Free checklist
Fire protectionFire 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.
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.
Drawings and coordination
Approved sprinkler shop drawings and calcs on site at current revision
Stamped shop drawings and hydraulic calc in the field set match the latest approved revision the crew is hanging from.
No photoRough-in inspection requested with the AHJ for this zone
Request logged with the date and zone limits, and the super agrees no ceiling work starts in the zone before it passes.
No photo
Piping and hangers
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.
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.
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.
Hangers anchored to structure, not to other trades' supports
Rods fixed to beams, joists or approved deck inserts; no hanger tied off to ductwork, conduit, cable tray or ceiling wire.
Seismic sway bracing installed where the bracing layout shows it
Where the project requires seismic bracing, lateral and longitudinal braces at the drawn locations on mains and risers, fittings tight and attached to structure.
No photoPipe joints made up per the fitting manufacturer
Coupling gaskets seated and bolts drawn up as listed, threaded joints with no excess exposed thread, CPVC joints fully seated and cured as the manufacturer requires.
Clearance around pipe at wall and floor penetrations as detailed
Annular gap or sleeve at each penetration matches the penetration detail so the pipe can move without binding.
Head layout
Sprinkler head locations coordinated against the reflected ceiling plan
Head positions overlaid against light fixtures, diffusers and ceiling grid lines before ceiling installation begins.
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.
Deflector distance below the deck or ceiling within the listed range
Measured from deflector to the underside of the deck, structure or planned ceiling line at a sample of heads, including under beams and joists.
System components
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.
Valves, tamper switches and flow switches roughed in at accessible locations
Device location clear of ductwork and other trades' work, accessible for future testing.
Auxiliary drains and inspector's test connection located as drawn
Drain valves at trapped low points and the test outlet at the drawn location, piped to a spot that can take the discharge.
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.
Common questions
6 answers
- What does this fire protection rough-in checklist cover?
- 15 items across 4 sections, covering drawings and coordination, 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 do these items ask for a photo?
- 12 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 16 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 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.
Related checklists
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 16 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.
See all 508 checklists · 6741 items and 5984 photo requirements in total.