Building and fire officials assume critical roles in our communities, from building and life safety to education and investment protection. Non-bias, third-party reviews, as a fundamental mechanism of the construction industry, promote honesty among stakeholders and provides better value to consumers.

Recently we provided code consulting services on a large agricultural construction project. The owner had not selected the property at the time services were provided. The code implications were complex, we encountered several critical interpretation issues and we did not know who the building official would be, their skill level or if there was any building official at all. At this point, I realized the important role of a building official – not only as a person who assumes this critical role but more as a mechanism of trust.

The principle of non-bias, third-party review promotes honesty within the design and construction industry. The project I was consulting on was in a feasibility study phase, and questions regarding code implications required answers, and the answers had to be correct to provide an accurate budget. I understood that there was a potential that a building official would review the design and could identify the issues I was bringing forward at this early stage. The owner could have chosen the less expensive path and rolled the dice, but knowing that a building official COULD identify deficiencies in the design which could delay or add unanticipated cost to the project, motivated the owner to plan for compliance.

The importance of a building official’s knowledge, experience and qualifications is obvious and has a significant impact on construction projects, but even more important is the fact that building and fire officials simply exist. Without the potential for non-bias third-party review, the single most effective mechanism to promote honesty in the construction industry would be absent. Should we decide to innovate the regulatory framework for our communities, the importance for the potential of non-bias, third-party review should be enhanced and promoted.