Section 400 The Practice of Home Inspection in …

1 standards of Practice and Code of Ethics for Arkansas Registered Home InspectorsAs Reproduced FromThe Rules and Procedures of the Arkansas Home inspector registration BoardEffective January 1, 2015 Section 400 The Practice of Home Inspection in ArkansasPage 401 standards of and and and Solid Fuel Burning Limitations & of Practice Glossary8 402 Code of Ethics10 403 Home Inspection Reports11401 standards of : These standards of Practice shall be followed and complied withby registered home inspectors in Arkansas. Any Arkansas law which conflicts with theStandards of Practice , shall take precedence. Underlined terms are defined withinSection standards of Practice and Scope1 The purpose of these standards of Practice is to establish a minimum and uniform standard for home inspectors who subscribe to these standards of Practice .

2 Home Inspections performed to these standards of Practice are intended to provide the client with objective information regarding the condition ofthe systems and components of the home as inspected at the time of the home Inspection . Redundancy in the description of the requirements, limitations, and exclusions regarding the scope of the home Inspection is provided for emphasis only. 2 Inspectors to the Code of Ethics of the Arkansas Home inspector registration Board as set forth in Section 402 of these Rules and readily accessible, visually observable, installed systems and components listed in these standards of Practice . The inspector Arkansas Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a strive to inspect these components and not arbitrarily determine them to be inaccessible.

3 : systems and components inspected that, in the professional judgment of the inspector , are not functioning properly, are significantly deficient, are unsafe, or are near the end of their service lives. The inspector is not to consider near the end of service life as a reason not to inspect systems and to correct, or monitor for future correction, the deficiencies reported in , or items needing further evaluation. (Per Exclusion inspectors are NOT required to determine methods, materials, or costs of corrections.) or explanation as to the nature of the deficiencies reported in , that are not and components designated for Inspection in these standards of Practice that were present at the time of the home Inspection but were not inspected and the reason(s)

4 They were not standards of Practice are not intended to limit inspectors other Inspection services or systems and components in addition to those required In Section or specifying repairs, provided the inspector is appropriately qualified and willing to do systems and components from the Inspection if requested by the Components1 The inspector shall structural components including the foundation and probing a representative number of structural components where deterioration is suspected or where clear indications of possible deterioration exist. Probing is NOT required when probing would damage any finished surface or where no deterioration is visible or presumed to readily accessible attic space regardless of whether or not it is floored unless adverse conditions methods used to inspect under-floor crawl space floor wall ceiling roof inspector is NOT required to Arkansas Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a any engineering or architectural service or an opinion as to the adequacy of any structural system or under-floor crawl space areas that have less than 24 inches of vertical clearance between components and the ground or that have an access opening smaller than 16 inches by 24 inspector shall.

5 , flashing and exterior or adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated , soffits, and fascias where accessible from the ground , grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls that are likely to adversely affect the or entryway walkways, patios, and : inspector is NOT required to inspect: , shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal and/or soil other than garages and , break-walls, and control and earth stabilization inspector : , chimneys, and roof : used to inspect the inspector is NOT required to inspect: of flues or chimneys that are not readily installed that are of a pitch less than 6 to 12 must be inspected by walking on them unless adverse conditions exist.

6 Roofs that are of a pitch equal to or greater than 6 to 12 may be inspected by viewing them at least fromeave level if eaves are safely accessible with a 12' ladder used accordingto manufacturer's Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a inspector : water supply and distribution systems including all fixtures and , waste and vent systems including all heating equipment and hot water supply systems , flues, and storage and fuel distribution sumps, sump pumps, and related : supply, drain, waste, and vent piping heating equipment including energy source(s). of main water and main fuel shut-off inspector is NOT required :: washing machine of flues or chimneys that are not readily , well pumps, or water storage related conditioning water heating and lawn sprinkler waste disposal : water supply and waste disposal systems are public or supply quantity or automatic safety controls or manual stop inspector : entrance conductors, cables, and equipment and main components of service panels and sub protection representative number of installed lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles.

7 Fault circuit interrupters. : and voltage rating of the location of main disconnect(s) and sub of solid conductor aluminum branch circuit or absence of smoke detectors. methods .2 The inspector is NOT required : control Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a systems and voltage wiring systems and components . wiring systems and components not a part of the primary electrical power distribution amperage, voltage or inspector readily openable access : heating equipment. systems, flues, and chimneys. : source(s). inspector is NOT required : of flues or chimneys that are not readily or air space heating heat supply adequacy or distribution Conditioning1 The inspector readily openable access : and through-wall systems.

8 : source(s). inspector is NOT required electronic air cooling supply adequacy or distribution window air conditioning inspector shall inspect , ceilings, and , stairways, and and a representative number of installed representative number of doors and doors and garage door inspector is NOT required to , wallpaper, and other finish vacuum Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a and Ventilation1 The inspector : and vapor retarders in unfinished of attics and foundation ventilation : and vapor retarders in unfinished of insulation in unfinished spaces at conditioned inspector is NOT required to disturb and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances1 The inspector .

9 And : and solid fuel burning inspector is NOT required : of flues or and and fuel feed and fireplace make-up air distribution assists (gravity fed and fan assisted). or extinguish draft fireplace inserts and stoves or firebox Limitations & Exclusions1 General limitations: inspector is NOT required to perform any action or make any determination not specifically stated in these standards of performed in accordance with these standards of Practice not technically not required to identify concealed conditions, latent defects, or consequential damage(s) C. These standards of Practice are applicable to buildings with four or fewer dwelling units and their garages or are NOT required to determine: of systems or components which are not readily accessibleArkansas Home inspector registration Board - (501) 683-3710 ahib@a life expectancy of any system or , adequacy, effectiveness, or efficiency of any system or causes of any condition or , materials, or costs of conditions including, but not limited to, failure of systems and suitability of the property for any specialized with regulatory requirements (codes, regulations, laws, ordinances, etc.)

10 Value of the property or its advisability of purchase of the presence of potentially hazardous plants or animals including, but not limited to, wood destroying organisms or diseases harmful to humans including molds or mold like substances presence of any environmental hazards including, but not limited to, toxins, carcinogens, noise, and contaminants in soil, water, and effectiveness of any system installed or method utilized to control or remove suspected hazardous costs of systems or properties of any system or conditions relating to geotechnical or hydrologic are NOT required to offer: perform any act or service contrary to perform engineering services perform any trade or any professional service other than home or guarantees of any are NOT required to system or component which is shut down or otherwise system or component which does not respond to normal operating valves or manual stop are NOT required to enter:1.