Alabama Administrative Code › Title 355 - STATE OF ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE › Chapter 355-18-1 - STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND CODE OF ETHICS › Section 355-18-1-.01 - Standards Of Practice For Home Inspectors

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) Definition of Terms. As used in Rules
			 170-X-25-.01 and .02, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Alarm Systems. Warning devices, installed
			 or free-standing, including but not limited to: carbon monoxide detectors, flue
			 gas and other spillage detectors, security equipment, ejector pumps and smoke
			 alarms.
(b) Architectural Service.
			 Any practice involving the art and science of building design for construction
			 of any structure or grouping of structures and the use of space within and
			 surrounding the structures or the design for construction, including but not
			 specifically limited to, schematic design, design development, preparation of
			 construction contract documents, and administration of the construction
			 contract.
(c) Component. A part of
			 a system.
(d) Decorative.
			 Ornamental; not required for the operation of the essential systems and
			 components of a home.
(e) Describe.
			 To report a system or component by its type or other observed, significant
			 characteristics to distinguish it from other systems or components.
(f) Dismantle. To take apart or remove any
			 component, device or piece of equipment that would not be taken apart or
			 removed by a homeowner in the course of normal and routine home owner
			 maintenance.
(g) Engineering
			 Service. Any professional service or creative work requiring engineering
			 education, training, and experience and the application of special knowledge of
			 the mathematical, physical and engineering sciences to such professional
			 service or creative work as consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning,
			 design and supervision of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance
			 with the specifications and design, in conjunction with structures, buildings,
			 machines, equipment, works or processes.
(h) Further Evaluation. Examination and
			 analysis by a qualified professional, tradesman or service technician beyond
			 that provided by the home inspection.
(i) Home Inspection. The process by which an
			 inspector visually examines the readily accessible systems and components of a
			 home and which describes those systems and components in accordance with these
			 Standards of Practice.
(j)
			 Household Appliances. Kitchen, laundry, and similar appliances, whether
			 installed or free-standing.
(k)
			 Inspect. To examine readily accessible systems and components of a building in
			 accordance with these Standards of Practice, using normal operating controls
			 and opening readily openable access panels.
(l) Inspector. A person hired to examine any
			 system or component of a building in accordance with these Standards of
			 Practice, including Home Inspectors as defined in
Code of Ala.
			 1975
, §
									34-14B-2(3).
(m) Installed. Attached such that removal
			 requires tools.
(n) Normal
			 Operating Controls. Devices such as thermostats, switches or valves intended to
			 be operated by the homeowner.
(o)
			 Readily Accessible. Available for visual inspection without requiring moving of
			 personal property, dismantling, destructive measures, or any action which will
			 likely involve risk to persons or property.
(p) Readily Openable Access Panel. A panel
			 provided for homeowner inspection and maintenance that is within normal reach,
			 can be removed by one person, and is not sealed in place.
(q) Recreational Facilities. Spas, saunas,
			 steam baths, swimming pools, exercise, entertainment, athletic, playground or
			 other similar equipment and associated accessories.
(r) Report. To communicate in
			 writing.
(s) Representative Number.
			 One component per room for multiple similar interior components such as windows
			 and electric outlets; one component on each side of the building for multiple
			 similar exterior components.
(t)
			 Roof Drainage Systems. Components used to carry water off a roof and away from
			 a building.
(u) Significantly
			 Deficient. Unsafe or not functioning
(v) Shut Down. A state in which a system or
			 component cannot be operated by normal operating controls.
(w) Solid Fuel Burning Appliances. A hearth
			 and fire chamber or similar prepared place in which a fire may be built and
			 which is built in conjunction with a chimney; or a listed assembly of a fire
			 chamber, its chimney and related factory-made parts designed for unit assembly
			 without requiring field construction.
(x) Structural Component. A component that
			 supports non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable forces or
			 weights (live loads).
(y) System. A
			 combination of interacting or interdependent components, assembled to carry out
			 one or more functions.
(z)
			 Technically Exhaustive. An investigation that involves dismantling, the
			 extensive use of advanced techniques, measurements, instruments, testing,
			 calculations or other means.
(aa)
			 Under-floor Crawl Space. The area within the confines of the foundation and
			 between the ground and the underside of the floor.
(bb) Unsafe. A condition in a readily
			 accessible, installed system or component which is judged to be a significant
			 risk of personal injury during normal, day-to-day use. The risk may be due to
			 damage, deterioration, improper installation or a change in accepted
			 residential construction standards.
(cc) Wiring Methods. Identification of
			 electrical conductors or wires by their general type, such as "non-metallic
			 sheathed cable" ("Romex"), "armored cable" ("bx") or "knob and tube,"
			 etc.