Inspection Techniques & Reporting Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Inspection Techniques & Reporting flashcards as text
During a pool inspection, the inspector tests the GFCI outlet near the equipment pad by pressing the TEST button and the outlet does not trip. What is the correct next step?
Answer: Document the GFCI as defective and recommend replacement by a licensed electrician
A GFCI that does not trip when tested is defective and must be replaced; a non-functional GFCI provides no protection against electric shock.
An inspector observes a pool chlorinator (feeder) installed on the suction side of the pump rather than after the filter and heater. Why is this a deficiency?
Answer: Chlorine on the suction side can corrode pump seals and the heater and can cause chlorine gas release if flow stops
Chlorinators must be installed after the heater on the return line to prevent corrosive chlorine from damaging the pump, filter, and heater and to avoid dangerous gas buildup.
A CPI inspector is evaluating a spa's suction fittings and finds two main drains but they are only 6 inches apart. What is the concern?
Answer: They are too close together to be considered an unblockable dual-drain system, which requires drains at least 3 feet apart
For dual drains to provide anti-entrapment protection, they must be at least 3 feet apart (center-to-center) so a body cannot block both simultaneously.
Which situation would lead a CPI inspector to recommend evaluation by a licensed structural engineer rather than simply noting a deficiency?
Answer: Visible cracking in the gunite shell with efflorescence and active seepage at multiple locations
Multiple cracks with efflorescence and active water seepage suggest potential structural compromise of the pool shell, which exceeds the scope of a CPI inspector and requires a structural engineer.
When inspecting above-ground pool ladders, which condition is considered a safety deficiency?
Answer: Ladder steps have become slippery because the anti-slip treads are worn or missing
Worn or missing anti-slip treads on pool ladder steps create a slip-and-fall hazard and must be documented as a safety deficiency requiring correction.
A pool inspection report uses the term 'monitor' for a condition. In standard CPI reporting language, this means:
Answer: The condition is currently within acceptable limits but should be watched for change at the owner's next service or inspection
'Monitor' in inspection reporting indicates the condition is not yet a deficiency but warrants attention to catch any deterioration before it becomes one.
An inspector finds a pool built in 1988 that does not have a second drain or any supplemental anti-entrapment device on the main drain. How should this be reported?
Answer: As a safety deficiency under Virginia Graeme Baker Act requirements, recommending upgrade to current anti-entrapment standards
The Virginia Graeme Baker Act applies retroactively to all pools open to the public and is the basis for recommending anti-entrapment upgrades even on older residential pools during safety-focused inspections.