Construction and Building Inspectors
Significant human skills needed
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations. Inspections may be general in nature or may be limited to a specific area, such as electrical systems or plumbing.
Core Tasks
- Approve building plans that meet required specifications.
- Review and interpret plans, blueprints, site layouts, specifications, or construction methods to ensure compliance to legal requirements and safety regulations.
- Issue permits for construction, relocation, demolition, or occupancy.
- Inspect bridges, dams, highways, buildings, wiring, plumbing, electrical circuits, sewers, heating systems, or foundations during and after construction for structural quality, general safety, or conformance to specifications and codes.
- Monitor installation of plumbing, wiring, equipment, or appliances to ensure that installation is performed properly and is in compliance with applicable regulations.
- Inspect and monitor construction sites to ensure adherence to safety standards, building codes, or specifications.
- Confer with owners, violators, or authorities to explain regulations or recommend remedial actions.
- Measure dimensions and verify level, alignment, or elevation of structures or fixtures to ensure compliance to building plans and codes.
- Maintain daily logs and supplement inspection records with photographs.
- Conduct inspections, using survey instruments, metering devices, tape measures, or test equipment.
- Train, direct, or supervise other construction inspectors.
Supplemental Tasks (8)
- Monitor construction activities to ensure that environmental regulations are not violated.
- Evaluate project details to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
- Inspect facilities or installations to determine their environmental impact.
- Examine lifting or conveying devices, such as elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, hoists, inclined railways, ski lifts, or amusement rides to ensure safety and proper functioning.
- Conduct environmental hazard inspections to identify or quantify problems, such as asbestos, poor air quality, water contamination, or other environmental hazards.
- Estimate cost of completed work or of needed renovations or upgrades.
- Evaluate premises for cleanliness, such as proper garbage disposal or lack of vermin infestation.
- Sample and test air to identify gasses, such as bromine, ozone, or sulfur dioxide, or particulates, such as mold, dust, or allergens.
Emerging Tasks
New and evolving responsibilities for this role:
- Inspect structures to determine cause and origin of damage.
Education & Training
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (33)
Tools & Equipment (95)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Local, State, & Federal Services Advanced Manufacturing
Construction Planning & Development Advanced Manufacturing
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