions and interpretations concerning specific code sections, and their application to general and particular situations.
- Attends and actively participates in staff meetings to improve code enforcement and process.
- Performs building damage assessments after natural or other disasters.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- High School Diploma or equivalent vocational training in the field of construction.
- Prefer Associate’s Degree in Construction Project Management, Construction Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
- Four (4) years of experience in a construction-related field.
-or-
- Any combination of education and experience that meets the requirements for performing the essential functions of this job.
Licenses/Certifications/Other:
- Must possess Residential Certifications from the International Code Council (ICC) as a Residential Building Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, and Plumbing Inspector.
- Must possess or have the ability to obtain Commercial Certifications from ICC as a Commercial Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, and Electrical Inspector within eighteen (18) months of hire date.
- Must possess or obtain and maintain all corresponding Code Enforcement Officer registrations/licensing issued by the South Carolina Building Codes Council.
- Must possess a valid state driver’s license.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Data Involvement: Requires gathering, organizing, analyzing, examining or evaluating data or information and may prescribe action based on such data or information. Must have a thorough understanding of all facets of construction methods and practices. Must be able to read, interpret and apply building plans and other drawings to architectural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and other building systems. Must be able to understand and apply: International Commercial and Residential Codes (consisting of all building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing requirements); the ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessible and Useable Buildings and Facilities regulations; the International Energy Conservation Code; and the International Property Maintenance Code.
- People Involvement: Requires persuading or influencing others in favor of a service, point of view, or course of action; may enforce laws, rules, regulations or ordinances.
- Involvement with Things: Requires handling or using machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner.
- Reasoning Requirements: Requires performing skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem-solving.
- Mathematical Requirements: Requires using mathematics involving the practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions; or measurements, logarithmic or geometric construction. May use algebraic solutions of equations and inequalities; descriptive statistics; deductive geometry, plane and solid, and rectangular coordinates; mathematical classifications or schemes.
- Language Requirements: Requires reading technical instructions, procedures, manuals and charts to solve practical problems; composing routine reports and specialized reports, forms and business letters with proper format; speaking compound sentences using normal grammar and word form.
- Mental Requirements: Requires doing specialized technical or entry-level professional work requiring general understanding of operating policies and procedures and their application to problems not previously encountered; application of specialized technical or professional principles and practices or the use of a wide range of administrative methods in the solution of problems; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results and occasional exposure to unusual pressure.
- Computer Requirements: Must be proficient in use of Microsoft Office.
- Judgments and Decisions: Responsible for guiding others, requiring frequent decisions affecting co-workers and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but with many variations from the routine.
Physical Requirements:
The work is light work which requires the person in this position to occasionally exert up to 20 pounds of force to grasp, lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
- Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
- Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
- Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
- Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
- Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
- Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
- Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
- Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
- Visual Acuity: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Including color, depth perception, and field vision. Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
- Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays. This position requires regular and reliable attendance and the employee’s physical presence at the workplace. The job may risk exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, confined spaces, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, heights, unsafe structures/construction sites, disease/pathogens, toxic/caustic chemicals, and violence. Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.
EEO AND ADA MESSAGE
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.
Richland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
Richland County has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment.
