Questions For Anyone Knowledgble About Building Inspections

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
Today or tommorow my shop will undergo final inspection. It's a 40x70 pole barn with a wall that divides the building into a garage and woodshop. All work was professionally done and it has passed all inspections to date, including electrical rough-in. My concern for today is they will not pass it because wiring is exposed. By this I mean I am going to do the interior finish work including putting up pine board walls that will cover the studs and wiring. I have the wood onsite and have moved all my machinery there to begin work. However I need power to run my woodworking machinery and suspect they won't sign off on the final inspection, thus not giving the utility company the "ok" to hook up electricity. The electrical contractor has done everything as should be done and were there sheetrock on the walls there is no doubt it would pass.

So my question is can a one-man hobby shop, not attached to a house, have wiring that follows industry standards but isn't covered by wall material pass final inspection? I know exposed wiring "subject to abuse" won't pass, but what about wiring properly ran through the attic and down studs which is stapled and terminates at receptacles/switches, etc.?

I know I can get a temporary pole and plug everything into it, or use a generator, but would much rather have utility supplied power to the panel and throughout the shop. I had one inspector tell me I could get a 30 day temporary permit but nobody else I spoke to has heard of such a thing.

Thoughts? Advice?
 
No real info, but a congrats to getting to that point!
My advice would be just call the inspector. If they are involved, no harm in a call.
 
Passed! Inspector called the utility company with me there and told them to connect me. Went to the main utility office and paid a deposit. Power should be hooked up by Friday.
 
Congrats! I've been watching this build, because Barb is having 2nd thoughts of a post retirement move. Now that grand kids are on the way moving out of state isn't as attractive. If we decide to stay, I want to add a garage/workshop. My Xterra is too tall to fit in my raised ranch garage, 3 boats hanging out on trailers looking for a home, and I've got to find a home for all dad's shop tools.

Super job!
Scott
 
Eric
Was wondering how your "man cave" was doing. Moving that equipment in had to be some operation. Good luck and getting your okay on the wiring.
wis boz
 
Thanks guys. Jeff Smith is a fine rigger and helped me move all the heavy equipment. He has a hoist, similar to ones for yanking motors from cars, except it has a wide wheel base for straddling machinery. We were able to move all the equipment by lifting it with the hoist and nylon straps, rolling it onto my dovetail trailer, and setting it down, and strapping it securely. We'd load the hoist on the trailer as well. The process was reversed at the shop. Took about 8 or so loads a couple machines at a time plus tool chests, workbenches, etc.. Not so much as a scratch. I thought the top heavy drill press was going to be a challenge but it made the move without incident. All I have left to move is hand tools and wood. Should finish Saturday.
 
Thanks guys. Jeff Smith is a fine rigger and helped me move all the heavy equipment. He has a hoist, similar to ones for yanking motors from cars, except it has a wide wheel base for straddling machinery. We were able to move all the equipment by lifting it with the hoist and nylon straps, rolling it onto my dovetail trailer, and setting it down, and strapping it securely. We'd load the hoist on the trailer as well. The process was reversed at the shop. Took about 8 or so loads a couple machines at a time plus tool chests, workbenches, etc.. Not so much as a scratch. I thought the top heavy drill press was going to be a challenge but it made the move without incident. All I have left to move is hand tools and wood. Should finish Saturday.
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Great to hear. Hope those tools live there happily for a looooong time.
 
Scott

I think you are just the kind of guy that could use a workshop. Congrats on the gandkids. Dang time flies. I remember pictures of your daughters when they were middle school age.

Eric
 
Eric,
I looked in my unfinished detached garage. Wires in the ceiling are un-protected romex, wires running down the wall studs are encased in a tough, flexible plastic pipe like material. I assume it passed an inspection somewhere along the lines. We did have to have the builder come back and put in a P trap for our upstairs bathroom (no pun intended).

-Bill
 
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