Free checklist
Concrete rough-in inspection checklist
Concrete 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 ACI guidance — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 9
- Photos required
- 17
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The concrete superintendent walking the deck with the placing crew foreman before the pump truck arrives.
When in the schedule
The morning of placement, after the rebar and embed installers have signed off and before the first truck is released to pour.
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.
Formwork
- 2 photos
Forms plumb, braced and tight at the joints
No visible gaps at panel joints or the base, bracing spaced to resist the expected pour rate.
- 1 photo
Form release applied evenly
Coated surface even, no pooling on the deck or runs onto rebar.
- 2 photos
Edge forms and screeds set to the correct elevation
Grade stakes or laser check at multiple points, screed rails secure and true.
Reinforcement
- 3 photos
Cover maintained on all faces with chairs and bolsters
Chairs at the spacing called for, not crushed or displaced, correct cover measured with a cover meter or tape at several spots.
- 2 photos
Bar size, spacing and laps match the placing drawings
Tape measure on bar spacing and lap lengths at a sample of locations, size stamped on the bar tag matches the schedule.
- 1 photo
Ties intact and mat rigid enough to walk without shifting
No loose or missing ties at intersections, mat does not rock or spring when pressed.
Embeds, sleeves and blockouts
- 3 photos
Anchor bolts, embed plates and dowels set at the correct location and elevation
Measured location against the layout drawing, elevation checked with a level or laser, item braced so it cannot shift during placement.
- 2 photos
Sleeves and blockouts sized and located for the trades that need them
Tape measure showing size and offset from a fixed reference point, item capped or braced against float during the pour.
- 1 photo
Waterstops and joint materials continuous where called for
No gaps or unspliced ends at waterstop joints, keyway forms centered and secure.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Chairs and bolsters crushed flat under foot traffic, dropping the top mat before the pour starts.
- Sleeves and blockouts shown in a wide shot with no tape measure proving location or size.
- Formwork bracing loosened by other trades staging material against it overnight.
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 17 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 concrete rough-in checklist cover?
- 9 items across 3 sections — formwork, reinforcement, embeds, sleeves and blockouts. 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 concrete superintendent walking the deck with the placing crew foreman before the pump truck arrives.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- The morning of placement, after the rebar and embed installers have signed off and before the first truck is released to pour.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 17 of the 9 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 concrete rough-in inspection?
- Chairs and bolsters crushed flat under foot traffic, dropping the top mat before the pour starts. Sleeves and blockouts shown in a wide shot with no tape measure proving location or size. Formwork bracing loosened by other trades staging material against it overnight.
- 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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