RCW 64.55 Enclosure Inspections

RCW 64.55 applies to many multi-unit residential buildings in Washington. It calls for a qualified building enclosure inspector, independent of the developer and contractor, to inspect the enclosure during construction, observe water penetration testing of installed windows, and sign a letter stating the enclosure was built in substantial compliance with the enclosure design documents.

We take on wood-framed and steel-framed projects across Washington, from Vancouver and Clark County north to Olympia and Tacoma, and east to Yakima. Our packages are sized to the project and scoped to keep inspections on the schedule, not in the way of it.

What's Included

• Pre-construction review of the stamped enclosure design documents, so details can be built, inspected, and tested as drawn
• Pre-installation meetings with the crew leads for the WRB, window, roofing, and flashing work to review the details, sequencing, and inspection expectations before work begins
• Mockup observation and first-install reviews at windows, decks, and roof-to-wall transitions
• Periodic field inspections with written reports and photo documentation after every visit
• Window water testing observed per the statute and performed by an independent testing lab
• Inspection letter at completion, signed for the building department before the final certificate of occupancy

How It Works

1. Scope and FeeWe review the drawings and schedule and send a proposal sized to the project: fixed fee, unit price, or time and materials.
2. Design CheckBefore work starts, we review the enclosure details and, where helpful, suggest refinements that make them easier to build, inspect, and test, grounded in building-science principles and constructability.
3. Field ProgramSite visits follow the schedule of enclosure milestones, with a report after each one.
4. Testing and Close-OutWindow water tests are completed, open issues are closed, and we sign the inspection letter required for the final certificate of occupancy.

Codes and Standards