IBC 2024 Section 1705.3 Explained

IBC 2024 Section 1705.3 establishes special inspection and testing requirements for concrete construction — including all post-installed anchors. Table 1705.3 within this section specifies which anchor installations require inspection, the inspection level (periodic or continuous), and the testing frequencies by application type. This is the code section your inspector references when requiring anchor bolt pull testing on your project. Every state that adopts the IBC — including Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama — enforces these requirements.

What Section 1705.3 Does

Section 1705.3 is part of IBC Chapter 17 — Special Inspections and Tests. Chapter 17 creates the entire framework for quality assurance during construction: who inspects, what gets inspected, how often, and what documentation is required. Section 1705.3 is the concrete construction portion of this framework.

For post-installed anchors specifically, Section 1705.3 and Table 1705.3 establish three things: that testing is required, how much testing is required, and the inspection level. Everything else — the actual test procedure, equipment, and acceptance criteria — comes from ASTM E3121. The two work together: the IBC says "test these anchors at this frequency," and E3121 says "here's how to run the test."

Table 1705.3 — Anchor Testing Requirements

Table 1705.3 covers all concrete construction special inspections — not just anchors. The anchor-specific line items address both cast-in-place and post-installed anchors. Post-installed anchors require tension testing at frequencies that depend on the application. Cast-in-place anchors require visual verification prior to concrete placement but not pull testing.

Periodic vs. Continuous Inspection

IBC 2024 defines two levels of special inspection. Periodic special inspection means the inspector is intermittently present where the work has been or is being performed — they check in at intervals. Continuous special inspection means the inspector is present continuously when and where the work is being performed — they watch every anchor go in. Most post-installed anchor installations require periodic inspection. Continuous is required only for adhesive anchors in horizontal or upwardly inclined orientations resisting sustained tension loads — a direct result of the Big Dig tunnel collapse.

The practical difference is significant. Periodic inspection allows the installer to work independently between inspector visits. Continuous inspection means no installation happens without the inspector on site. For projects with overhead adhesive anchors in sustained tension, this continuous requirement affects scheduling, staffing, and cost — plan for it early in the project.

The Statement of Special Inspections (SSI)

IBC Section 1704.3 requires the registered design professional to prepare a Statement of Special Inspections (SSI) for every project requiring special inspection. For post-installed anchors, the SSI must identify the anchor types, testing frequencies, test loads, acceptance criteria, and the approved agency performing the inspection. Test loads, acceptance criteria, and testing frequency must be shown on the approved construction documents — not just in the SSI.

IBC 2024 explicitly recognizes digital Statements of Special Inspections, providing legal clarity for electronic submissions. The SSI creates a documented chain of accountability: the designer specifies what needs inspecting, the owner hires the inspector, and the inspector reports to the building official.

Who Hires the Special Inspector?

IBC Section 1704.2 requires the building owner to employ special inspectors — not the contractor, not the engineer. The obligation is on the owner. The designer prepares the SSI and coordinates the program, but the owner contracts with the approved inspection agency. This separation ensures the inspector is independent of the installer — a fundamental conflict-of-interest protection.

The Failure Protocol

Section 1705.3 establishes what happens when an anchor fails testing: all untested anchors of the same type installed by the same trade must be tested until 20 consecutive anchors pass. Then the initial test frequency resumes. The failed anchor must be remediated per the engineer of record's direction. For the full failure protocol, remediation options, and what each failure mode tells you, see our dedicated page: Anchor Failure Protocol.

What's Exempt from Special Inspection

Section 1705.3 includes specific exemptions where special inspection of concrete is not required. These are narrow:

Note: these exemptions apply to the concrete work itself — not necessarily to post-installed anchors installed into that concrete later. An anchor installed into an exempt slab for structural equipment anchorage may still require testing. The anchor's function and design load determine the testing requirement, not the slab's exemption status.

Detached one- and two-family dwellings under the IRC are generally exempt from IBC special inspection requirements entirely. See our Do I Need Anchor Testing? page for the full residential exemption breakdown.

How 1705.3 Connects to Other Standards

Section 1705.3 doesn't operate alone. It references and coordinates with several other codes and standards:

Frequently Asked Questions