On HUD NSPIRE Inspections, all findings are organized into three “Areas” – Inside, Outside, and Units. The “Outside” areas include components on the grounds, parking areas, exterior amenities, and structural components such as walls, foundations, and roofing. The “Inside” area includes common interior locations such as hallways, stairs, offices, and community rooms, as well as centralized building mechanical such as HVAC, domestic hot water, and fire safety.
The area “categories” are not critical to using NSPIRE for “Non-REAC” applications, as the areas are primarily used as part of the NSPIRE scoring matrix applicable only to properties with oversight by REAC.
The NSPIRE final rule defines the inspectable areas for the inspection as inside, outside, and units of HUD housing at 24 CFR 5.703:
- Inside. Inside of HUD housing (or “inside areas”) refers to the common areas and building systems that can be generally found within the building interior and are not inside a unit. Examples of “inside” common areas may include basements, interior or attached garages, enclosed carports, restrooms, closets, utility rooms, mechanical rooms, community rooms, day care rooms, halls, corridors, stairs, shared kitchens, laundry rooms, offices, enclosed porches, enclosed patios, enclosed balconies, and trash collection areas. Examples of building systems include those components that provide domestic water such as pipes, electricity, elevators, emergency power, fire protection, HVAC, and sanitary services.
- Outside. Outside of HUD housing (or “outside areas”) refers to the building site, building exterior components, and any building systems located outside of the building or unit. Examples of “outside” components may include fencing, retaining walls, grounds, lighting, mailboxes, project signs, parking lots, detached garage or carport, driveways, play areas and equipment, refuse disposal, roads, storm drainage, non-dwelling buildings, and walkways. Components found on the exterior of the building are also considered outside areas, and examples may include doors, attached porches, attached patios, balconies, car ports, fire escapes, foundations, lighting, roofs, walls, and windows.
- Units. A unit (or “dwelling unit”) of HUD housing refers to the interior components of an individual unit. Examples of components included in the interior of a unit may include the balcony, bathroom, call-for-aid (if applicable), carbon monoxide devices, ceiling, doors, electrical systems, enclosed patio, floors, HVAC (where individual units are provided), kitchen, lighting, outlets, smoke detectors, stairs, switches, walls, water heater, and windows.
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