What does this insulation checklist cover?

12 items across 4 sections, covering air sealing first, batt and blown installation, spray foam, rated and specialty assemblies. 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?

Insulation contractor, with the builder or GC verifying before drywall is delivered.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

After all rough-in is signed off and before board goes up.

Why does every item ask for a photo?

All 12 items call for photo evidence, 26 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 an insulation inspection?

Batts compressed behind wiring instead of split around it. Air sealing skipped at top plates and rim joists, where it matters most. Spray foam thickness claimed but never measured or photographed with a depth gauge.

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.

Free checklist

Insulation inspection checklist

Insulation performs to the quality of its installation, not the number on the bag. Gaps, compression and missing air sealing cost more performance than a grade change ever recovers, and all three are obvious in a photograph taken before the wall closes.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

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.

Air sealing first

Penetrations through the envelope sealed
Plumbing, electrical, mechanical and low-voltage holes at top and bottom plates.
Rim joist and band sealed and insulated
Continuous seal at the sill and rim before the cavity is filled.
Attic access, chases and dropped soffits sealed and blocked
Air barrier continuous across every dropped ceiling and chase before insulating over it.

Batt and blown installation

Full cavity contact with no gaps, voids or compression
Six-sided contact; batts split around wiring and plumbing rather than stuffed behind it.
Correct product and thickness for each assembly
Verify against the energy design: walls, ceilings and floors may all differ.
Blown depth uniform with markers installed
Depth markers visible and readable; photograph a marker at the design depth.

Spray foam

Thickness verified with a depth gauge
Multiple readings across the assembly, photographed with the gauge in frame.
Substrate temperature and conditions within the product range
Record conditions at application; poor adhesion is usually a temperature story.
Ignition or thermal barrier applied where required
Coverage complete in every space the barrier applies to, including attics and crawls.

Rated and specialty assemblies

Acoustic assemblies built to the tested detail
Correct insulation type, and joints sealed where the rating depends on it.
Vapor control layer on the correct side for the climate
Confirm against the design before it is covered. This is not a field decision.
Clearances maintained at heat-producing equipment
Flues, recessed fixtures and appliance vents kept clear per their listing.

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Batts compressed behind wiring instead of split around it.
Air sealing skipped at top plates and rim joists, where it matters most.
Spray foam thickness claimed but never measured or photographed with a depth gauge.

Common questions

6 answers

What does this insulation checklist cover?: 12 items across 4 sections, covering air sealing first, batt and blown installation, spray foam, rated and specialty assemblies. 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?: Insulation contractor, with the builder or GC verifying before drywall is delivered.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: After all rough-in is signed off and before board goes up.
Why does every item ask for a photo?: All 12 items call for photo evidence, 26 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 an insulation inspection?: Batts compressed behind wiring instead of split around it. Air sealing skipped at top plates and rim joists, where it matters most. Spray foam thickness claimed but never measured or photographed with a depth gauge.
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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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 26 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.