Free checklist
Electrical rough-in inspection checklist
Electrical 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 NEC (NFPA 70) — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 10
- Photos required
- 14
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The electrical foreman walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point.
When in the schedule
After the raceways and boxes are set and conductors are pulled, before insulation and drywall — and before the AHJ's rough-in inspection is called.
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.
Boxes and devices
- 2 photos
Boxes secured, square and at the right depth
Box flush or proud to match the finished wall surface, firmly mounted to framing, no crushed or cracked boxes.
- 1 photo
Box fill within capacity
Conductor count and device yokes match the box size stamped on the box.
- 1 photo
Nail plates where conductors pass near the face of a stud
Steel plates on any bored hole closer than the required setback from the stud edge.
Raceways and conductors
- 2 photos
Conduit and cable supported at the required intervals
Straps and hangers within the supported spacing, no runs resting on ceiling grid or ductwork.
- 2 photos
Conductor insulation undamaged from the pull
No nicks, scrapes or stretched insulation at pulls through conduit bodies and boxes.
- 1 photo
Cable protected where it enters boxes and panels
Listed clamps or bushings at every entry; no cable jacket stripped back beyond the clamp.
- 1 photo
Homeruns and circuits identified at both ends
Panel and circuit marked on the cable or in the box, matching the panel schedule.
Grounding and panels
- 2 photos
Grounding electrode conductors landed and protected
Connections to electrodes accessible or exothermic, conductor protected from physical damage.
- 1 photo
Bonding jumpers at metallic piping and structural steel
Clamps listed for the pipe material, paint removed under the clamp.
- 1 photo
Panel locations clear with working space preserved
Nothing stored or framed into the required working clearances in front of each panel.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Boxes photographed from across the room — no close-up of the fill, the clamps or the conductor condition.
- Conductor damage from the pull discovered after the walls are closed.
- Grounding and bonding connections buried with no photo of how they were made.
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 14 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 electrical rough-in checklist cover?
- 10 items across 3 sections — boxes and devices, raceways and conductors, grounding and panels. 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 electrical foreman walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the raceways and boxes are set and conductors are pulled, before insulation and drywall — and before the AHJ's rough-in inspection is called.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 14 of the 10 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 electrical rough-in inspection?
- Boxes photographed from across the room — no close-up of the fill, the clamps or the conductor condition. Conductor damage from the pull discovered after the walls are closed. Grounding and bonding connections buried with no photo of how they were made.
- 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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