Where Do I Find the Statement of Special Inspections?

Where to look first

1. Structural general notes. Look for “Statement of Special Inspections,” “Special Inspections,” “Special Inspection Schedule” or “Schedule of Special Inspections.”
2. The structural cover sheet or sheet index. The index may identify a dedicated special-inspection sheet.
3. Material-specific structural sheets. Requirements may be placed with concrete, masonry, steel, welding or anchor notes.
4. The applicable construction details. On plan sets both with and without a separate statement, a detail for the work being inspected may include a note such as “Special Inspection Required.” Review the detail callouts and keyed notes for the specific work.
5. Permit documents outside the drawing sheets. Some jurisdictions use a separate special-inspection form or program document approved with the plans.

Finding a statement is not the same as confirming the scope

In practice, many Statements of Special Inspections appear to be generic or carried over from another plan set. A statement should be specific to the project, but its presence alone does not establish that every listed item applies—or that every required inspection has been included.

Compare the statement with the complete approved plans, specifications, schedules and applicable details. Warning signs include inspection types for materials or systems that are not part of the project, missing inspections for work clearly shown in the plans, conflicting continuous or periodic requirements, and references that do not match the project documents.

The special inspector should not revise the statement or decide the design requirements. When the documents are inconsistent or the scope is unclear, request clarification from the registered design professional in responsible charge and, when necessary, the building department before the affected work proceeds.

Design-professional guidance

Structural-engineering organizations recommend coordinating the design team’s requirements into one project-specific Statement of Special Inspections. Detailed notes may still appear with the applicable construction details, but those individual notes may not provide the complete inspection scope, frequency, reporting requirements or responsibilities.

What the CBC requires

For projects requiring special inspection or testing under CBC Section 1705, 2025 CBC Section 1704.3 requires the registered design professional in responsible charge to prepare the Statement of Special Inspections for submittal by the applicant. Section 1704.2.3 addresses submitting the statement as a condition of permit issuance.

Section 1704.3.1 requires the statement to identify the work requiring special inspection or testing; the type and extent of each inspection and test; applicable seismic or wind requirements; whether each inspection is continuous, periodic or performed as defined by a referenced standard; and deferred-submittal items requiring a supplemental statement.

What if the plan set does not include one?

Some plan sets omit the Statement of Special Inspections entirely. A missing statement does not necessarily mean one is required: the project may not contain work requiring special inspection. But if the approved drawings, permit conditions or structural work indicate that special inspection is required, the omission should be resolved before that work begins.

The special inspector should not invent the inspection program or decide the design requirements. Ask the project’s architect or structural engineer and the building department to identify or provide the approved statement. If the permit set is incomplete, obtain the missing approved document or corrected plans.

What to send ASI

Send the complete approved plan set, permit number, project address, jurisdiction, requested inspection type, and the site contact’s name and mobile number. ASI can help locate the statement and identify the inspection information shown in the documents. If the required statement is absent, ASI will tell you what needs to be clarified with the design professional or building department.