Free checklist
Fire Protection rough-in inspection checklist
Fire Protection 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 NFPA 13, NFPA 25 — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 7
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The sprinkler foreman walking their own rough-in with the GC's superintendent.
When in the schedule
After branch lines and mains are hung and before ceiling grid or drywall closes in, and before the AHJ 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.
Piping and hangers
- 2 photos
Hanger spacing within the allowed interval for the pipe size
Tape measure between hangers on a sample of runs, no unsupported span exceeding the interval for that pipe diameter.
- 1 photo
Pipe routed with adequate slope for drainage where required
Level or slope gauge on wet and dry system branch lines, direction of pitch toward the drain point.
- 1 photo
Branch line and main sizing tags legible and matching the hydraulic calculation
Size stamped or tagged on the pipe matches the drawing at transitions and reductions.
Head layout
- 3 photos
Sprinkler head locations coordinated against the reflected ceiling plan
Head positions overlaid against light fixtures, diffusers and ceiling grid lines before ceiling installation begins.
- 2 photos
Head spacing and coverage within the listed area per head
Tape measure between heads and to walls, spacing matching the layout drawing for that hazard classification.
System components
- 1 photo
Riser nipples and drops installed at the correct length for the finished ceiling height
Drop length measured against the ceiling detail so the head will land flush once tile is set.
- 1 photo
Valves, tamper switches and flow switches roughed in at accessible locations
Device location clear of ductwork and other trades' work, accessible for future testing.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Head locations laid out to the sprinkler drawing but never checked against the actual reflected ceiling plan, so lights and diffusers land on top of heads.
- Hanger spacing stretched past the allowed interval on long branch line runs.
- Branch line sizing tags missing or illegible, making it impossible to verify pipe size against the hydraulic calc later.
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.
Common questions
- What does this fire protection rough-in checklist cover?
- 7 items across 3 sections — piping and hangers, head layout, system components. 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 sprinkler foreman walking their own rough-in with the GC's superintendent.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After branch lines and mains are hung and before ceiling grid or drywall closes in, and before the AHJ rough-in inspection is called.
- 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 fire protection rough-in inspection?
- Head locations laid out to the sprinkler drawing but never checked against the actual reflected ceiling plan, so lights and diffusers land on top of heads. Hanger spacing stretched past the allowed interval on long branch line runs. Branch line sizing tags missing or illegible, making it impossible to verify pipe size against the hydraulic calc later.
- 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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