Free checklist
HVAC rough-in inspection checklist
HVAC 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 SMACNA guidance, IMC — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 8
- Photos required
- 13
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The HVAC foreman walking their own rough-in ahead of the pre-cover release.
When in the schedule
After ductwork is hung, refrigerant lines run and equipment set in place, before insulation, drywall or ceiling grid closes the space.
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.
Ductwork
- 2 photos
Duct joints and seams sealed to the required class
Mastic or listed tape continuous along every joint and seam, no gaps or dry mastic cracking.
- 2 photos
Ductwork supported at the required intervals
Hangers sized for the duct weight, spacing consistent, no duct resting on ceiling tile or piping.
- 1 photo
Transitions, takeoffs and dampers installed per the design
Takeoff size and location match the design duct layout, volume dampers present where called for.
Refrigerant and condensate
- 2 photos
Refrigerant line sets brazed and pressure tested
Nitrogen held during brazing, gauge reading recorded at the start and end of the standing test.
- 1 photo
Line set insulation continuous and protected
Insulation sleeve unbroken at joints and hangers, no compressed or missing sections.
- 2 photos
Condensate piping sloped and trapped correctly
Level check shows fall toward the drain point, trap depth matches the unit's static pressure.
Equipment setting
- 2 photos
Units set level on their pads, curbs or hangers
Level across the unit frame, isolation pads or springs seated evenly, no visible tilt.
- 1 photo
Clearances maintained around equipment for service access
Manufacturer's clearance distances open on all service sides, nothing framed or ducted into that space.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Duct joints wrapped in tape before the seal class was verified against the pressure classification.
- Refrigerant line sets left unbrazed under nitrogen purge with no photo of the pressure gauge.
- Condensate lines run flat or uphill, discovered only after the ceiling closes and the pan overflows.
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 13 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.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this hvac rough-in checklist cover?
- 8 items across 3 sections — ductwork, refrigerant and condensate, equipment setting. 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 HVAC foreman walking their own rough-in ahead of the pre-cover release.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After ductwork is hung, refrigerant lines run and equipment set in place, before insulation, drywall or ceiling grid closes the space.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 13 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 hvac rough-in inspection?
- Duct joints wrapped in tape before the seal class was verified against the pressure classification. Refrigerant line sets left unbrazed under nitrogen purge with no photo of the pressure gauge. Condensate lines run flat or uphill, discovered only after the ceiling closes and the pan overflows.
- 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.