The American
Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is a not for profit
professional society established in 1976. Membership in ASHI
is voluntary and its members include private, fee-paid home
Inspectors. ASHI’s objectives include promotion of
excellence within the profession and continual improvement
of its members’ inspection services to the public.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of these Standards of
Practice is to establish a minimum and uniform standard for
private, fee-paid home inspectors who are members of the
American Society of Home Inspectors. Home inspections
performed to these Standards of Practice are intended to
provide the client with information regarding the condition
of the systems and components of the home as inspected at
the time of the home inspection.
Inspectors shall:
Inspect:
Readily accessible systems and
components of homes listed in these Standards of Practice.
Installed systems and components of
homes listed in these Standards of Practice.
Report:
On those systems and components
inspected which, in the professional opinion of the
inspector, are significantly deficient or are near the end
of their service lives.
A reason why, if not self-evident, the
system or component is significantly deficient or near the
end of its service life.
The inspector’s recommendations to
correct or monitor the reported deficiency.
On any systems and components
designated for inspection in these Standards of Practice
which were present at the time of the home inspection but
were not inspected and a reason they were not inspected.
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The structural components including
foundation and framing.
By 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.
Describe:
The foundation and report the methods
used to inspect the under-floor crawl space.
The floor structure
The wall structure
The ceiling structure
The roof structure and report the
methods used to inspect the attic.
The inspector is not required to:
Provide any engineering service or
architectural service.
Offer an opinion as to the adequacy of
any structural system or component.
EXTERIOR
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The exterior wall covering, flashing
and trim
All exterior doors
Attached decks, balconies, stoops,
steps, porches, and their associated railings
The eaves, soffits, and fascias where
accessible from the ground level
The vegetation, grading, surface
drainage, and retaining walls on the property when any of
these are likely to adversely affect the building
Walkways, patios, and driveways
leading to dwelling entrances
Describe the exterior wall covering
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect:
Screening, shutters, awnings, and
similar seasonal accessories
Fences
Geological, geotechnical or
hydrological conditions
Recreational facilities
Outbuildings
Seawalls, break-walls, and docks
Erosion control and earth
stabilization measures
ROOF SYSTEM
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The roof covering
The roof drainage system
The flashing
The skylights, chimneys, and roof
penetrations
Describe the root covering and report
the methods used to inspect the roof.
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect:
Antennae
Interiors of flues or chimneys which
are not readily accessible
Other installed accessories
PLUMBING SYSTEM
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The interior water supply and
distribution systems including all fixtures and faucets
The drain, waste and vent systems
including all fixtures
The water heating equipment
The vent systems, flues, and chimneys
The fuel storage and fuel distribution
systems
The drainage sumps, sump pumps, and
related piping
Describe:
The water supply, drain, waste and
vent piping materials
The water heating equipment including
the energy source
The location of main water and main
fuel shut-off valves
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect:
The clothes washing machine
connections
The interiors of flues or chimneys
which are not readily accessible
Wells, well pumps, or water storage
related equipment
Water conditioning systems
Solar water heating systems
Fire and lawn sprinkler systems
Private waste disposal systems
Determine:
Whether water supply and waste
disposal systems are public or private
The quality of the water supply
Operate safety valves or shut-off
valves
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The service drop
The service entrance conductors,
cables, and raceways
The service equipment and main
disconnects
The service grounding
The interior components of service
panels and sub panels
The conductors
The overcurrent protection devices
A representative number of installed
lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles
The ground fault circuit interrupters
Describe:
The amperage and voltage rating of the
service
The locations of main disconnect(s)
and sub panels
The wiring methods
Report:
On the presence of solid conductor
aluminum branch circuits wiring
On the absence of smoke detectors
The inspector in NOT required to:
Inspect:
The remote control devices unless the
device is the only control device
The alarm systems and components
The low voltage wiring, systems and
components
The ancillary wiring, systems and
components not a part of the primary electrical power
distribution system
Measure amperage, voltage, or
impedance
HEATING SYSTEM
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The installed heating equipment
The vent systems, flues, and chimneys
Describe:
The energy source
The heating method by its
distinguishing characteristics
The inspector NOT required to:
Inspect
The interior of flues or chimneys
which are not readily accessible
The heat exchanger
The humidifier or dehumidifier
The electronic air filter
The solar space heating system
Determine heat supply adequacy or
distribution balance
AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEMS
The inspector shall:
Inspect the installed central and
through-wall cooling equipment
Describe:
The energy source
The cooling method by its
distinguishing characteristics
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect electronic air filters
Determine cooling supply adequacy or
distribution balance
INTERIOR
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The walls, ceilings, and floors
The steps, stairways, and railings
The countertops and a representative
number of installed cabinets
A representative number of doors and
windows
Garage doors and garage door openers
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect:
The paint, wallpaper, and other finish
treatments
The carpeting
The window treatments
The central vacuum systems
The household appliances
Recreational facilities
INSULATION &
VENTILATION
The inspection shall:
Inspect:
The insulation a vapor retarders in
unfinished spaces
The ventilation of attics and
foundation areas
The mechanical ventilation systems
Describe:
The insulation and vapor retarders in
unfinished spaces
The absence of insulation in
unfinished spaces at conditioned surfaces
The inspector is NOT required to:
Disturb insulation or vapor retarders
Determine indoor air quality
FIREPLACES AND
SOLID FUEL BURNING APPLIANCES
The inspector shall:
Inspect:
The system components
The vent systems, flues, and chimneys
Describe:
The fireplaces and solid fuel burning
appliances
The chimneys
The inspector is NOT required to:
Inspect:
The interiors of flues or chimneys
The fire screens and doors
The seals and gaskets
The automatic fuel feed devices
The mantles and fireplace surrounds
The combustion make-up air devices
The heat distribution assists whether
gravity controlled or fan assisted
Ignite or extinguish fires
Determine draft characteristics
Move fireplace inserts or stoves or
firebox contents
GENERAL LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
General limitations
Inspections performed in accordance
with these Standards of Practice:
Are not technically exhaustive
Will not identify concealed conditions
of latent defects
These Standards are applicable to
buildings with four or fewer dwellings units and their
garages or carports
General exclusions
The inspector is not required to
perform any action or make any determination unless
specifically stated in these Standards of Practice, except
as may be required by lawful authority.
Inspectors are NOT required to
determine:
The condition of systems or components
which are not readily accessible
The remaining life of any system or
component
The strength, adequacy, effectiveness,
or efficiency of any system or component
The causes of any condition of
deficiency
The methods, materials, or costs of
corrections
Future conditions including, but not
limited to, failure of systems and components
The suitability of the property for
any specialized use
Compliance with regulatory
requirements (codes, regulations, laws, ordinances, etc.)
The market value of the property or
its marketability
The advisability of the purchase of
the property
The presence of potentially hazardous
plants or animals including ,but not limited to, wood
destroying organisms or diseases harmful to humans
The presence of any environmental
hazards including, but not limited to toxins, carcinogens,
noise, and contaminates in soil, water, and air
The effectiveness of any system
installed or methods utilized to control or remove suspected
hazardous substances
The operating costs of systems or
components
The acoustical properties of any
system or component
Inspectors are NOT required to offer:
Or perform any act or service contrary
to law
Or perform engineering services
Or perform work in any trade or
professional service other than home inspection
Warranties or guarantees of any kind
Inspectors are NOT required to
operate:
Any system or component which is shut
down or otherwise inoperable
Any system or component which does not
respond to normal operating controls
Shut- off valves
Inspectors are NOT required to enter:
Any area which will, in the opinion of
the inspector, likely be dangerous to the inspector or other
persons or damage the property or its systems and components
The under-floor crawl spaces or attics
which are not readily accessible
Inspectors are NOT required to
inspect:
Underground items including, but not
limited to, underground storage tanks or other underground
indications of their presence, whether abandoned or active
Systems or components which are not
installed
Decorative items
Systems or components located in areas
that are not entered in accordance with these Standards of
Practice
Detached structures other than garages
and carports
Inspectors are NOT required to:
Perform any procedure or operation
which will, in the opinion of the inspector, likely to be
dangerous to the inspector or other persons or damage the
property of its systems or components
Move suspended ceiling tiles, personal
property, furniture, equipment, plants, soil, snow, ice or
debris
Dismantle any system or component,
except as explicitly required by these Standards of Practice
Standards of Practice. Effective
January 1, 2000.
©Copyright 1993 American Society of
Home Inspectors, Inc. All Rights Reserved
