Free checklist
Special inspectionHigh-strength bolting special inspection checklist
A bolted connection is inspected before it disappears behind decking, fireproofing and finishes. The independent inspector's job is to confirm the assembly is what the documents call for and that pretensioning was actually achieved — and to hold the proof that it was.
- Items
- 8
- Photos required
- 14
- Built for
- Owner's reps & special inspectors
Who runs it
A third-party or owner's-rep special inspector for structural steel, alongside the erector's bolt-up crew.
When in the schedule
At fastener delivery, before installation begins, and at each connection during and after tightening — before it is covered or coated.
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.
Fastener assemblies and documentation
- 2 photos
Fastener type, grade and finish match the approved documents
Bolts, nuts and washers are the specified assembly; markings legible and consistent across the lot.
- 1 photo
Manufacturer certifications on file for the lots delivered
Certified test reports trace to the fastener lots on site, not a generic catalog sheet.
- 1 photo
Assemblies stored and protected to keep lubrication intact
Kept dry and in original containers; no rusted or dried-out assemblies pulled into the work.
Pre-installation verification
- 2 photos
Pre-installation testing performed for each combination and lot
Rotational-capacity or tension-calibrator check witnessed for the fastener/hole/method combination in use.
- 1 photo
Installation method confirmed against the connection type
Snug-tight where specified; a documented pretensioning method where the connection is slip-critical or pretensioned.
Installation and completion
- 2 photos
Joint brought to snug-tight condition before pretensioning
Plies in firm contact; the sequence photographed on a representative joint.
- 2 photos
Faying surfaces correct for the connection class
Slip-critical surfaces free of paint, oil and mill scale where the documents require it.
- 3 photos
Pretensioning achieved and verified by the specified method
Match-marks, twist-off ends or a calibrated indicator photographed after final tightening.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Pretensioning claimed on a summary sheet with no photo of a marked or verified connection.
- Faying surfaces coated or contaminated on a slip-critical connection that called for a clean surface.
- Fastener assemblies mixed on site so the lot verified in pre-installation testing is not the one installed.
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.
Common questions
- What does this high-strength bolting checklist cover?
- 8 items across 3 sections, covering fastener assemblies and documentation, pre-installation verification, installation and completion. 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?
- A third-party or owner's-rep special inspector for structural steel, alongside the erector's bolt-up crew.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- At fastener delivery, before installation begins, and at each connection during and after tightening — before it is covered or coated.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 14 of the 8 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 high-strength bolting inspection?
- Pretensioning claimed on a summary sheet with no photo of a marked or verified connection. Faying surfaces coated or contaminated on a slip-critical connection that called for a clean surface. Fastener assemblies mixed on site so the lot verified in pre-installation testing is not the one installed.
- 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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