So this happened

[Newdude]

Any updates? More pics please

The patio guy thought he could start at the end of July so there is some downtime again. It will give me some time to pull up the old patio to make room for the new one.

 

[Lanzz]

Downtime for swimming and enjoying the new pool. Excellent.

 

[Newdude]

Inspections update : Failed both the safety and electrical.

The safety guy wanted me to have padlocks/masterlocks for the 3 gates in case we went away and he wanted me to be able to secure the drop bar on the double gate so that only one opened. I found 3 locks in the garage and used stainless steel clamps to lock the drop bar. He was happy when I sent him pictures afterwards. It turns out I could have bought the cheap door alarm because he only wanted to hear it beep, not to verify the UL2017 approval. $50 extra wasted there but the 'real' ones were weeks to deliver so if I failed for that I couldn't fix it soon. It was better to have it just in case.

The electricians gambled and lost on 2 outlets about 33 ft from the pool that didn't meet the 6ft to 20 requirement. The inspector called it the 'robot rule' I promised him I wasn't buying one for $1000 but that wasn't good enough. They also forgot to skotchkote the liner track bonds, (goop for electrical conductivity at bond connections), didn't have the pool panel bonded and the back fillers sank the pool bond too deep. If you're going to fail, might as well go down in a blaze of glory I always say. I texted the electrician nicely and then went and warmed my cold foot at the PBs. I'm not sure which one worked but the electrician said he is coming tomorrow afternoon and will work with the inspector to get the paperwork pushed through.

While at PBs I had him make the liner guys come back for their sloppy work. The liner track gaps don't line up and the high ones want to tear the liner with their sharp edge poking through. Half of them are way off and I wanted them all flattened and taped. The little white dot under the seam is the bottom corner of the track poking through.



I also told PB that most of the liner bead was loose and flopping around in the track. I gave him the choice to liner lock the whole pool now, or after the winter when half of it popped out and i was calling him with a warranty fix. He chose to do the whole thing now.

We then discussed whether I paid him the 'everybody got to learn their new career at my house' price, or the quality work price, because I'd hate to see the quality work price by comparison. Well. He didn't discuss much but he did stand there warming my foot.

 

[wireform]

We then discussed whether I paid him the 'everybody got to learn their new career at my house' price, or the quality work price, because I'd hate to see the quality work price by comparison. Well. He didn't discuss much but he did stand there warming my foot.

 

[Decoy205]

Ah permits!!! I’m only doing an above ground but my town is strict and I’m stressing the inspections when it’s time.

I hope they can get you sorted out soon. What a process.

 

[Newdude]

I grew up with the electrical inspector. He was younger but we always got along and our Moms were besties. He said he would accept pics once the work was done. But then the electrician said he'd work with him directly so that's not even needed. Still, I appreciated the offer.

The safety guy had to find two things wrong to feel better about it, so he did, but was also happy with pics and a speedy remedy. Again I was thrilled to not have to reschedule the whole inspection.

If the electrician does his bit tomorrow we will be enroute to an approved C.O. The liner issue isn't a town issue.

 

[Decoy205]

That’s good. Thats great they took the pics! I know no one here so if I get someone cranky it will be a bad day for me.

 

[TKpoolOH]

Guess nothing goes perfect . Sounds like you've remedied everything real fast, and even got some satisfaction with your PB and electrician while you were at it. Congrats! Hope the liner fix is easy for them and you.

 

[Newdude]

Guess nothing goes perfect .

I mean. Why start now and ruin the streak?

 

[kimkats]

drop bar on the double gate so that only one opened.

You mean the bar that goes to the ground on the none latch side? How about a chain around BOTH of them so they cannot open at all?

2 outlets about 33 ft from the pool that didn't meet the 6ft to 20 requirement.

sigh..............so math is not their strong point nor is reading a tape measure............gurrrrrrrrr

If you're going to fail, might as well go down in a blaze of glory I always say.

Well they sure did that!!!!

Half of them are way off and I wanted them all flattened and taped.

ALL of them for sure.................sigh again..............LAZY and sorry to the max!

The little white dot under the seam is the bottom corner of the track poking through.

Gurrrrrrrrr for sure!

Here is hoping they all do what they are supposed to do!

 

[W.J.Christy]

@Newdude , forgive my ignorance, what is the 6 ft to 20 requirement for the outlets?

 

[Newdude]

You mean the bar that goes to the ground on the none latch side

Both sides (double gate) have a drop bar and he wanted me to get a new one on the right side that was lockable, effectively making the double gate a single, which I could then open on occasion if a vehicle had to pass, etc.


I talked it out with the inspector and planned to drill a hole through the bar and pass a bolt through under the top bracket, but the bar was tougher than my drill bits so I used hose clamps and an impact gun. The inspector was Ok with the change in plans.

sigh..............so math is not their strong point nor is reading a tape measure............gurrrrrrrrr

It's kinda on me too because I knew about it, but they added an outlet at the panel so I figured they knew they could get away with being close enough.

 

[Newdude]

forgive my ignorance, what is the 6 ft to 20 requirement for the outlets?

In alot of places you need an outlet near the pool so you are less likely to use extension cords that could fall into the pool to power your radio / robot / cellphone charger / etc.

Code is already no outlets within 6 ft of the pool so it has to be over 6 ft away but no more than 20 ft. I have an outlet at 30 ft and 33 ft and close didn't count today.

I was going to reroute an old outlet that I started with originally but I got sidetracked on other projects and ended up abandoning it. Had I done it it, this aspect would have passed but 3 others still would have sunk me today.

 

[Noreaster]

It turns out I could have bought the cheap door alarm because he only wanted to hear it beep, not to verify the UL2017 approval. $50 extra wasted there but the 'real' ones were weeks to deliver so if I failed for that I couldn't fix it soon. It was better to have it just in case.
ed through.

I got bagged on the cheap ones. In MA, they need to be UL listed and my inspector didn't waste amytime calling it out. The only ones that are UL listed are $70/ea, there are a grand total of 2 that are officially listed. Oh, and in MA code, a window is considered an egress that needs the alarm. So i have $700 of alarms i need to put on doors and windows.
I find it ironic that the UL testing is for doors and gates - so by using it on a window - you are using it outside its tested application and void the test. Good job MA building code writers. Oh, 3 of the windows are 10' off the ground and you would land on the edge of a retaining wall.

 

[Lake Placid]

The safety guy wanted me to have padlocks/masterlocks for the 3 gates in case we went away and he wanted me to be able to secure the drop bar on the double gate so that only one opened. I found 3 locks in the garage and used stainless steel clamps to lock the drop bar. He was happy when I sent him pictures afterwards. It turns out I could have bought the cheap door alarm because he only wanted to hear it beep, not to verify the UL2017 approval. $50 extra wasted there but the 'real' ones were weeks to deliver so if I failed for that I couldn't fix it soon. It was better to have it just in case.

I got bagged on the cheap ones. In MA, they need to be UL listed and my inspector didn't waste amytime calling it out. The only ones that are UL listed are $70/ea, there are a grand total of 2 that are officially listed. Oh, and in MA code, a window is considered an egress that needs the alarm. So i have $700 of alarms i need to put on doors and windows.
I find it ironic that the UL testing is for doors and gates - so by using it on a window - you are using it outside its tested application and void the test. Good job MA building code writers. Oh, 3 of the windows are 10' off the ground and you would land on the edge of a retaining wall.

When buying my house county inspector insisted all doors that faced the pool including the garage get the junky alarms. This delayed the transaction as the PO‘s were apparently slow to move. I’m a bachelor so I’ve got incredible peace of mind because of the alarms that when I’m away that the cat won’t let himself out into the pool and drown.

 

[Newdude]

I got bagged on the cheap ones

I almost got bagged for only having one on the patio door. He told me I needed a 2nd one for the screen door also, so we could have the big door open and still have an alarm.

But I lucked out because the model I bought could not be turned off and only has a 15 second delay button. Effectively we cannot not use it without removing it altogether. I laughed as I told him we were AC people who never have doors/windows open so it was a moot point and he was happy that the alarm couldn't be turned off. I would have been HOT if I needed 2 on the same door.

Just like the padlocks he wanted me to get 'in case we went on vacation'. Bruh. The cost of this pool and soon to have 2 kids in college........ we won't be going anywhere, not even to visit the kids. But I had a lock in the garage and each kid had a padlock to donate and it was easy and cheap to comply there.

 

[Lake Placid]

Safety Inspector: ”Sir this is a beautiful pool that you just spent gobs of money to install. To be certain of your families safety, I’m going to recommend to you fill it in with concrete. Yeah, I’m calling the city council now to alert them. Yeah….”

 

[TampaKathy]

I got bagged on the cheap ones. In MA, they need to be UL listed and my inspector didn't waste amytime calling it out. The only ones that are UL listed are $70/ea, there are a grand total of 2 that are officially listed. Oh, and in MA code, a window is considered an egress that needs the alarm. So i have $700 of alarms i need to put on doors and windows.
I find it ironic that the UL testing is for doors and gates - so by using it on a window - you are using it outside its tested application and void the test. Good job MA building code writers. Oh, 3 of the windows are 10' off the ground and you would land on the edge of a retaining wall.

Same in FL (technically)...I got a lenient inspector and since I had the UL rated ones on the 4 doors, he let it go that my 5 windows had the cheap ones.

 

[JamesW]

 

[Newdude]

Update of work performed and workers who showed up this afternoon as of 3:20pm local time :