The IBC special inspection program is the quality assurance layer that building officials rely on in place of their own inspectors for complex structural work. The documentation requirements are specific — the Statement of Special Inspections, individual inspection logs, deficiency records, and the final report — and a project that cannot produce a complete, coherent set of records will not receive a certificate of occupancy.
What documentation is required for an IBC special inspection program?
An IBC special inspection program requires: a Statement of Special Inspections (SSI) prepared by the engineer of record and approved with the building permit, listing each required inspection type, frequency, and applicable standard; an individual inspection log for every site visit; written deficiency notices and follow-up records for any non-conforming work; and a final inspection report submitted to the building official before the certificate of occupancy is issued. All records must be retained for a minimum of 10 years.
The Statement of Special Inspections (SSI) is the foundational document of the program. It is prepared by the engineer of record, not the contractor or the Special Inspection Agency, and it is submitted to the building department as part of the permit application. The SSI must identify:
| SSI Component | Required Content |
|---|---|
| Inspection categories | All categories triggered by IBC Table 1705 — concrete, reinforcing steel, masonry, structural steel, welding, soils, driven piles, spray-applied fire-resistive materials, and others as applicable |
| Frequency designation | "Continuous" or "Periodic" for each category, consistent with IBC Chapter 17 requirements |
| Applicable standards | ACI 318, AISC 360, TMS 402, ASTM standards, or project specifications, by category |
| Inspector qualifications | Required ICC certification category or state license for each inspection type |
| Special Inspection Agency | Name and contact information of the approved SIA performing inspections |
IBC Table 1705 identifies the construction activities that require special inspection. Projects that include any of these elements must have a corresponding SSI category:
| IBC Section | Activity | Typical Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1705.3 | Concrete (structural) | Continuous during placement; periodic for forming and reinforcing |
| 1705.3 | Reinforcing steel placement | Periodic — before concrete placement |
| 1705.4 | Masonry construction | Continuous (higher seismic) or periodic |
| 1705.2 | Fabricator shop and field work — structural steel | Periodic for erection; continuous for welding |
| 1705.6 | Soils and fill | Periodic — per geotechnical report requirements |
| 1705.7 | Driven deep foundations | Continuous during driving |
| 1705.14 | Spray-applied fire-resistive materials (SFRM) | Periodic |
The inspection log is the daily output of the special inspection program. Each log entry must be completed the day of the visit — reconstruction from memory is not acceptable and is identifiable to building officials reviewing the submission.
A compliant inspection log entry includes:
Sitemark captures inspection logs in real time on mobile devices, attaches photos with GPS coordinates and timestamps, and routes deficiency notices to the contractor automatically — so the paper trail builds itself during construction rather than being assembled at project closeout.
The final Special Inspection Report is submitted by the SIA to the building official before the certificate of occupancy can be issued. Most jurisdictions require the final report to:
A final report that does not match the approved SSI — with different inspection categories, missing categories, or unresolved deficiencies — will trigger a building department review that holds the CO until the discrepancy is resolved.
Sitemark helps inspection teams maintain compliant logs, issue and track deficiency notices, and generate final reports that match the approved SSI. Close projects faster with documentation that satisfies the building department.
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