Final inspections and tests (energy, blower-door, mechanical)

ORSC-required tests

The ORSC energy chapter requires two performance tests before occupancy on most additions:

• Blower-door test — measures whole-house or addition air leakage at 50 Pa pressure differential. ORSC sets a maximum air-changes-per-hour (ACH50) target. A third-party tester (often the same energy consultant from step 2.5) runs the test.
• Duct leakage test — required when ducts run through unconditioned space. Measures total or leakage-to-outside duct loss.

Both tests produce a one-page report. Pass results go to the inspector; fail results trigger air-sealing or duct-sealing work and a re-test.

Final inspections by trade

Each sub-permit gets a final inspection separate from the building permit's final:

• Final electrical (the electrician) — all devices working, panel labels correct, smoke/CO detectors tested, GFCI/AFCI verified.
• Final plumbing (the plumber) — all fixtures connected, no leaks, gas pressure test if applicable, drain function.
• Final mechanical (the mechanical contractor) — equipment running, ducts balanced, ventilation airflow verified.
• Final building (the GC, with PP&D inspector) — all life-safety items verified, exit paths, smoke/CO functional, stairs and railings code-compliant, attic access, crawlspace access.

Sequence and scheduling

The trades typically go first (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, then energy testing), then building. The building inspector signs off last because they want to see everything else has passed.

Each inspector is a separate appointment. The GC's project manager coordinates — typically 1–2 weeks of inspections at the end of construction.

What a failed inspection looks like

Most addition projects have at least one failed inspection on at least one trade. It's not unusual; it's how the system works. Common failures:

• A missing GFCI in a kitchen island outlet.
• A bathroom fan that didn't get connected to a switch.
• A smoke detector that wasn't replaced when the code changed.
• A railing baluster spacing that's 4-1/8" instead of <4".

Each fix is small. The trade comes back, fixes the item, calls for re-inspection. Each re-inspection is a few days of delay, not weeks.

When this is done

When every sub-permit and the building permit have a passed final inspection. PP&D issues the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) — your signal to move back in.