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keebler

Response to johnevegas:
Yes, there are "standards" to be followed by inspectors.

The International Building Code, which is the Code adopted by Clark Co. Building Department, has the requirements clearly laid out as to what is supposed to be inspected and if it is to be continuously or periodically inspected.

There is also the Clark County Administrative Code which governs this and states the inspectors are to follow the Clark Co. Technical Guidelines.
And when it comes to the discipline the special inspector is inspecting, there are specific codes, specifications and standards they are to inspect to.
To give one example in this instance, the inspectors should have been following the documents listed above and the "Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, ACI 318-05 from the American Concrete Institute in addition to the approved structural drawings.

From all that has been printed so far about the issues at the Harmon and Veer towers, if the accounts are totally accurate, then it is very clear the special inspectors did not comply with Clark Co. Technical Guidelines, Administrative Code, the International Building Code, the ACI 318 and the approved structural drawings.

What has not been talked about yet, is where was Converse Consultants Quality Assurance Manager during all this? The QA Manger is responsible for insuring their inspectors have the proper training, are qualified and are complying with the building department requirements, Codes, Standards, and internal requirements.

A lot of failures and holes in this project seem to have happened.

Perini has their own Quality Control Inspectors... where were they during the construction? It appears this is another checks and balance that either was not in place on this project or was just on paper. What does this all say about the quality of construction in the other buildings constructed by Perini at City Center or for that matter in the rest of the County by Perini?

To actually get some of the County Building inspectors out of the job site trailer or off the ground level would be a good start.

There are good county inspectors that do their jobs well, but there are some that don't look at the work in progress and that applies to the third party inspectors as well.

They hang out in the job trailers or their trucks and just sign off the inspections without even looking at the work. Refer to the Kessler International Audit of Clark Co. Building Department dated March 11, 2008 ... oh, but you can't, it isn't on the county's website anymore.

The 3rd party inspector did know the rod busters (ironworkers) were cutting the rebar. (They were not doing it to "sabotage" anything. They did it to make their job easier), but it was not per plan. The inspector allowed this to go on without reporting it, as he is required by codes and law to do. Thus, he took on the responsibilities of the registered licensed structural engineer, which he was not.
The sub-contractor knew what they were doing was not per plan, but continued to do it wrong anyway, saved time, thus they make more money.
Will anyone be held responsible for not complying with codes and laws, probably not. Sad, but that is the way it works on the "strip". Money talks.
Just look at the MGM-Mirage owned Monte-Carlo fire.