De Minimis Condition

E2018 excludes de minimis conditions from the definition of a physical deficiency. In substance, a condition is de minimis when it does not present a material physical deficiency because it neither threatens the safety of occupants nor requires more than routine maintenance to address, or because its cost falls below the reporting threshold the user and consultant agreed. Chipped paint, a cracked light lens, a loose downspout strap: observed, perhaps mentioned as routine maintenance, not costed.

The term does the work of keeping cost tables focused. A reviewer who sees a $220 ceiling-tile line in Table 1 knows the threshold was not applied; one who sees "items below the threshold, noted as routine maintenance" knows it was. The two exceptions that pull a small item back in, life safety and the four-items rule, are in the reporting threshold entry.

Related: physical deficiency, routine maintenance.