Site reviews and official inspections
The permit decision specifies the inspections to be performed. Additional inspections by officials can be arranged if necessary. The person in charge of the project is responsible for scheduling the inspections according to the work progress. Inspection requests can be made directly to the building inspector or to the permit secretary.
The purpose of the inspection is to verify whether the actions, inspections and required reports for a specific work phase have been completed and to make sure that any measures to fix the identified issues have been done.
If the permit decision requires structural plans (PDF), they need to be sent to the construction site and the building supervision before starting the relevant work phase.
Most common inspections
Marking the building’s location
Before starting construction, the relevant official has to make sure the building’s location and its elevation are marked according to the approved drawings. Measurement services can be ordered from the city’s service point Pyyrman, at 02 834 5000.
Determining the height of the foundation
The height of the building is defined in the permit drawings as the foundation height. The terrain and other environmental factors influence the appropriate height of the building. The final height is confirmed in the inspection of the relevant work phase, and then a minor adjustment can be made to the height specified in the drawings. The approved height is recorded in the inspection documents.
If the change affects the neighbors, their consent has to be obtained. If the consent is not obtained or if the change is significant, a permit must be applied for.
Foundation inspection
A foundation inspection is done when the excavation reaches the planned level, exposing the load-bearing soil. This level is determined based on the soil survey and foundation plan. Typically the foundation inspection is more practical to do simultaneously with the determination of the foundation height.
Location inspection
After the foundation work or the corresponding work phase is completed, the construction cannot continue until the aforementioned inspections are conducted. Measurement services can be ordered from the city’s service point Pyyrman at 02 834 5000.
Structural inspection
A structural inspection is often done in two or more parts. The foundations are checked when when the structures are reinforced. The load-bearing structures are checked when they and the related water-, moisture- and soundproofing, thermal insulation and fire safety work are completed. The load-bearing structures cannot be permanently covered until the inspection is done.
Inspection of heating, water and ventilation systems
The inspections of heating, water and ventilation systems are done when the heating systems, water and sewer systems, ventilation systems and chimneys are installed, measured and adjusted.
Commissioning inspection and final inspection
A building or its part cannot be used until it has been approved in the final inspection. This inspection is often divided into two parts: the partial final inspection or the commissioning inspection, and the final inspection. In the partial final inspection, the building’s suitability for occupancy is assessed, taking into account factors related to safety and health. Inspections regarding the building’s safety, such as fire, electrical and ventilation inspections, must be done before this.
The precondition for the final inspection is that the construction work is done, the building is ready for use, and the inspections and actions required by the officials have been conducted. If the building is required to have an operating and maintenance manual, it must be sufficiently ready and available to be given to the owner with the final inspection. The final inspection’s point regarding the structures is to make sure that the party in charge of the project has fulfilled their duty of care and that it can be verified in writing.