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bMeck-SI: Paperless Special Inspections Process and Website
With the implementation of the 2002 NC Building Code, Chapter 17 – Section 1704 was introduced in North Carolina.
This section of the code, though new to North Carolina, had been used in other areas of the country over the last ten
years. After NC’s “qualified adoption of SI,” the Department worked with local professionals and affected industry
members to develop a program that addressed relevant code compliance issues while keeping the process as simple as
possible. The resulting proposal contained the best ideas on how to perform Special Inspections in Mecklenburg County
and quickly became a benchmark for discussion across the state. That discussion continues today as the NC Building
Code Council attempts to develop a uniform SI standard across the state; the Department participates in that effort.
The Special Inspections section of the Building Code is very ambiguous; it intentionally leaves the method of
administration to local Code Enforcement. After reviewing manual processes in other jurisdictions such as Kansas City,
the Department realized it could become overwhelmed by paperwork and related administrative demands. Special
Inspections were conducted by only large Code Enforcement Departments who had the budget and manpower to develop
and administer a comprehensive system. Therefore, mostly large jurisdictions and state agencies have opted to require
Special Inspections. Within this group, the Special Inspections programs varied considerably.
When Mecklenburg County analyzed Special Inspection programs throughout the country, we determined fifteen
additional staff members would have to be hired to perform Special Inspections. Mecklenburg County sought a way to
standardize Special Inspections with only a few additional staff members. A goal was immediately established to make
the SI process in Mecklenburg County fully electronic and totally paperless. From July 2004 through January 2006, the
Department worked to develop the technology to implement that vision.
The challenge Meck-SI.com faced was to create a comprehensive management system that would serve as a working
resource for architects, engineers, and the construction team. This system would enable them to complete mandated
Special Inspections while minimizing the possibility of missing required steps or violating the document retention policy.
Although Meck-SI.com was originally intended to serve only the Department, it eventually evolved into a patented
management system that allows large and small agencies to adopt an economical and efficient Special Inspections
program that any regulatory agency throughout the nation that adopts the International Building Code could utilize.
On January 17, 2006, Code Enforcement launched www.Meck-SI.com, the first paperless special inspections process in
the country. This electronic resource provides comprehensive process information, graphic flowcharts, proprietary
forms, document storage, document retrieval, document archival, professional certifications, hot-links within and outside
the site, and a clear hierarchy and division of the website that is easy to understand through use of its navigation bar.
http://meck-si.com/msi/Default.aspx
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2145 Suttle Avenue • Charlotte, North Carolina 28208 • (980) 314-2633 • Fax (704) 336-3839
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