CDD Gets Innovative With Building And Home Inspections

Los Alamos County CDD employee David Martinez tests out the new Skype tool his department will roll out in March. Martinez and his colleagues will use Skype to conduct re-inspections for residents and contractors. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

BY KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Attending an International Code Council’s national conference last year in Nevada gave Los Alamos County Chief Building Official Michael Arellano an idea: Why not use Skype to re-inspect buildings and homes?

After going through the training at the conference, Arellano said, “I wanted to bring that to Los Alamos as a way to help contractors and citizens on certain re-inspections receive faster inspections and not have to wait.”

The plan is to implement the program March 1.

The re-inspection can be conducted on any device, Arellano said, such as a phone, tablet or computer. However, there are some qualifications that need to be met, for instance:

  • The customer needs to have 4G connectivity;
  • The customer needs to have all the tools necessary for the inspection such as a tape measure or ladder;
  • The customer needs to be at least 18 years old; and
  • During the inspection, the customer needs to start with the street view, show the property’s address, follow the inspector’s instructions and take notes of any corrections.

Once the inspection is completed, the inspector will inform the customer whether the inspection passed, failed or partially failed.

The inspector will then update the permitting system with the results.

There is a narrow scope of what can qualify for Skype inspection, he added. Only re-inspections will be done via Skype and Arellano said the inspector needs to be comfortable with doing the inspection online. They don’t want to miss any life saving issues, he explained.

Arellano added only re-inspections qualify for Skype because they are simpler, and the building inspectors already know what to look for since they have previously been to the site.

Some types of inspections that allow for the inspection to be done via Skype include framing inspections as well as evaluating floor plates to ensure they are properly anchored.

Not only should Skype make the inspections quicker and timelier, but Arellano said the program should cut down on fuel emissions because inspectors don’t need to drive to check out different properties.

He added his department is always looking at ways to improve and provide better service.

“We are trying to figure out innovative ways to provide better service for our citizens and our contractors,” Arellano said, adding, “We’re always open to do something new and exciting.”

The Community Development Department (CDD) has a proven track record of innovation. Arellano pointed out the CDD is the first building department in the state to be accredited; it is the first in the state to use drones for roof inspections and now it is first in the state to utilize Skype.

Arellano said his staff is eager to use Skype for inspections.

“I have a really great staff … who are willing to try something new,” he said. “I appreciate the great staff I have here that are always willing to try new and innovative things.”

But the real benefactors will be the CDD’s customers, Arellano said.

“I see it as more of a value and asset to contractors and homeowners out there,” he said.

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