Lathing may not cover or conceal reinforcing steel or the structural framework of a building without approval from whom?

Lathing may not cover or conceal reinforcing steel or the structural framework of a building without approval from whom?

• A. Building official
• B. Architect
• C. Engineer
• D. Building owner

Answer: (A)

Concealing reinforcing steel or the structural framework without oversight can hide defects or interfere with required inspections, so the authority to approve such concealment rests with the building official. The building official enforces the code, reviews plans, and issues permits and inspection approvals to ensure structural integrity, proper fireproofing, and accessibility for future inspections. Designers (architects and engineers) specify how components should be built, but they don’t grant the approval to conceal structural elements. The building owner may authorize work, but final approval to cover structural elements lies with the building official.

Concealing reinforcing steel or the structural framework without oversight can hide defects or interfere with required inspections, so the authority to approve such concealment rests with the building official. The building official enforces the code, reviews plans, and issues permits and inspection approvals to ensure structural integrity, proper fireproofing, and accessibility for future inspections. Designers (architects and engineers) specify how components should be built, but they don’t grant the approval to conceal structural elements. The building owner may authorize work, but final approval to cover structural elements lies with the building official.