(Washington, DC) - The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) Director Linda K. Argo announced today that proceedings have begun to remove seven commercial inspectors from their positions permanently after failing to gain mandatory certifications.

All DCRA inspectors were given more than 15 months to receive certification from the International Code Council (ICC) – recognized as the industry standard in more than 28 states including California, Texas, New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania. The action follows similar actions taken in July to remove 18 residential inspectors who also failed to gain certification.

Commercial Inspectors are responsible for inspecting major repairs, renovations and new construction work – including plumbing, electrical, structural and fire protection – at residential and commercial properties.

The agency spent tens of thousands of dollars for on-the-job training including ICC-led workshops, study materials and vouchers for inspectors to take the certification tests. Commercial inspectors were required to become certified in the ICC Building Code and the code for their speciliaty. The seven commercial inspectors were given an “Intent to Remove” letter on Friday morning for “inexcusable neglect of duty.”

“My goal remains to professionalize our inspections divisions through increased and ongoing training,” said DCRA Director Linda Argo. “We must be sure our inspectors are professionally certified.

“As with the residential inspectors, this was not the outcome we had hoped for, but we must move forward with a professionalized staff.”

The employees have 15-days to appeal the decision.  

Argo said additional certifications and training will be required as part of the ongoing reform efforts within the Inspections Division since Argo took the helm of DCRA last summer.

DCRA has a plan to minimize disruptions to the inspections unit – which performs more than tens of thousands of inspections annually. The agency will launch an intensive recruitment campaign beginning October 1, 2008 to fill the residential and commercial positions.