Free checklist
Cold-formed metal framingCold-formed metal framing rough-in inspection checklist
Cold-formed metal framing rough-in is the last time the work is fully visible. Once the cover inspection passes and the walls, ceilings and slabs close, every defect left behind becomes a demolition bill. This checklist walks the rough-in in the order the work goes in, with the photo each item needs before it gets buried. Work is commonly verified against AISI cold-formed steel standards, the applicable building code. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The framing foreman walking each wall line ahead of the board crew, or the GC's superintendent releasing walls before rock or sheathing.
When in the schedule
After walls are stood and before any face is closed in, while a wrong-gauge stud or missed bridging row can still be pulled and fixed.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Layout and track
- 2 photos
Wall lines match the plan and openings are located
Top and bottom track snapped to the layout, wall lengths and rough openings checked against the framing plan before studs go in.
- 2 photos
Track anchored with the specified fastener and spacing
Anchor type, size and spacing along the track compared to the design, fasteners hitting solid substrate and not sitting in a slab joint or edge crack.
Studs and spacing
- 2 photos
Stud gauge and depth match the design
Bundle labels or the mil marking on the stud checked against the framing schedule for that wall, not assumed from the run next door.
- 1 photo
Stud spacing and seating in track verified
On-center spacing measured on a run, studs seated fully into track and plumb, no gap at the track leg.
Bridging and heads
- 2 photos
Bridging rows and clips installed at the required spacing
Every bridging row present through the wall height with clips or straps fastened both sides, none skipped mid-run.
- 2 photos
Deflection track and slip connection at wall heads
Deflection or slotted track at the head where the wall meets structure above, screws set to allow the designed movement and not pinning the stud solid.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Studs one gauge lighter than the design substituted from stock on hand and framed in without anyone reading the bundle tags.
- Bridging or bridging clips skipped in the middle of a tall wall because the run got ahead of the tool.
- Track shot to the slab with the wrong fastener spacing, or anchors landing in the joint instead of the concrete.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 11 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this cold-formed metal framing rough-in checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering layout and track, studs and spacing, bridging and heads. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The framing foreman walking each wall line ahead of the board crew, or the GC's superintendent releasing walls before rock or sheathing.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After walls are stood and before any face is closed in, while a wrong-gauge stud or missed bridging row can still be pulled and fixed.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 of the 6 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a cold-formed metal framing rough-in inspection?
- Studs one gauge lighter than the design substituted from stock on hand and framed in without anyone reading the bundle tags. Bridging or bridging clips skipped in the middle of a tall wall because the run got ahead of the tool. Track shot to the slab with the wrong fastener spacing, or anchors landing in the joint instead of the concrete.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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