Building Inspector

This is the first of five  levels in the Inspection series.  Incumbents inspect two or fewer types of assigned structural systems, such as plumbing, electrical, gas, or building construction, in residential and commercial buildings.  Responsibilities may include determining compliance with applicable codes and standards; approving or rejecting the construction of systems being inspected; and maintaining records of activities and decisions.

Essential Functions:

• Inspects the construction and installation of building, electrical, mechanical and/or plumbing systems for compliance with codes, specifications and plans to determine if work and workmanship is in compliance.  

• Reviews building, electrical, mechanical, and/or plumbing systems plans and specifications to ensure conformance with code. May  approve or reject work plans. 

• Interprets building requirements and restrictions to architects, contractors, builders and the public. 

• Prepares and maintains construction and building inspection results, files, and logs; prepares related reports. 

• May provide technical assistance and direction to other building inspection staff in the area of assigned specialization. 

• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

• Performs other related work as required.

Education and Experience

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.

• One (1) year of experience in plumbing, construction, or a closely related field.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

License and Certifications

• Plumbing, Gas, Electrical, or Building Inspector Certification.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Tennessee.

• E1 and E2 certifications.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Construction principles and methods.

• Construction inspection methods.

• Customer service principles.

• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

• Recordkeeping principles.

• Computers and related software applications.

Skill in:

• Inspecting construction projects.

• Providing customer service.

• Reading construction drawings, plans, and/or specifications.

• Applying applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations.

• Maintaining logs and records.

• Using a computer and related software applications.

• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements:

The work is medium work which requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.

• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.

• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound. 

• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees. 

• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. 

• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time. 

• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles. 

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.

• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.

Salary : $49,855 - $55,000