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Fencing and gates

Fencing and gates final inspection checklist

Fencing and gates final inspection is where the punch list is either short or expensive. This checklist walks the finished work the way an owner or AHJ will see it: devices on, systems running, everything labeled. Each item gets the photo that closes it instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against the project specifications, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Items
7
Photos required
11

Who runs it

The GC's superintendent with the fence foreman, walking the completed run and cycling every gate.

When in the schedule

After fabric, panels and gates are hung and any operators are wired, before turnover and before the site is opened to traffic.

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.

01

Fabric, panels and rails

  • Fabric or panels aligned and tensioned

    Chain-link stretched taut with tension bands and bars set, or panels seated square and level, no waves, sags or gaps at the bottom rail or ground.

    2 photos
  • Rails, caps and fittings aligned across the run

    Top and bottom rails continuous and level, caps and fittings tight, splices staggered, the run sighted end to end for line.

    1 photo
02

Gates and hardware

  • Gate swing or slide operation full travel

    Each leaf cycled through its full travel by hand, swinging or rolling free with no drag, bind or scrape, hinges and rollers carrying the weight without sagging.

    2 photos
  • Latches, locks and closers function

    Latches engaging cleanly, locks and drop rods seating, self-closers and stops working, gate holding closed and holding open where required.

    1 photo
  • Grounding and bonding in place where required

    Fence and gates grounded and bonded where the spec or proximity to power requires it, connections tight and to a clean surface.

    1 photo
03

Gate operators

  • Operator drives, stops and holds the gate

    Powered leaf run open and closed under the operator, travel limits set, gate stopping and holding at each end without slamming or straining.

    2 photos
  • Entrapment and reversing safety devices proven

    Reversing edges, photo eyes and any entrapment sensors tested by obstructing the gate, the leaf stopping and reversing as the operator's instructions require, manual release working.

    2 photos

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

  • Fabric or panels left loose and wavy between posts, or rails not aligned across a run, so the fence reads crooked.
  • A swing or slide gate that binds or drags at one point in its travel, adjusted until it 'mostly' works rather than swinging free.
  • A powered gate turned over without proving its reversing and entrapment sensors actually stop and reverse the leaf.

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

Mandatory items answered7 of 7
Photos attached8 of 11
Submit locked, 3 photos missing

The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.

Common questions

What does this fencing and gates final checklist cover?
7 items across 3 sections, covering fabric, panels and rails, gates and hardware, gate operators. 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 GC's superintendent with the fence foreman, walking the completed run and cycling every gate.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?
After fabric, panels and gates are hung and any operators are wired, before turnover and before the site is opened to traffic.
Why does every item ask for a photo?
11 of the 7 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 fencing and gates final inspection?
Fabric or panels left loose and wavy between posts, or rails not aligned across a run, so the fence reads crooked. A swing or slide gate that binds or drags at one point in its travel, adjusted until it 'mostly' works rather than swinging free. A powered gate turned over without proving its reversing and entrapment sensors actually stop and reverse the leaf.
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.