Free checklist
Fluid-applied air barrierFluid-applied air barrier rough-in inspection checklist
Fluid-applied air barrier 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 the applicable building/energy code, manufacturer's published instructions. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 6
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The applicator's foreman prepping the wall, with the GC's superintendent walking the sheathing before the membrane is applied.
When in the schedule
After the sheathing is fastened and before the field coat is applied, while joints, fastener heads and transitions are still open to treat.
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.
Substrate condition
- 2 photos
Sheathing sound, dry and clean
Sheathing fastened flat with no loose or swollen panels, surface dry and free of dust, frost or bond-breaking residue within the manufacturer's moisture and temperature range.
Joint and fastener treatment
- 2 photos
Joints, corners and fastener heads detailed
Sheathing joints, inside and outside corners and fastener heads treated with the specified fill, tape or liquid flashing before the field coat, so nothing relies on the field coat to bridge a gap.
Openings and penetrations
- 2 photos
Rough openings and penetrations flashed
Rough openings, pipe and conduit penetrations and deck junctions flashed with the detailed material and shingle-lapped to shed water before the field coat ties in.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Sheathing joints and fastener heads left untreated because the crew assumed the field coat alone would bridge them, so the membrane cracks over every gap that moves.
- Membrane applied over a damp or dusty substrate so it never bonds, and it peels in sheets the first time the wall is loaded by wind.
- Rough openings and penetrations reached last with a different detail than the field, so the weakest points get the least-considered treatment.
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 6 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 fluid-applied air barrier rough-in checklist cover?
- 3 items across 3 sections, covering substrate condition, joint and fastener treatment, openings and penetrations. 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 applicator's foreman prepping the wall, with the GC's superintendent walking the sheathing before the membrane is applied.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the sheathing is fastened and before the field coat is applied, while joints, fastener heads and transitions are still open to treat.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 6 of the 3 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 fluid-applied air barrier rough-in inspection?
- Sheathing joints and fastener heads left untreated because the crew assumed the field coat alone would bridge them, so the membrane cracks over every gap that moves. Membrane applied over a damp or dusty substrate so it never bonds, and it peels in sheets the first time the wall is loaded by wind. Rough openings and penetrations reached last with a different detail than the field, so the weakest points get the least-considered treatment.
- 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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