<div dir="ltr">William,<div><br></div><div>I've never had an AHJ request pictures in lieu of a physical inspection but I've personally performed many inspections as a third-party inspector using photos. As long as you have quality pictures a good inspector can find most major issues. The key is having good photos of the proper equipment. At the very least they should be able to identify when a physical inspection is necessary.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm all for remote inspections which saves time and money for everyone involved.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks,</div><div>Will</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 1:37 PM William Miller <<a href="mailto:william@millersolar.com">william@millersolar.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-US"><div class="gmail-m_-7214940827883995186WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">Friends:</span></p><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">We just finished a <a href="https://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/Portfolio/Rework/BIG-SUR-SERVICE/Big_Sur_Service_Upgrade.html" target="_blank">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><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">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><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">This seems wrong to me. I can\u2019t 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><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">I submitted a handful of photos and was granted a final approval. I have very mixed feelings about this \u201csuccess.\u201d I feel like I cheated on a test. </span></p><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">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><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">List of requested photographs:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif"> </span></p><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\u2019s 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><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><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><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: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">www.millersolar.com</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">CA Lic. 773985</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div></div>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><b style="font-size:12.8px">Will White</b><div style="font-size:12.8px">Curriculum Developer</div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=12H3Cu2gnX7TKTeETn1WsYqa8cp6gsEj1&revid=0B7yAwArWHgPbNzhGK00wT0diY1c1NWhlRlNocDRVd045eTFjPQ" width="420" height="52"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">e: </span><a href="mailto:will@solarenergy.org" style="color:rgb(17,85,204);font-size:12.8px" target="_blank">will@solarenergy.org</a><span style="font-size:12.8px"> </span><br></div><div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">w: <a href="http://www.solarenergy.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.solarenergy.org</a> </span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px">p: 802-272-3092<br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><br></span></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px"><div>NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional</div><div># 093006-34</div></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:x-small">Do you envision a world powered by renewable energy? </span><a href="http://solarenergy.org/donate" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:x-small;color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">Be the change</a><span style="color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:x-small">.</span><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>