What does this curtain wall punch checklist cover?

10 items across 3 sections, covering finishes and seals, interior side, operable units and signoff. 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 curtain wall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing envelope punch items.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

During closeout, after final cleaning reveals scratches on glass and frames and after the first storms reveal leaks.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

8 of the 10 items call for photo evidence, 10 photos in all. 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 curtain wall punch inspection?

Anodized or painted mullions scratched by other trades after final cleaning, with no record of when each bay was last verified clean. A leak repair caulked at the interior stain while the actual entry through a failed gasket corner is left open.

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.

Free checklist

Curtain wall

Curtain wall punch checklist

Curtain wall punch is where small misses become callbacks after the crew has demobilized. This checklist walks the finished work the way the owner and the next trade will see it, with the photo that closes each item instead of a note that reopens it. Work is commonly verified against AAMA guidance, manufacturer's published instructions, the applicable building code. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Finishes and seals

Each defect located and photographed in context
A close shot of the scratch, failed gasket or opened joint plus a wide shot locating the bay on the elevation.
Leak repairs re-tested with water before closure
Localized hose test on the repaired detail, interior watched and photographed dry afterward.
Glass labels and protective film removed without residue
Temporary labels, film and tape taken off glass and frames, adhesive residue cleaned by a method the manufacturer allows, no blade scratches.
Exterior caps, trim and glass seals still fully engaged
Whatever retains the glass outside rechecked after thermal cycling: caps and trim not popped or slipped, structural and weather seals unbroken.
Gasket corners checked for shrinkback gaps
Corners and ends of wedge and glazing gaskets inspected for gaps that opened since installation, re-seated or sealed per the manufacturer.

Interior side

Floor lines and sills checked inside for water after storms
Interior at floor lines, sills and corners walked after rain; stains, wet safing or standing water photographed and traced to where it enters outside.
Condensation or frost on frames noted by location
Interior frames and glass edges checked in cold weather for condensation or frost, locations logged for the manufacturer to review.
No photo

Operable units and signoff

Operable vents cycle, latch and seal
Each vent opened and closed through its full travel, hardware adjusted, gasket compressing evenly when latched.
No remaining curtain wall items before elevation signoff
All punch items per elevation or zone closed with photos before the area is released to turnover.
Curtain wall warranties and maintenance data in the turnover package
System, glass and sealant warranties plus cleaning, gasket and vent hardware maintenance instructions filed with the closeout documents.
No photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Anodized or painted mullions scratched by other trades after final cleaning, with no record of when each bay was last verified clean.
A leak repair caulked at the interior stain while the actual entry through a failed gasket corner is left open.

Verified against

AAMA fenestration standards

Common questions

6 answers

What does this curtain wall punch checklist cover?: 10 items across 3 sections, covering finishes and seals, interior side, operable units and signoff. 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 curtain wall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing envelope punch items.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: During closeout, after final cleaning reveals scratches on glass and frames and after the first storms reveal leaks.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 8 of the 10 items call for photo evidence, 10 photos in all. 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 curtain wall punch inspection?: Anodized or painted mullions scratched by other trades after final cleaning, with no record of when each bay was last verified clean. A leak repair caulked at the interior stain while the actual entry through a failed gasket corner is left open.
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.

Related checklists

Curtain wall Rough-inCurtain wall rough-in inspection checklistEmbeds, anchors and slab-edge safing verified against the anchor schedule before units are hung14 items17 photos Curtain wall FinalCurtain wall final inspection checklistInstalled wall checked for alignment, gaskets, weeps and sealant, with a field water test on a sample of the wall15 items21 photos

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 10 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.