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Common Construction Errors
Underground Conduit Depth
- EMT (thin wall) buried in the ground
- Heavy wall not buried the required 6' below grade
- PVC conduit not installed 18' below grade
- Direct burial cable not installed 24' below grade
- Conduit not strapped
- Connectors and couplings not tightened
- Boxes not fastened securely
- Conduit not strapped 3' from any boxes
- Boxes not fastened
- Closet fixture light boxes not 18' minimum from the back wall of the closet
- IC type recessed fixture must be used if ceiling is insulated
- Bond bushing not installed on concentric knockout
- Bond jumper on the neutral bar not installed
- End of conduit for the ground conductor going to the ground rod not grounded
- Ground rod at electric meter not driven 8' and below grade
- Jumper wire at the water meter and proper ground tag not installed
- Service mast shall be secured with proper type screws or bolts (not drywall screws)
- Service wire not clearing the roof by 18 feet
- Service wires not 10' above grade
- All devices shall be turned on for testing
- All electrical equipment not complete, hooked-up and working
- Breaker for A/C compressor is larger than manufacturer's label indicates for maximum overcurrent protection
- Every fixture must have working bulbs
- Island or peninsular counter outlets shall be mounted not more than 6' below the counter top and shall not be mounted where the countertop extends more than 6' beyond its support base
- Motor for the jetting tub not grounded with a #8 AWG wire back to the conduit system
- Box fill is exceeded (check Table 370-16 of National Electrical Code)
- Outlets and switches not grounded to the junction box with a green wire, if the device is not self-grounding type
Duct Installation
- Bath fan not vented to the exterior
- Dryer vent ductwork over 25 feet in length and reduced 5 feet for each 90 degree bend
- Duct openings not protected (covered) during construction
- Duct work in unconditioned space not insulated
- Ductwork in crawl space not suspended at least 4 inches above earth
- Ductwork in crawl space suspended more than 6 feet below the floor
- Ductwork not fastened together at joints
- Ductwork not installed to plan
- Kitchen hood vent not installed properly
- Sealing tape not applied on joints
- Air conditioning unit coil not installed
- B-Vent installed with more than 2, 90 degree elbows
- Clearance between B-vent and combustibles is less than 1 inch
- Clearance between single wall flue pipe and combustibles is less than 6 inches
- Drain liens for furnace not installed
- Furnace installed without proper clearances
- Insufficient clearance between closet door and furnace
- Single wall flue pipe cannot be run through ceilings or floors
- Attic access must allow removal of furnace's largest part
- Drain pan under air conditioning coils with 2 drain lines and 1 to conspicuous place
- Incorrect working clearances (must be 22 feet wide and 30 feet high)
- Light must be switched at opening to attic
- Must have outlet and light in furnace area
- Work area in front of furnace must be 30 feet long and 30 feet high
Water Heaters
- Flexible gas connections used
- Flexible water connections used
- Loose electrical connections
- 90 degree bends on horizontal runs instead of 45 degrees
- Horizontal vent piping run longer than code allows
- Lack of water or air pressure testing of pipes
- Undersized vent lines
- Dishwasher drain connected to garbage disposal
- Dishwasher drain not looped and anchored to top of counter
- Dishwasher not anchored to counter
Foundation
- Footing does not have 2 by 4 foot keyway
- Footing not the proper width or depth
- Missing reinforcing steel
- Soil does not meet minimum bearing capacity (black humus soil)
- Steel reinforcing not lapped at ends and corners
- Steel reinforcing too close to forms (do not have 2 foot concrete cover)
- Damage to prefabricated floor trusses
- Framing varies from approved job site copy
- Improper boring and/or notching of joists
- Improper fastening of floor sheathing
- Improper joist hanger and/or improper fastening of joist hangers
- Trimmer joist at openings not doubled
- Fireblocking at chase, soffit, and tub waste pipe
- Firestopping of top and bottom plate penetrations not installed
- Improper boring and/or notching of wall studs and plates
- Improper fastening of exterior wall sheathing
- Improper fastening of foundation anchor bolts to bottom plate
- Improper fastening of wall studs
- Improper transfer of concentrated loads under headers and beams (cripples)
- Asphalt shingle fastening not to manufacturer requirements
- Damaged pre-fabricated trusses
- Improper boring and/or notching of rafters
- Sheathing not fastened properly
- Handrail missing or improper height or gripping size
- Handrail not continuous on winder stairs
- Handrail not continuous
- Headroom not 6 foot by 8 inches
- Improper clearance to handrail from adjacent wall
- Improper height of guardrail and/or baluster opening
- Improper riser depth
- Improper tread dimension on winder stair
- Improper tread width
- Baffles missing
- Eave vents not installed
- Exposed paper backing on insulation in basement
- Exterior side of walls or roof not sealed against the weather
- Insulation missing at rim joist
- Insulation not secured
- R-30 vaulted rafters (no blow-in)
- Vapor retardant missing or reversed
- Ventilation blocked by insulation
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Glen Cole
Assistant City Manager & Community Development Director
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Community Development
Physical Address
3600 Kirchoff Road
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847-506-6030Fax: 847-483-0365
Hours
Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm
Permit Submissions Required In-Person