Washington Administrative Code › Title 308 - Licensing, Department of (See also Titles 36, 98 and 196) › Chapter 308-408C - Standards of practice › Section 308-408C-030 - Exclusions and limitations

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
Inspectors are not required to:
(1) Determine the condition of any system or
			 component that is not readily accessible; the remaining service life of any
			 system or component; the strength, adequacy, effectiveness or efficiency of any
			 system or component; causes of any condition or deficiency; methods, materials,
			 or cost of corrections; future conditions including, but not limited to,
			 failure of systems and components.
(2) Comment on the suitability of the
			 structure or property for any specialized use, compliance with codes,
			 regulations, laws or ordinances.
(3) Report the presence of potentially
			 hazardous plants or animals including, but not limited to, wood destroying
			 insects or diseases harmful to humans; the presence of any environmental
			 hazards including, but not limited to mold, toxins, carcinogens, noise, and
			 contaminants in soil, water or air; the effectiveness of any system installed
			 or methods utilized to control or remove suspected hazardous
			 substances.
(4) Determine the
			 operating costs of any systems or components.
(5) Determine the acoustical properties of
			 any systems or components.
(6)
			 Operate any system or component that is shut down, not connected or is
			 otherwise inoperable.
(7) Operate
			 any system or component that does not respond to normal user
			 controls.
(8) Operate any circuit
			 breakers, water, gas or oil shutoff valves.
(9) Offer or perform any act or service
			 contrary to law.
(10) Offer or
			 perform engineering services or work in any trade or professional service other
			 than home inspection.
(11) Offer or
			 provide warranties or guarantees of any kind unless clearly explained and
			 agreed to by both parties in a preinspection agreement.
(12) Determine the existence of or inspect
			 any underground items including, but not limited to, underground storage tanks
			 or sprinkler systems.
(13) Inspect
			 decorative items, or systems or components that are in areas not entered in
			 accordance with the SOP.
(14)
			 Inspect detached structures, common elements and areas of multiunit housing
			 such as condominium properties or cooperative housing.
(15) Perform any procedure or operation that
			 will, in the opinion of the inspector, likely be dangerous to the inspector or
			 others or damage the property, its systems or components.
(16) Move suspended ceiling tiles, personal
			 property, furniture, equipment, plants, soil, snow, ice or debris.
(17) Dismantle any system or component,
			 except as explicitly required by the SOP.
(18) Enter flooded crawlspaces, attics that
			 are not readily accessible, or any area that will, in the opinion of the
			 inspector, likely be dangerous to the inspector or other persons or damage the
			 property, its systems or components.
(19) Inspect or comment on the condition or
			 serviceability of elevators or related equipment.
(20) Inspect or comment on the condition or
			 serviceability of swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, sports courts or other
			 similar equipment or related equipment.
Inspectors are not limited from examining other systems and
				components or including other inspection services. Likewise, if the inspector
				is qualified and willing to do so, an inspector may specify the type of repairs
				to be made.
An inspector may exclude those systems or components that a
				client specifically requests not to be included in the scope of the inspection
				or those areas that, in the opinion of the inspector, are inaccessible due to
				obstructions or conditions dangerous to the inspector. When systems or
				components designated for inspection under this SOP are excluded, the reason
				the item was excluded will be reported.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  18.280.050 and
				  18.280.060(6).
				  09-08-014, § 308-408C-030, filed 3/20/09, effective
				  4/20/09.