The spread of COVID-19 caused many changes in our lives. We have been wearing masks to help prevent spread of the disease. Our favorite restaurants now offer outdoor service, and entertainment venues have limited capacity. Many of us that worked in an office are now working remotely. But one thing that has not changed is the need to keep up with safety inspections in buildings. In this new pandemic environment an innovative approach to those inspections has begun to take shape. Many FEDs are exploring the use of electronic devices to perform remote inspections, so that their employees are not exposed to or spreading COVID-19. Here is food-for-thought on the topic to help you make the best decisions for your employees and customers, so that everyone remains safe, as we navigate the future during the pandemic.

The concept for a remote inspection has been with us for quite some time. We all carry some of the basic tools for transmitting images, audio, and video with us every day. For many years we have been sending pictures and videos using a wireless cell phone, smart phone, or tablet to friends and family. Although most personal transmissions are for fun and enjoyment, some of us are also sending images and video for troubleshooting technical problems with our homes, cars, or boats. The latter is somewhat similar to a remote inspection in a building.

An “inspection” in a building is the visual examination or witnessing of a product, process, installation, or test to determine conformity with approved documents (e. g. NFPA standards). Although this task is normally conducted onsite, by a knowledgeable person, such as a trained technician, an inspection can now be conducted remotely using wireless electronic devices, provided there is a sender and receiver that both have compatible equipment. Alternatively, an inspection can be recorded as electronic files for later review.

A “remote inspection” is typically conducted using audio/ visual devices and technologies to perform the inspection. The parties involved in the inspection need to agree to the devices, methods, formats, and quality of transmissions beforehand. They also will need to obtain permission from the property owner and approval from the AHJ to use remote inspection technologies as a substitute for the more conventional onsite visual inspections required by the codes.

Once you have obtained the necessary permissions and approvals, it is best to check on acceptable quality before beginning an inspection. A common problem is interruption or loss of signal, which has a profound impact on the usability and acceptability of any remote inspection. Other factors that can have a negative impact are the following:

• Adequate lighting – too little or too much lighting could render an image or video unusable
• Audio quality – quite often the inspection location affects the Wi-Fi signal strength, so check the local Wi-Fi signal and make adjustments accordingly
• Noise interference – if you are recording sound, do not forget about background noise, including machinery or loud operations in the vicinity of an inspection
• Image and video quality – this is often dependant on the devices, signal strength, and skills of the sender, but remember…edited versions of either format might be questionable

“It is always best to get agreement of all parties prior to conducting a remote inspection.”

Inspections can either be observed remotely in “real time”, while they are happening (live-streaming) or they can be recorded in electronic format for review at a later time. Although a good wireless signal (Wi-Fi) is necessary for sending images and video over the internet, recordings with digital cameras, video recorders, and digital audio recorders can also be used where the review of inspections will be conducted at a later time. Also, digital recordings (image, video, and audio) are sometimes necessary for locations where the Wi-Fi signal could be interrupted or lost. Any digital recordings conducted at locations with poor connectivity or a weak signal can be transmitted to other parties (e. g. owner or AHJ), once your device(s) is connected to the internet back at your office. It is best to have an alternate plan in place before arriving at locations with potential internet issues.

It is always best to get agreement of all parties prior to conducting a remote inspection. Although some AHJs might require a written plan, most AHJs today will allow remote inspections provided the quality of images, audio, and video are reasonable and there is some sort of method for verifying time, date, and location. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is in the process of developing NFPA 915, Standard for Remote Inspections¹. Although the first edition of the standard will not be issued until 2023, it can be viewed in draft form on the NFPA website. Chapter 5 of that standard addresses location and timestamp requirements. For any site location where a remote inspection is to be conducted, it is recommended that the full address and GIS coordinates be recorded. Also, the inspection date and the local time need to be verified and documented.

NFPA 915 is only one available resource for making informed decisions, regarding remote inspections. NFPA has additional resources on remote video inspections, including a whitepaper², a factsheet³, and an infographic⁴. A video interview with Diane Pein, President of NAFED, discussing the use of smart technologies, is available to our customers on the Brooks Equipment website⁵. The Recommended Practice for Remote Virtual Inspections, produced by International Code Council (ICC), provides some interesting insights for AHJs that conduct building inspections⁶. ICC also has a bulletin titled Keys to Success for Remote Virtual Inspections⁷.

The information provided in this article, and the resources referenced, should be a good starting point for reviewing your remote inspection offerings or developing and implementing a new remote inspection program. A remote inspection allows you the opportunity to evaluate equipment installations so you can determine conformity to the baseline standards. But the inspection is only the first step. When a deficiency is identified, corrective action must be taken, including replacing nonconforming (missing, worn, and broken) parts. Using remote inspections helps you identify deficiencies before they become problems. That not only increases safety for your customer, but also improves your bottom line!