What We Inspect

THE STANDARD OF PRACTICE FOR HOME INSPECTIONS AND THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR THE HOME INSPECTION PROFESSION

www.ashi.org

1. INTRODUCTION

The American Society of Home Inspectors®, Inc. (ASHI®) is a not-for-pro t professional society established in 1976. Membership in ASHI is voluntary and its members are private home inspectors. ASHI’s objectives include promotion of excellence within the profession and continual improvement of its members’ inspection services to the public.

2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

• 2.1  The purpose of this document is to establish a minimum standard (Standard) for home inspections performed by home inspectors who subscribe to this Standard. Home inspections performed using this Standard are intended to provide the client with information about the condition of inspected systems and components at the time of the home inspection.
• 2.2  The inspector shall:
• A. inspect readily accessible, visually observable, installed systems and components listed in this Standard.
• B. provide the client with a written report, using a format and medium selected by the inspector, that states:
1. those systems and components inspected that, in the professional judgment of the inspector, are not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or are near the end of their service lives,
2. recommendations to correct, or monitor for future correction, the              deficiencies reported in 2.2.B.1, or items needing further evaluation (Per Exclusion 13.2.A.5 the inspector is NOT required to determine methods, materials, or costs of corrections.),
3. reasoning or explanation as to the nature of the deficiencies reported in 2.2.B.1, that are not self-evident,
4. those systems and components designated for inspection in this Standard that were present at the time of the home inspection but were not inspected and the reason(s) they were not inspected.

1. adhere to the ASHI® Code of Ethics for the Home Inspection Profession.

2.3 This Standard is not intended to limit the inspector from:

1. including other services or systems and components in

addition to those required in Section 2.2.A.

1. designing or specifying repairs, provided the inspector is appropriately qualified and willing to do so.
2. excluding systems and components from the inspection if requested or agreed to by the client.
3. ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections Effective March 1, 2014 This supersedes all previous ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections versions.
4. STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

• 3.1  The inspector shall:
• A. inspect structural components including the foundation and framing.
• B. describe:
1. the methods used to inspect under-floor crawlspaces and attics.
2. the foundation.
3. the floor structure.
4. the wall structure.
5. the ceiling structure.
6. the roof structure.
• 3.2  The inspector is NOT required to:
• A. provide engineering or architectural services or analysis.
• B. offer an opinion about the adequacy of structural systems and components.
• C. enter under- floor crawlspace areas that have less than 24 inches of vertical clearance between components and the ground or that have an access opening smaller than 16 inches by 24 inches.
• D. traverse attic load-bearing components that are concealed by insulation or by other materials.

4. EXTERIOR

4.1 The inspector shall:

1. inspect:
2. wall coverings, ashing, and trim.

1. exterior doors.
2. attached and adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated railings.
3. eaves, sof ts, and fascias where accessible from the ground level.
4. vegetation, grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls that are likely to adversely affect the building.
5. adjacent and entryway walkways, patios, and drive- ways.

1. describe wall coverings.

4.2 The inspector is NOT required to inspect:

1. screening, shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal accessories.
2. fences, boundary walls, and similar structures.
3. geological and soil conditions.
4. recreational facilities.
5. outbuildings other than garages and carports.
6. seawalls, break-walls, and docks.
7. erosion control and earth stabilization measures.
8. ROOFING

• 5.1  The inspector shall:
• A. inspect: 1. roofing materials. 2. roof drainage systems. 3. flashing. 4. skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations.
• B. describe: 1. roofing materials. 2. methods used to inspect the roofing.
• 5.2  The inspector is NOT required to inspect:
• A. antennas.
• B. interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible.
• C. other installed accessories.

6. PLUMBING

6.1 The inspector shall:

1. inspect:

1. interior water supply and distribution systems including xtures and faucets.
2. interior drain, waste, and vent systems including xtures.
3. water heating equipment and hot water supply systems.

4. vent systems, ues, and chimneys. 5. fuel storage and fuel distribution systems. 6. sewage ejectors, sump pumps, and related piping.

e Standard of Practice for Home Inspections and Code of Ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors

1. describe: 1. interior water supply, drain, waste, and vent piping

materials. 2. water heating equipment including energy source(s). 3. location of main water and fuel shut-off valves.

6.2 The inspector is NOT required to:

1. inspect:

1. clothes washing machine connections.
2. interiors of vent systems, ues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible.
3. wells, well pumps, and water storage related equipment.
4. water conditioning systems.
5. solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy water heating systems.
6. manual and automatic re extinguishing and sprinkler systems and landscape irrigation systems.

7. septic and other sewage disposal systems.
8. determine:
9. whether water supply and sewage disposal are public or private.
10. water quality.
11. the adequacy of combustion air components.
12. measure water supply ow and pressure, and well

water quantity.

1. ll shower pans and xtures to test for leaks.
2. ELECTRICAL

7.1 The inspector shall:

1. inspect:

1. service drop.
2. service entrance conductors, cables, and raceways.
3. service equipment and main disconnects.
4. service grounding.
5. interior components of service panels and subpanels.
6. conductors.
7. overcurrent protection devices.
8. a representative number of installed lighting xtures, switches, and receptacles.
9. ground fault circuit interrupters and arc fault circuit interrupters.

8. Heating

8.1 The inspector shall:

1. open readily operable access panels.
2. inspect:
3. installed heating equipment.

2. vent systems, flues, and chimneys.

3. distribution systems.
4. describe:
5. energy source(s).
6. heating systems.

The inspector is NOT required to:

1. inspect:

1. interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible.
2. heat exchangers.
3. humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
4. electric air cleaning and sanitizing devices.
5. heating systems using ground-source, water-source, solar, and renewable energy technologies.
6. heat-recovery and similar whole-house mechanical ventilation systems.

8.2

1. determine:
2. heat supply adequacy and distribution balance.
3. the adequacy of combustion air components.
4. AIR CONDITIONING

9.1 The inspector shall:

1. open readily openable access panels.
2. inspect:
3. central and permanently installed cooling equipment.
4. distribution systems.
5. describe:
6. energy source(s).
7. cooling systems.

9.2 The inspector is NOT required to:

1. inspect electric air cleaning and sanitizing devices.
2. determine cooling supply adequacy and distribution balance.
3. inspect cooling units that are not permanently installed or that are installed in windows.
4. inspect cooling systems using ground-source, wa-

ter-source, solar, and renewable energy technologies.

10. INTERIORS

• 10.1  The inspector shall inspect:
• A. walls, ceilings, and oors.
• B. steps, stairways, and railings.
• C. countertops and a representative number of installed cabinets.
• D. a representative number of doors and windows.
• E. garage vehicle doors and garage vehicle door operators.
• F. installed ovens, ranges, surface cooking appliances, microwave ovens, dishwashing machines, and food waste grinders by using normal operating controls to activate the primary function.
• 10.2  The inspector is NOT required to inspect:
• A. paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments.
• B. Floor coverings.
• C. window treatments.
• D. coatings on and the hermetic seals between panes of window glass.

12. FIREPLACES AND FUEL-BURNING APPLIANCES

12.1  The inspector shall:

1. inspect:
2. fuel-burning replaces, stoves, and replace inserts.
3. fuel-burning accessories installed in replaces.
4. chimneys and vent systems.
5. describe systems and components listed in 12.1.A.1 and .2.

1. interiors of vent systems, ues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible.
2. re screens and doors.
3. seals and gaskets.
4. automatic fuel feed devices.
5. mantles and replace surrounds.
6. combustion air components and to determine their adequacy.
7. heat distribution assists (gravity fed and fan assisted).
8. fuel-burning replaces and appliances located out- side the inspected structures.

1. determine draft characteristics.

C. move replace inserts and stoves or rebox contents.

12.2  The inspector is NOT required to: A. inspect:

1. interiors of vent systems, ues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible.
2. re screens and doors.
3. seals and gaskets.
4. automatic fuel feed devices.

ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections Effective March 1, 2014 .  This supersedes all previous ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections versions.