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<p>I have been on both sides of the part of this process where this has become somewhat normal for smaller installations. The company overseeing the work has a Word template that is pretty clunky. I am not a fan of this for some of the reasons stated, but the cost of on site inspection by those who are specialized in the technology can be pretty high. Some of the on site inspection processes are over the top too. Most of it seems to be about gathering data to generate reports that justifies the expense of hiring the company that is doing the inspections. </p>
<p>My recommendation is if you know this is going to be required, take pictures as the system is being built. Some of the requested information is impractical, not acessable, etc after the system is installed unless you are going to start taking things apart, which I am telling the inspection company I am not going to do. Get me the process now, and not after the fact. </p>
<p>Chris</p>
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<p>On 2021-04-01 23:33, Jerry Shafer wrote:</p>
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<div dir="ltr">Wrenches
<div>virtual inspections are becoming normal, I am just north of Williams inspection and we started these pics or video all the way back to Late March last year, they do this for the far away location but that also where cell service stinks so video can be difficult </div>
<div>Jerry</div>
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<div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 10:37 AM William Miller <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>> wrote:</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Friends:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We just finished a <a href="https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Portfolio/Rework/BIG-SUR-SERVICE/Big_Sur_Service_Upgrade.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">grid-tied project</a> that included a pretty complicated service upgrade. The project is in Monterey County, California. The site is pretty remote on the south end of the Big Sur coastline and Highway 1 is closed (as is not uncommon) to the north with a washout. This makes it time consuming for an inspector to reach the site, but even without the washout the travel time is measured in hours.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Days in advance we scheduled the final inspection on the building department web-site as is SOP and were awarded a slot for yesterday. Yesterday morning an inspector called at 7:30 AM to announce they were too busy to make the appointment. Instead I was directed to take a series of photographs to verify the validity of our installation work. Below is the list they provided. Note how vague the requirements are, particularly the fifth one. I was told that this process will be standard operation procedure for the County of Monterey in the near future for solar installs. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This seems wrong to me. I can't believe that any collection of photographs can accurately portray if even the most simple photovoltaic system, let alone one with a 300 amp CT service and 400 amp transfer switch, is installed correctly. I know in the 1980s the solar water heating industry had acquired a collective black-eye due to shoddy installation procedures and I fear this is where the PV industry may be headed. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I submitted a handful of photos and was granted a final approval. I have very mixed feelings about this "success." I feel like I cheated on a test. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am curious if any of you have had a similar experience to this. As always I am informed and sometimes amused by what I learn on this forum.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">List of requested photographs:</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> PV module model number, quantity, and location according to the approved plan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Roof penetrations flashed/sealed according to the approved plan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Array exposed cables are properly secured, supported, and routed to prevent physical damage. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Grounding/bonding of rack and modules according to the manufacturer's installation instructions. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Equipment installed, listed and labeled according to the approved plan (e.g., PV modules, dc/dc converters, combiners, inverters, rapid shutdown equipment). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Overcurrent devices are the type and size according to the approved plan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Disconnects according to the approved plan and properly located as required by the NEC. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> PV system markings, labels and signs according to the approved plan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Connection of the PV system to the grounding electrode system according to the approved plan. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> Access and working space for operation and maintenance of PV equipment such as inverters, disconnecting means and panelboards (not required for PV modules) [NEC 110.26]. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe UI Symbol',sans-serif;">\u2610</span> The rapid shutdown system is installed and operational according to the approved plan [NEC 690.12].</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">William Miller</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Miller Solar</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">805-438-5600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.millersolar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">CA Lic. 773985</span></p>
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