s000517 Explaining how a system is near the end of its service life without determining remaining service life
Identifier: s000517
Date: 07/07/2000
Question
How can one report a reason why a system or component is near the end of its service life per sections 2.2.B.1 and 2.2.B.2 without first determining the remaining service life, which is excluded per section 13.2.B.2?
Response
The exclusion (section 13.2.B.2) states that inspectors are not required to determine a component's or a system's remaining service life. The requirement (section 2.2.B.1) is to disclose that a system and component is either "significantly deficient" or "near the end of its service life", in the professional judgment of the inspector. This implies that the inspector must have knowledge of expected useful/service lives of residential systems and components. The inspector's judgment should be based on observations of wear and tear of the systems and components.
Chronological age is only one criterion that, to be valid, requires the system or component be in service since its date of manufacture. One may judge an old system or component to have sufficient remaining service life so as not to be judged "near the end". Indications of wear provide a more valid basis for the placement of a system or component in the continuum of its service life. One may determine that a system or component is near the end of its service life yet not be particularly old, in chronological terms. In fact, it is not even necessary to know chronological age.
Reporting that a system or component is "near the end of" or "late in" its service life is required to alert the consumer to the limited nature of remaining usefulness. "end of service life" would be a condition that needs to be reported under the "significant deficiency" requirement of section 2.2.B.1.
Finally, the inspector is also required (section 2.2.B.2) to report a reason why the judgment of "significant deficiency" or "near end of service life " was made. This amounts to a description of the observations made that lead to the judgment.
