Article | An NSPIREd Change? | Part 3 | NSPIRE Standards

Ready to Dive Into the NSPIRE Standards? Here’s a Framework to do it!

HUD published the Proposed National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) in the Federal Register on June 16, 2022. The public comment period closed on August 1, 2022. The final set of standards will be published in the Federal Register following HUD's review and assessment of public comments. We will keep our readers up-to-date in this Blog.

Step 1 | Access the NSPIRE standards

The standards are found HERE.

Step 2 | Learn how to read an NSPIRE standard

HUD has provided a quick review document with an NSPIRE Standard Template. You can access and download it HERE.

Step 3 | Provide feedback

Disagree or have questions about a standard? HUD is listening and plans to do ongoing reviews of standards with revisions at least every 3 years. HUD has provided a document that includes instructions how to submit comments on NSPIRE. The document can be downloaded HERE.

Helpful Hints | Reading NSPIRE Standards

HUD’s Standards Template Guide provides an overview of how the NSPIRE standards are structured. The guide describes each section of the NSPIRE standard and lists all the rationale codes and descriptions. Here we provide some important highlights.

Standard Organization. Each standard is organized into two sections that present key components of an NSPIRE inspectable element. The front matter at the beginning of the standard describes attributes of the inspectable item and summarizes the defects that are citable as deficiencies. It lists the areas or items within each inspectable location to which the standard applies. For example, the Handrail Standard lists stairs, hallways, and ramps as inspectable items in the Unit. The second section provides further detail on each applicable deficiency by its inspectable location(s).

A deficiency may have different potential impacts on resident health and safety depending on where it is found. This will be clearly described in each standard’s rationale. For example, an inoperable toilet in a unit may have a different rationale and health and safety classification than one in a common area.

View the NSPIRE standards to see the different locations within the inspectable areas for each standard.

Front Matter

The front matter provides high-level information about the standard, including terminology related to the inspectable item and any clarifications or exceptions. Clicking on the name of the inspectable item, listed at the top of the page, will open your email client so that you can easily submit feedback about the standard. The version number for the standard and the publishing date appear at the top.

Within the front matter, you’ll find the following summary of information:

Title: States the title of the standard

Version: States the version of the standard (such as V1.3)

Date Published: Lists the date the version of the standard was published (such as 7/31/20)

Definition: Defines the standard

Purpose: States the function, use, or purpose the item serves in the built environment, if applicable (i.e., if the standard refers to an item)

Name Variants: Lists other possible names that refer to the item

Common Materials: Lists the most common materials that make up the item (such as wood, metal)

Common Components: Lists the most common components that make up the item (such as shower head, faucet, drain)

Location: Unit, Inside, or Outside.

More Information: States additional information that is relevant to the item

Deficiency Categories and Assessments

After the front matter, the standard presents each deficiency alphabetically with its name and location indicated at the top of each page. Within each deficiency and/or deficiency location, the following information will be found. Some standards may only list one deficiency, while others will have multiple deficiencies.

Deficiency # – Location: States the name and location of the deficiency applicable to the standard corresponding to the numbered deficiency list on the previous page.

Deficiency Criteria: Lists the criteria needed to be considered for the deficiency.

Health and Safety Determination: States the health and safety determination applicable to the deficiency (e.g., standard, life-threatening, etc.) Briefly describes the health and safety determination, depending on whether it is standard, life-threatening, severe non-life-threatening, or nonapplicable based on function and operability or condition and appearance.

Correction Timeframe: Lists the timeframe for correction (mostly 24 hours or 30 days).

HCV – Correction Timeframe: Lists the timeframe for correction under the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program

Rationale:

Code: Lists the rationale code applicable to the deficiency (see Rational Codes below)

Category: Lists the category of the applicable rationale code (e.g., health, safety, sanitary, privacy, etc.)

Type: Lists whether the rationale is direct or indirect with respect to its effect

Description: Provides a description for the rationale code listed

Explanation: Provides an explanation as to why the selected rationale applies to the deficiency

Inspection Process: Describes the process for inspecting the deficiency

Observation: States how to observe the deficiency

Request for Help: States when to ask for assistance regarding the deficiency (e.g., if a test button is over 8 feet high)

Action: States the action needed to be taken when the deficiency is observed

More Information: Lists any additional information needed for evaluating the deficiency

Tools or Equipment:

Required: Lists tools or equipment that is required when evaluating the deficiency

Useful: Lists tools or equipment that is useful when evaluating the deficiency

Rationale Codes and Descriptions

Under NSPIRE, all deficiencies are critical and must tie back to a rationale, which is a clear and concise explanation of the potential risk a defect presents. Rationales provide more information to inspectors, property owners, managers, maintenance personnel, and residents as to why a specific deficiency is being inspected.

Here is a list of deficiency rationales, their codes, and descriptions:

Additional Helpful Links

NSPIRE Official Website | HERE

NSPIRE Terms and Definitions | HERE

Up Next: Proposed NSPIRE scoring