Electrical Inspection Process

[bad_idea]

I am at the point I am ready to run electrical into my detached garage from the house. I have the basic setup sorted. Wire size, conduit size, breaker panel, etc. I am a bit fuzzy on the inspection process though. I plan to wire this myself and will have it properly inspected.

I think the order is:
Trench/service run
Rough Inspection
Final Inspection

The service run to the house is only 15', is it acceptable to have the trench and rough inspection done at the same time? I am thinking I could rough in the building (couple 110 outlet circuits, overhead light circuit, and a 220 for a welding machine) and then trench and run service line. Then have the inspector come out. Then install all of the outlets and fixtures. Then call in the final. Saves them a trip. Logical?

I will discuss all of this with the building department before doing any work. Would like to know what standard practice is before I speak with them though. I would like to walk into their office sounding halfway intelligent.

I have a 2x6 studded 30x40x12 stick built building with vinyl siding. I pulled a permit last year just to get the building up. That permit has been signed off, I am now ready to run the electrical in. I do not plan on insulating or sheet rocking the garage at this time, that is years down the road. Want to get a basic electrical setup installed so I can start working in the shop without running an extension cord to the house. Any and all pointers welcome. It is not in the budget to hire out. I am confident I can handle the work. Thanks all.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I will discuss all of this with the building department before doing any work. Would like to know what standard practice is before I speak with them though. I would like to walk into their office sounding halfway intelligent.

There's no set standard, it's up to the particular building department how they proceed. There may be information on their website, but chances are your best bet is to simply give their office a phone call during business hours and ask them what you need to do and when.

 

[mm08822]

As long as the trench remains open there shouldn't be a problem doing the rough at the same time. Many times, trenches are backfilled long before the entire conduit run is completed point to point within the buildings.

You would be saving a trip for the inspector. Run it by the inspector so they know what they are coming out to inspect. Should not be a problem.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I would leave off the welder circuit until after inspection. He won’t be inspecting anything that is not in there. Minimum wiring to get passed, then wire what you want later.

 

[alfredeneuman]

You're only allowed 1 circuit to a detached building.
Are you going to put in a subpanel?

 

[bad_idea]

Yes, there will be a sub panel. Plan to install a 100 amp panel. I will eventually have numerous 220 circuits for welding machines, air compressor, plasma cutter, etc. I figured I would install one 220 circuit so as not to insult the inspector's intelligence. :lol I have a fairly capable weld shop setup in the garage, it will be very obvious I plan to install some 220 circuits. Why do you recommend waiting until after the inspector leaves to install the 220 circuits?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Basically out of sight, out of mind. If you will have machinery in there during inspection it is a moot point.

 

[bad_idea]

Unfortunately I think I am at that moot point. I was without a shop and in a hurry to get the building up. I built the garage last year and moved in. Now I am just about ready to run the electrical. Everything is moved in, have been welding using an extension ran into the house to the dryer outlet. Wife will be happy to see the electrical go in the shop!

 

[ard]

I do not plan on insulating or sheet rocking the garage at this time, that is years down the road.

Wiring methods for an install that will be fully exposed can be different that a job that is under sheetrock.

(We had one guy in chicago with a ***** as an inspector....)

For example, you might run romex down the side of studs, then across study bays through holes. Wired to plastic boxes, with ultimately flush mount plastic plates. On a sheetrock job, all that is behind the walls

However the inspector/department may not allow that for a 'final' inspection that will be exposed, no insulation, no sheetrock..... They may say that romex may need to be protected. boxes and plates designed for exposed use.

Just a heads up.



Oh... WHY do you need/want to get this job inspected?

 

[ddawg16]

Leave the trench open so he can see that you ran it deep enough.

Make sure the wire is rated THWN (most of the HD stuff is THHN/THWN anyway)

All boxes open with the wires sticking out....out outlets attached.

Romex nailed to the 2x4 no more than 8" from the box. If you're doing conduit...moot point

Sub panel.....if more than 6 ckts, you need a main breaker. Ground from the house can not be bonded to the neutral. Translation, do not bond your neutral buss bar to ground. You will need both a gnd and neut buss bar.

2 Ground rods outside the garage

Make sure the breakers are approved for the box they are in.

Chances are it will go easier than you think

 

[bad_idea]

Chances are it will go easier than you think

I'm confident you are right. My county is fairly small and the inspectors are pretty easy going. I acted as my own GC on building the garage. I pulled the permit myself, hired out the concrete, framed it myself, paid someone to put the sheathing up, paid someone to shingle it, and sided it myself. I was surprised how smoothly the inspections went. I did quality work, as did my contractors, but still expected the inspector to ding me on something. Nope, not once. Went pretty easy.

I did however learn during the acquisition of the permit, it is best to speak to the inspectors with intelligent questions. My inspectors do not have a lot of patients for ignorant home owner diy types.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Most, if not all, jurisdictions won't issue an owner/builder permit if you pay someone else to do the any of the work.

 

[ddawg16]

I'm confident you are right. My county is fairly small and the inspectors are pretty easy going. I acted as my own GC on building the garage. I pulled the permit myself, hired out the concrete, framed it myself, paid someone to put the sheathing up, paid someone to shingle it, and sided it myself. I was surprised how smoothly the inspections went. I did quality work, as did my contractors, but still expected the inspector to ding me on something. Nope, not once. Went pretty easy.

I did however learn during the acquisition of the permit, it is best to speak to the inspectors with intelligent questions. My inspectors do not have a lot of patients for ignorant home owner diy types.

I live in Los Angeles.....and basically did the same as you....with the same results.

One thing I found.....the inspectors don't mind offering advice if you ask for it. Tell what you are planning to do and ask them if there is a better way. Once they realize you want to do it right, they become a great asset.

Mine came over one day and spent about 30 min helping me figure out a better way to do one section of plumbing that was literally a rats nest.

 

[ard]

I did however learn during the acquisition of the permit, it is best to speak to the inspectors with intelligent questions. My inspectors do not have a lot of patients for ignorant home owner diy types.

SO then you should ask them: "Im not going to be covering the walls for a few years, any special wiring methods you want to see? Ill keep the romex runs tight to the studs- no crossing bays below 8 ft. Anything else?"

 

[driftpin]

An insurance claim for something involving an uninspected, unpermitted electrical fault/incident would likely be denied. Yes to 240 v circuits inspected/permitted. Why not place one on each wall? No big deal, not $$$, and you will be able to do what you want later if you want to relocate them.

 

[ard]

An insurance claim for something involving an uninspected, unpermitted electrical fault/incident would likely be denied.

false. Oft repeated, but utterly fabricated.

 

[75gmck25]

Make the inspection simple for yourself and the inspector by just installing the minumum needed to meet code before the inspection. In most areas you could just trench the line, install the subpanel, an overhead light, and one GFCI receptacle for each garage bay, and then get it inspected.

If you also install welder receptacles, high amp compressor circuits or other unusual devices (for the inspector) before inspection you might end up on a path where someone has to interpret code, read device labels, etc. Read some of the older electrical posts where folks discuss duty cycles, multiple 240 receptacles on a circuit, compressor HP vs. amperage, different types of 240 volt receptacles, dedicated vs. shared circuits, physical protection requirements, etc., and you will see how convoluted it can get. It just adds time to your inspection process.

 

[Toomanytools?]

You can actually do rough in and final at the same time if you are not covering any work. When you run your service to the garage panel that should be inspected for correct connections and correct panel, grounding, ground rods, install height clearance and so on. Once that is passed you can do rough in and install all outlets and lights as long as nothing is covered. If you do that then you need to follow codes for exposed cable. Now each state and county is a bit different, but I have done that several times with no issues.