Contractors have been to homes and asked ourselves how the job could possibly have passed inspection. The duct work is to small the 3/4" drain is one size to small and not the schedule 80 that the book calls for.........
   The answer is simple; the inspector didn't know any better. Like everyone else inspectors' experiences are limited and since most HVAC guys aren't geo installers, most inspectors aren't either.
   Most inspectors I know want to do right by the homeowner or at least cover their tail, as we are no longer held harmless and prosecutions for negligence are on the rise. The book however is a minimum standard that does little to ensure performance.
   I don't have to have done a certain job to be able to inspect it, I can check the book or prints for requirements I don't know off the top of my head (such as the autopsy room ventillation requirements I had to research recently, curiously that hadn't come up yet in my day to day experiences). While this approach ensures safety, it does little to enhance performance.
   If you would like to compete on a level playing field instead of against the undersized and underducted system installers, then be proactive in training inspectors in your area. To do so I suggest the following steps:
1) Meet the inspector on your jobs and explain how you met the additional airflow requirements (thus ensuring the inspector is aware of the requirements) and work some horror stories into the conversation (preferably from a different municipality).
2) Send the inspector service bulletins and product up-date information, this will make them aware of changes in product requirements.
3) Invite the inspector to product training meetings (they like free lunches and have con. ed. requirements).
4) Offer them web site addresses for research.
5) Make sure they have your cell number for product specific information. With more emphasis on manufacturers' installation instructions the code can't answer many of our questions.
6) Invite them to your jobs before the backfill, to see what's involved in a proper installation.
7) Arrange a training class for an inspector association meeting (Earthlinked did that with a MI group this year).
8) Offer to perform an operating cost comparison on the inspectors home (in person or off print) so that they have an idea of the consumer benefits of a properly installed system ( and...they might decide they want one).
   At the end of the day, you'll benefit from stricter requirements elevating consumers geo experience by not permiting fly by nights to do 1/2 the job for a few dollars less. You'll also find referrals from inspectors that you establish relationships with, many wont make referrals to their client citizens, but all have very specific ideas about who's work they like best when their friends and neighbors ask (yes...inspectors have friends).