LICENSURE BOARD CODE OF ETHICS
The licensee, by accepting licensure by the
North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board,
recognizes that it is a privilege to perform inspections
in the state of North Carolina, and agrees to abide by
the following CODE OF ETHICS.
1. The keystone of professional conduct is integrity.
The licensees will discharge their duties with fidelity
to the public, their clients, and with fairness and
impartiality to all.
2. Opinions expressed by licensees should only be
based on their education, experience and honest
convictions.
3. The licensee will not disclose any information
concerning the results of the inspection without the
approval of the client for whom the inspection was
performed, or their designated representative.
4. The licensee will not accept compensation,
financial or otherwise, from more than one interested
party for the same service without the consent of all
interested parties.
5. The licensee will not accept nor offer commissions
or allowances, directly or indirectly, from other
parties dealing with the client in connection with work
for which the licensee is responsible.
6. An appraisal or opinion of the market value of the
inspected property will not be expressed by the licensee
within the context of the inspection.
7. The licensee will promptly disclose to the client
any interest in a business which may affect the client.
The licensee will not allow an interest in any business
to affect the quality or results of the inspection work
which the licensee may be called upon to perform.
8. Licensees should not engage in false or misleading
advertising or otherwise misrepresent any matters to the
public.
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Standards of Practice established by this
section are authorized by Chapter 143, Article 9F of the
NC General Statutes (The Home Inspector Licensure Act)
and are the minimum standards of practice required of
Licensed Home Inspectors and Licensed Associate Home
Inspectors. Hereinafter, the term home inspectors refers
to both Licensed Home Inspectors and Licensed Associate
Home Inspectors.
1.2 These Standards of Practice
- A. provide home inspection guidelines
- B. make public the services provided by home
inspectors
- C. define certain terms relating to these
inspections
(Note: Italicized words are defined in the
Glossary section)
2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
2.1 Home inspections performed according to these
Standards of Practice shall:
- A. provide the client with a better understanding
of the property conditions, as observed at the
time of the home inspection
2.2 Home inspectors shall:
A. provide a written, signed contract which shall:
- 1. state that the home inspection is in
accordance with the Standards of Practice of the
North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board
- 2. describe what services will be provided, and
their cost
- 3. state, when an inspection is for only one or
a limited number of systems or components,
that the inspection is limited to only those
systems or components
B. observe readily visible and accessible
installed systems and components
listed in these Standards of Practice
C. submit a written report to the client which
shall:
- 1. describe those systems and
components specified to be described in Sections
4 through 13 of these Standards of Practice
- 2. state which systems and components
designated for inspection in these Standards of
Practice have been inspected, and state any
systems or components designated for
inspection which were not inspected, and the reason
for not inspecting
- 3. state any systems or components
so inspected which do not function as intended,
allowing for normal wear and tear, and/or adversely
affect the habitability of the dwelling
- 4. the name, license number, and signature of
the person supervising the inspection and the name,
license number, and signature of the person
conducting the inspection
2.3 These Standards of Practice are not intended
to limit home inspectors from:
A. reporting observations and conditions or
rendering opinions of items in addition to those
required in Section 2.2
B. excluding systems and components
from the inspection if requested by the client, and so
stated in the written contract
3. GENERAL LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
3.1 General limitations:
A. inspections done in accordance with these
Standards of Practice are visual and are not
technically exhaustive
B. these Standards of Practice are applicable to
buildings with four or less dwelling units, and
individually owned residential units within
multifamily buildings, and their attached garages or
carports.
3.2 General exclusions:
A. Home inspectors are NOT required to report on:
- 1. life expectancy of any component or
system
- 2. the causes of the need for a repair
- 3. the methods, materials, and costs of
corrections
- 4. the suitability of the property for any
specialized use
- 5. compliance or non-compliance with codes,
ordinances, statutes, regulatory requirements or
restrictions
- 6. the market value of the property or its
marketability
- 7. the advisability or inadvisability of
purchase of the property
- 8. any component or system which
was not observed
- 9. the presence or absence of pests such as wood
damaging organisms, rodents, or insects
- 10. cosmetic items, underground items, or items
not permanently installed
B. Home inspectors are NOT required to:
- 1. offer or perform any act or service contrary
to law
- 2. offer warranties or guarantees of any kind
- 3. offer or perform engineering, architectural,
plumbing, electrical or any other job function
requiring an occupational license in the
jurisdiction where the inspection is taking place,
unless the home inspector holds a valid occupational
license, in which case the home inspector may inform
the client that the home inspector is so licensed,
and is therefore qualified to go beyond these
Standards of Practice and perform additional
inspections beyond those within the scope of the
basic inspection
- 4. calculate the strength, adequacy, or
efficiency of any system or component
- 5. enter any area or perform any
procedure which may damage the property or its
components or be dangerous to the home inspector
or other persons
- 6. operate any system or
component which is shut down or otherwise
inoperable
- 7. operate any system or
component which does not respond to normal
operating controls
- 8. disturb insulation, move personal items,
panels, furniture, equipment, plant life, soil,
snow, ice, or debris which obstructs access or
visibility
- 9. determine the presence or absence of any
suspected adverse environmental condition or
hazardous substance, including but not limited to
toxins, carcinogens, noise, contaminants in the
building or in soil, water, and air
- 10. determine the effectiveness of any system
installed to control or remove suspected
hazardous substances
- 11. predict future condition, including but not
limited to failure of components
- 12. project operating costs of components
- 13. evaluate acoustical characteristics of any
system or component
- 14. observe special equipment or
accessories which are not listed as components
to be observed in these Standards of Practice
3.3 Limitations and exclusions specific to
individual systems or components are
listed in following sections.
4. SYSTEM: STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
4.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. structural components including:
- 1. foundation
- 2. floors
- 3. walls
- 4. columns/piers
- 5. ceilings
- 6. roofs
4.2 The home inspector shall
A. describe the type of:
- 1. foundation
- 2. floor structure
- 3. wall structure
- 4. columns/piers
- 5. ceiling structure
- 6. roof structure
B. probe structural components where
deterioration is suspected, except where probing would
damage any surface
C. enter underfloor crawl spaces,
basements, and attic spaces except when access is
obstructed, when entry could damage the property, or
when dangerous or adverse situations are
suspected
D. report the methods used to observe underfloor
crawl spaces and attics
F. report signs of abnormal or harmful water
penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or
harmful condensation on building components
5. SYSTEM: EXTERIOR
5.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. wall cladding, flashings and trim
B. entryway doors and a representative number
of windows
C. garage door operators
D. decks, balconies, stoops, steps, areaways,
porches and applicable railings
E. eaves, soffits and fascias
F. vegetation, grading, drainage, driveways,
patios, walkways and retaining walls with respect to
their effect on the condition of the building
5.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe wall cladding materials
B. operate all entryway doors and a
representative number of windows
C. operate garage doors manually or by using
permanently installed controls for any garage
door operator
D. report whether or not any garage door operator
will automatically reverse or stop when meeting
reasonable resistance during closing
5.3 The home inspector is NOT required to
observe:
A. storm windows, storm doors, screening, shutters,
awnings and similar seasonal accessories
B. fences
C. presence of safety glazing in doors and windows
D. garage door operator remote control transmitters
F. geological conditions
F. soil conditions
G. recreational facilities (including, but not
limited to spas, saunas, steam baths, swimming pools,
tennis courts, playground equipment, and other
exercise, entertainment, or athletic facilities)
H. detached buildings or structures
I. presence or condition of buried fuel storage
tanks
6. SYSTEM: ROOFING
6.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. roof coverings
B. roof drainage systems
C. flashings
D. skylights, chimneys and roof penetrations
F. signs of leaks or abnormal condensation on
building components
6.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe the type of roof covering
materials
B. report the methods used to observe the
roofing
6.3 The home inspector is NOT required to:
A. walk on the roofing
B. observe attached accessories including
but not limited to solar systems, antennae, and
lightning arrestors
7. SYSTEM: PLUMBING
7.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. interior water supply and distribution system
including:
- 1. piping materials, including supports and
- insulation
- 2. fixtures and faucets
- 3. functional flow
- 4. leaks
- 5. cross connections
B. interior drain, waste and vent system,
including:
- 1. traps; drain, waste, and vent piping; piping
supports and pipe insulation
- 2. leaks
- 3. functional drainage
C. hot water systems including:
- 1. water heating equipment
- 2. normal operating controls
- 3. automatic safety controls
- 4. chimneys, flues, and vents.
D. fuel storage and distribution systems
including:
- 1. interior fuel storage equipment, supply
piping, venting, and supports
- 2. leaks
F. sump pump
7.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe:
- 1. water supply and distribution piping
materials
- 2. drain, waste. and vent piping materials
- 3. water heating equipment
- 4. location of main water supply shutoff device
B. operate all plumbing fixtures, including
their faucets and all exterior faucets attached to the
house, except where the flow end of the faucet is
connected to an appliance
7.3 The home inspector is NOT required to:
A. state the effectiveness of anti-siphon devices
B. determine whether water supply and waste
disposal systems are public or private
C. operate automatic safety controls
D. operate any valve except water closet
flush valves, fixture faucets, and hose faucets
E. observe:
- 1 water conditioning systems
- 2. fire and lawn sprinkler systems
- 3. on-site water supply quantity and
quality
- 4. on-site waste disposal Systems
- 5. foundation irrigation systems
- 6. spas, except as to functional flow and
functional drainage
- 7. swimming pools
- 8. solar water heating equipment
F. observe the system for proper
sizing, design, or use of proper materials
8. SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL
8.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. service entrance conductors
B. service equipment, grounding equipment, main
overcurrent device, main and distribution panels
C. amperage and voltage ratings of the service
D. branch circuit conductors, their overcurrent
devices, and the compatibility of their ampacities and
voltages
E. the operation of a representative number
of installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures,
switches and receptacles located inside the house,
garage, and on the dwelling's exterior walls
F. the polarity and grounding of all receptacles
within six feet of interior plumbing fixtures, and all
receptacles in the garage or carport, and on the
exterior of inspected structures
G. the operation of ground fault circuit
interrupters
H. Smoke detectors
8.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe:
- 1. service amperage and voltage
- 2. service entry conductor materials
- 3. service type as being overhead or underground
- 4. location of main and distribution panels
B. report any observed aluminum branch
circuit wiring
C. report on presence or absence of smoke
detectors, and operate their test function, if
accessible, except when detectors are part of a
central system.
8.3 The home inspector is NOT required to:
A. insert any tool, probe, or testing device inside
the panels
B. test or operate any overcurrent device
except ground fault circuit interrupters
C. dismantle any electrical device or
control other than to remove the covers of the main
and auxiliary distribution panels
D. observe
- 1. low voltage systems
- 2. security system devices, heat detectors, or
carbon monoxide detectors.
- 3. telephone, security, cable TV, intercoms, or
other ancillary wiring that is not a part of the
primary electrical distribution system
- 4. built-in vacuum equipment
9. SYSTEM: HEATING
9.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. permanently installed heating systems
including:
- 1. heating equipment
- 2. normal operating controls
- 3. automatic safety controls
- 4. chimneys, flues, and vents, where readily
visible
- 5. solid fuel heating devices
- 6. heat distribution systems including fans,
pumps, ducts and piping, with supports, insulation,
air filters, registers, radiators, fan coil units,
convectors
- 7. the presence of an installed heat
source in each room
9.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe:
- 1. energy source
- 2. heating equipment and distribution type
B. operate the systems using
normal operating controls
C. open readily openable access panels
provided by the manufacturer or installer for routine
homeowner maintenance
9.3 The home inspector is NOT required to:
A. operate heating systems when
weather conditions or other circumstances may cause
equipment damage
B. operate automatic safety controls
C. ignite or extinguish solid fuel fires
D. observe:
- 1. the interior of flues
- 2. fireplace insert flue connections
- 3. humidifiers
- 4. electronic air filters
- 5. the uniformity or adequacy of heat supply to
the various rooms
10. SYSTEM: CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING
10.1 The home inspector shall observe
A. central air conditioning systems
including:
- 1. cooling and air handling equipment
- 2. normal operating controls
B. distribution systems including:
- 1. fans, pumps, ducts and piping, with
associated supports, dampers, insulation, air
filters, registers, fan-coil units
- 2. the presence of an installed cooling
source in each room
10.2 The home inspector shall:
A. describe:
- 1. energy sources
- 2. cooling equipment type
B. operate the systems using
normal operating controls
C. open readily openable access panels
provided by the manufacturer or installer for routine
homeowner maintenance
10.3 The home inspector is NOT required to:
A. operate cooling systems when weather
conditions or other circumstances may cause equipment
damage
B. observe non-central air conditioners
C. observe the uniformity or adequacy of
cool-air supply to the various rooms
11. SYSTEM: INTERIORS
11.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. walls, ceiling, and floors
B. steps, stairways, balconies, and railings
C. counters and a representative number of
cabinets
D. a representative number of doors and
windows
11.2 The home inspector shall:
A. operate a representative number of
windows and interior doors
B. report signs of abnormal or harmful water
penetration into the building or signs of abnormal or
harmful condensation on building components
11.3 The home inspector is NOT required to
observe:
A. paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments on
the interior walls, ceilings, and floors
B. carpeting
C. draperies, blinds, or other window treatments
12. SYSTEM: INSULATION & VENTILATION
12.1 The home inspector shall observe:
A. insulation and vapor retarders in unfinished
spaces
B. ventilation of attics and foundation areas
C. kitchen, bathroom, and laundry venting
systems
D. the operation of any readily accessible
attic ventilation fan, and, when temperature permits,
the operation of any readily accessible
thermostatic control.
12.2 The home inspector shall describe:
A. insulation in unfinished spaces
B. absence of same in unfinished space at
conditioned surfaces
12.3 The home inspector is NOT required to report
on:
A. concealed insulation and vapor retarders
B. venting equipment which is integral with
household appliances
13. BUILT-IN KITCHEN APPLIANCES
13.1 The home inspector shall observe and
operate the basic functions of the following
kitchen appliances:
A. permanently installed dishwasher, through
its normal cycle
B. range, cook top, and permanently installed
oven
C. trash compactor
D. garbage disposer
E. ventilation equipment or range hood
F. permanently installed microwave oven
13.2 The home inspector is NOT required to
observe
A. clocks, timers, self-cleaning oven function, or
thermostats for calibration or automatic operation
B. non built-in appliances
C. refrigeration units
13.3 The home inspector is not required to
operate
A. appliances in use
B. any appliance which is shut down or
otherwise inoperable
GLOSSARY
AUTOMATIC SAFETY CONTROLS: Devices designed and
installed to protect systems and components from
excessively high or low pressures and temperatures,
excessive electrical current, loss of water, loss of
ignition, fuel leaks, fire, freezing, or other unsafe
conditions.
CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING: A system which uses ducts
to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more
than one room or uses pipes to distribute chilled water
to heat exchangers in more than one room, and which is
not plugged into an electrical convenience outlet.
COMPONENT: A readily accessible and observable aspect
of a system~ such as a floor, or wall, but not
individual pieces such as boards or nails where many
similar pieces make up the component.
CROSS CONNECTION: Any physical connection or
arrangement between potable water and any source of
contamination.
DANGEROUS or ADVERSE SITUATIONS: Situations which
pose a threat of injury to the inspector, or those
situations which require the use of special protective
clothing or safety equipment.
DESCRIBE: Report in writing a system or component by
its type, or other observed characteristics, to
distinguish it from other components used for the same
purpose.
DISMANTLE: To take apart or remove any component,
device or piece of equipment that is bolted, screwed, or
fastened by other means and that would not be dismantled
by a homeowner in the course of normal household
maintenance
ENTER: To go into an area to observe all visible
components.
FUNCTIONAL DRAINAGE: A drain is functional when it
empties in a reasonable amount of time and does not
overflow when another fixture is drained simultaneously.
FUNCTIONAL FLOW: A reasonable flow at the highest
fixture in a dwelling when another fixture is
operatedsimultaneously.
INSTALLED: Attached or connected such that the
installed item requires tools for removal.
NORMAL OPERATING CONTROLS: Homeowner operated devices
such as a thermostat, wall switch, or safety switch.
OBSERVE: The act of making a visual examination.
ON-SITE WATER SUPPLY QUALITY: Water quality is based
on the bacterial, chemical, mineral, and solids content
of the water.
ON-SITE WATER SUPPLY QUANTITY: Water quantity is the
rate of flow of water.
OPERATE: To cause systems or equipment to function.
READILY OPENABLE ACCESS PANEL: A panel provided for
homeowner inspection and maintenance which has removable
or operable fasteners or latch devices in order to be
lifted off, swung open, or otherwise removed by one
person, and its edges and fasteners are not painted in
place. Limited to those panels within normal reach or
from a 4-foot stepladder, and which are not blocked by
stored items, furniture, or building components.
REPRESENTATIVE NUMBER: For multiple identical
components such as windows and electrical outlets - one
such component per room. For multiple identical exterior
components- one such component on each side of the
building.
ROOF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS: Gutters, downspouts, leaders,
splash blocks, and similar components used to carry
water off a roof and away from a building.
SHUT DOWN: A piece of equipment or a system is shut
down when it cannot be operated by the device or control
which a home owner should normally use to operate it. If
its safety switch or circuit breaker is in the "off "
position, or its fuse is missing or blown, the inspector
is not required to reestablish the circuit for the
purpose of operating the equipment or system.
SOLID FUEL HEATING DEVICE: Any wood, coal, or other
similar organic fuel burning device, including but not
limited to fireplaces whether masonry or factory built,
fireplace inserts and stoves, woodstoves (room heaters),
central furnaces, and combinations of these devices.
STRUCTURAL COMPONENT: A component which supports
non-variable forces or weights (dead loads) and variable
forces or weights (live loads).
SYSTEM: A combination of interacting or
interdependent components, assembled to carry out one or
more functions.
TECHNICALLY EXHAUSTIVE: An inspection is technically
exhaustive when it involves the extensive use of
measurements, instruments, testing, calculations, and
other means to develop scientific or engineering
findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
UNDERFLOOR CRAWL SPACE: The area within the confines
of the foundation and between the ground and the
underside of the lowest floor structural component. |