s130204-2 Does the requirement to inspect ventilation in crawlspaces presume that it is required and if absent must be reported as absent?

Identifier: s130204-2

Date: 02/12/2013

Question:

Modern engineering and design of crawlspaces discourages the use of ventilation since it introduces moisture into the house.  Thus the absence of ventilation is not necessarily a reportable defect. Does the requirement to inspect such ventilation presume that it is required to be present and if absent (as designed and intended) it must be reported as absent?

Answer:The presence or absence of attic or crawlspace ventilation is not assumed. If the attic or crawlspace isdesigned to be unventilated, the inspector should inspect the installed systemsand components that allow an unventilated attic or crawlspace.  The inspector should report if any of those systems and components are not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or near the end of their service lives.

ASHI Standards of Practice Clause11.1.A.2 states:  “The inspector shall inspect (the) of ventilation of attics and foundation areas.”  Inspecting involves visually examining readily accessible installed systems and components and determining if those components are not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or are near the end of their service lives. (See the definition of inspect and Clause 2.2.B.1)

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