Building Inspectors oversee what's good for the building and the potential for problems for current and future owners. Proper installs and the clearances required would seem to fall into that catagory. The opinions of homeowners would be the last thing I would consider. As a general rule they can do things cheap/stupid as a way to save money. You may know what your doing, but confirmation from the guys who built it carries a bit more weight.
Ron

Thanks, but on this MB, I wouldn't expect anyone to know about heat pumps. The fact is, where I live, the #1 cause of heat pump failure is running it below 28 degrees F. And that is a manual shutoff. The machine has defrosters, but they fail quickly. So what is the building inspector going to do? Call me every time the temp dips below 28?

I don't think that I am dealing with "guys who built it". I think I'm dealing with lawyers who write the SEER ads for DOE, "We get this SEER, we get that SEER".

Maybe if I can buy some "carbon credits" like Al Gore does, I can have my deck.

"Building Inspectors oversee what's good for the building and the potential for problems for current and future owners."

Just want to add: If the building inspector is doing all this work, does he own the building, or do I?

For the record, I left three phone messages for my "Building Inspector" in the last 3 days. He returned none. I had to drive down there three times to find him. So much for overseeing.

Sorry, but I am in a really foul mood. My "cheap/stupid way to save money" Ipe/Garapa deck can't happen

As a pro remodeler, I must disagree with your version of the inspectors job. . It is not his job to oversee what is good for the building ( his subjective opinion), or decide what he thinks is good for the current or future owners. It is his job to see that the structure is built as desiged, and that all the in place personal safety and structural integrity issues are done according to the written code, as well as the location of the house or structure on the property meeting the in place requirements (lot line set backs an such). If there is no code violations caused by placing the units under a deck, it is not his call to worry about the longevity of the units. Politely ask him to reference the code section that he is basing his opinion on; politely..you do not want to make an enemy of him. Then contact a tech for the manufacturer, e-mail him some photos of the situation, as he will need to verify that there is sufficient perimeter clearance for the units to get enough air flow, and he should be able to send you an ok for it, which should make the inspector happy. If the inspector insists that his opinion is not changing, you may have to speak to his supervisor.

I agree with troubleseeker. Be sure not to piss him off if you want his ok on the pumpthing. Also you may be able to request a varience if he turns you down.

Al

thanks troubleseek and deckman,

The problem is that the heat pump manufacturer does not take technical calls from a homeowner. In other words, I cannot call them and ask to speak to an engineer.

The manufacturer's policy (and it's listed on the NYSE - not a small company) is that only licensed HVAC contractors can ask technical questions.

I have contacted my HVAC installer. His plan is to get a letter from his factory approved distributor, that the grills in the deck will be OK.

Maybe the Build Inspector will accept that, maybe not. If not, I'll have to escalate some more.

All of the construction-type people around here think I don't even need grills in the deck for the heat pumps. The grills are really there just to keep the Ipe stable.

My plan for the grills in the deck is to install 2 32"X32" aluminum grills on "headed out" 2X8s. They will be alum. (more $$ than steel) 1) so they don't rust 2) so I can easily remove them in the winter months (when the heat pumps are running, and I am not using the deck). Sounds like a reasonable plan to me, but I don't seem to be dealing with reasonable people.

My $.02 worth, which is probably barely worth that. I haven't had specific experience with building codes but have with electrical code and learned a little along the way.

My story: I asked an electrician friend to wire a spa circuit at our new house. He asked me for the specs: 50 amp GFCI was required. Code said to use #8 wire for that current/voltage but he said he had to see the manual for the tub because the manufacturer requirements over rule the code. The manual said to use #6 wire. He was surprised and didn't agree (it cost me another $120 in copper) it would ever be needed but had no choice but to do it that way. He also asked if there was an existing outlet within 10 ft of the spa, there is one and it was 8 ft away but around a corner. He said code says it can't be closer than 10 ft but the inspector might let it slide if he feels its location doesn't pose a safety risk. The inspector looked at it but didn't require me to move it.

So my question would be, does the manufacturer say that you won't have enough clearance after the deck is built over it? If so the inspector likely has to honor the specifications set forth by them, unless they agree that an exception can be made. Also for the same reason that you have to physically block off a door on a second floor that has no porch or deck outside (locking it isn't enough) to prevent someone from falling perhaps he is concerned that removing those grates in the winter would cause a falling hazard?

With the way house inspectors are being sued these days I would expect he is just being extra cautious, or maybe he's just a jerk :) Good luck either way.