OBOA Special Inspection Program (SIP)
About the OBOA Special Inspection Program (SIP)
and Its Value to Oregon Building Officials
The OBOA Special Inspection Program is a voluntary program of the Oregon Building Officials Association (OBOA). The program is intended to assist Building Officials in their responsibility of reviewing and approving special inspectors and inspection/testing agencies for given projects within their respective municipality.
The Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC) requires that all construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the Building Official. In addition to these (required) inspections, the owner, or the Engineer/Architect of Record, acting as the owner’s agent, shall employ one or more Special Inspectors who shall provide inspections during construction as outlined in OSSC, Section 1704. This Special Inspection Program (SIP) was developed in response to a need, expressed by a number of jurisdictions and quality control agencies in the State of Oregon, for a uniform registrar to assist Building Officials in verifying certifications and accreditations of special inspection agencies and special inspectors. The OBOA SIP provides the means for Testing and/or Inspection agencies and Special Inspectors to demonstrate competency to which Building Officials in the State of Oregon may reference to determine if an agency or individual has met certain recognized criteria to perform special inspection in the areas required for each individual project.
This program is designed around the philosophy that the “special inspector” (as referenced in the OSSC Section 1704) is an individual employed by or affiliated with one or more quality control agency(s) registered with OBOA. This agency shall be organized with qualified management, and supervisory personnel, special inspectors and laboratory technicians together with the appropriate equipment and facilities to conduct material testing in accordance with those standards stipulated in the OSSC.
The SIP is intended to assist Building Officials in their responsibility of reviewing and approving special inspectors and inspection/testing agencies for given projects within their respective municipality.
The SIP, in simplest terms, is a central repository or database that maintains a listing of registered inspectors and agencies and their respective certifications and/or accreditations. Please note the current version of the program no longer tests nor interviews individuals or agencies. OBOA does not "qualify/certify" or formally endorse agencies or individuals; instead OBOA verifies each applicant has the accreditation(s) or certification(s) as stated at the time of application. Approved/verified agencies and inspectors are then placed on the appropriate OBOA roster(s). It is important to OBOA to have the most current and up-to-date information on our rosters, and it is the responsibility of the agency and special inspector to notify OBOA of any changes to their information, status or certifications.
The OBOA SIP is also no longer involved in auditing inspection and testing laboratories. The SIP relies on the accrediting bodies and authorized authorities to review, monitor, and enforce individuals and agencies as per the requirements of the applicable national standards for which they received their certification and accreditation.
It is recommended that the Building Official refer to the ICC Special Inspection Manual, 2012 Edition (or current) as a reference guide. This manual will provide additional procedures and sample forms for administering the day-to-day oversight of special inspection services.
The SIP recognizes that agencies conducting testing, inspection or both in the State are varied in size and scope. Where one agency may be a single individual, another may be a large company with a large staff of specialists. Nothing within our program should be construed to limit or eliminate any agency or individual from participating in the program.
All building officials, stakeholders, and interested parties should familiarize themselves with this OBOA Special Inspection Program Document. This valuable resource contains detailed descriptions, definitions, processes, and relevant terms associated with the program.
How OBOA SIP Works
OBOA's role in administering the Special Inspection Program is to provide our members and interested parties with helpful and relevant information in one simple place. OBOA reviews each application submitted from individual special inspectors and testing and inspection agencies. Applications that are verified and approved are added to the OBOA rosters as appropriate (one for agencies and one for individuals). The rosters are maintained on a regular basis. It is always suggested that each individual building official does their due diligence in the process as required. OBOA does not take responsibility for any of the work performed by agencies or inspectors, it simply provides the information as a service and convenience for our member building officials and staff.
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All building officials, stakeholders, and interested parties should familiarize themselves with this OBOA Special Inspection Program Document.
This important resource contains detailed descriptions, definitions, processes, and relevant terms associated with the program.
Click green box/link above to download the document
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APPLY FOR SIP REGISTRATION HERE:
Agency or Special Inspector
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To be included on either list, an application form must be submitted.
Registration for each agency and individual is based on the calendar year. Verification of accreditation and/or certification is verified by OBOA staff at the time of application.
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To be included on the OBOA Agency and/or Special Inspector Rosters, an online application form must be submitted for review and approval.
Click links below to submit an application for inclusion on the rosters:
- To be included on the roster, all individual inspectors must be employed by or affiliated with a registered OBOA SIP Agency (requirement of the program). Individuals and agencies must submit expiration dates (accreditation and/or certification as it applies) with each application. The status of their current accreditation or certification is verified at the time of application.
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VIEW OBOA SIP ROSTERS
REGISTERED AGENCIES & INSPECTORS
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These companies and individuals have applied for registration within the program and have demonstrated required qualifications.
To be included on one of these rosters, please submit an online application.
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(individual inspectors)
(company/organizations registered in the program)
Rosters for both agencies and special inspectors are updated frequently. If you do not see a company or person you think should be listed, please call the OBOA SIP office at 503.691.6262.
Important Note: Please be aware that neither roster is an exhaustive list and this is a voluntary program. Other agencies and inspectors may be qualified that have not applied for recognition on our lists.
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Additional important and helpful resources
Sample/Template Special Inspection & Testing Agreement
Provided as a helpful and convenient tool for jurisdictions to use as a template.
The document is editable -- simply add in your jurisdiction's logo and contact information (and any other details particular to your municipality or project).
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Please note: This is a modified/updated version of the OBOA Special Inspection Program. It functions differently than the program administered prior to 2016.
If you have any questions, please call the OBOA office at 503.691.6262.
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OBOA is Proud to Be an ICC Preferred Provider