Code Inspections are required for commercial buildings in Central Texas (and everywhere else). Codes help ensure that properties, land use, and building conditions are safe. If you’re about to endeavor on a commercial project, it’s essential to understand the most common code violations in Central Texas so you can plan for and avoid breaking them and having your construction shut down.
Common Outdoor Code Violations
Here are the most common outside code violations for commercial buildings in Central Texas.
- Stairways
Inspectors will be looking for trip hazards, unsecured treads, and the step height on the stairs. - Handrails and guardrails
Inspectors will be looking for loose rails without protective treatments and loose, missing, or incorrect spacing in the rails. - Walls
Inspectors will be looking at the trim, treatment, and weatherproofing on the walls. - Electrical fixtures
Inspectors will be looking for loose and/or exposed wires. - Plumbing
Common issues that inspectors will be looking for are leaking, the clean-out covers and piping, as well as backflow preventers. - Fences, walls, sidewalks, carports, and parking surfaces
Inspectors look for potholes, tripping hazards, and uneven walking surfaces. - Roof
The most common code violations that inspectors look for with a roof are the roof covering, soffit, and fascia. They’ll also check for leaks in downspouts and gutters. - Balcony, Deck, porch, patio, and landings
Inspectors will look for uneven walking surfaces and support systems that are not anchored and functional.
Common Indoor Code Violations
Here are the most common inside code violations for commercial buildings in Central Texas.
- Walls, flooring, ceilings
Inspectors will look for cracks, holes, trip hazards, gaps, and surface damage - Windows
Some of the most common code violations for windows are faulty locks, a lack of weather-tightness, and their ability to serve as an emergency exit, which can be fully opened without obstructions. - Electrical
Like outdoor code violations for electrical, indoor violations are typically exposed wires, faulty outlets, and switches that don’t work. - Sink, toilet, shower
Be sure to check to ensure that the water pressure is sufficient and that water is able to reach 110 degrees within 3 minutes. - HVAC system
Inspectors will look to ensure that the exhaust pipe is properly connected, the area is kept clear and that it can heat a room to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. - Infestation
The most common infestation that inspectors find are roaches, rodents, fleas, bedbugs, bees, and other pests. - Water heater
In order to pass inspection a water heater must have sufficient water pressure and can heat the water to 100 degrees Fahrenheit within three minutes. - Fire protection systems
Inspectors want to make sure that both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and in working order.
While these are by no means the only code violations that can occur during commercial reconstruction, it’s important to make sure that you have the knowledge you need to make a complaint and safe commercial building.