Free checklist
Ornamental metals and railingsOrnamental metals and railings final inspection checklist
Ornamental metals and railings final inspection is where the punch list is either short or expensive. This checklist walks the finished work the way an owner or AHJ will see it: devices on, systems running, everything labeled. Each item gets the photo that closes it instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against the applicable building code, AWS D1.1. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 6
- Photos required
- 11
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The GC's superintendent with the railing installer, walking finished stairs and edges before turnover.
When in the schedule
After rails are set and grouted and welds and finish are complete, before the owner's punch walk.
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.
Alignment and anchorage
- 2 photos
Rails plumb, aligned and top height correct
Posts plumb, top rail straight and to the required guard or handrail height, no dips or kinks along the run or across landings.
- 2 photos
Anchorage load-checked in place
Posts and brackets firm under a firm push, grout set solid in pockets, base-plate fasteners tight, no rock or movement at the connection.
Guard geometry
- 2 photos
Post spacing and infill opening limits observed
Baluster or infill openings checked with a gauge on level and raked runs, no gap that passes the limiting sphere, no gap at the bottom rail.
- 2 photos
Handrail continuity, profile and extensions
Handrail continuous through the run, graspable profile per the detail, extensions past the top and bottom risers with returns to wall or post.
Welds and finish
- 2 photos
Field welds sound and complete
Welds at field connections full and continuous where called, no cracks, undercut or skipped joints, ground smooth where exposed before touch-up.
- 1 photo
Finish continuous with no bare or damaged metal
Coating or finish unbroken over welds and cut ends, no bare steel, scratches or overspray, decorative finish matching across matched pieces.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Guard infill spacing opened up on a raked stair run so the sphere passes between balusters, even though the level runs check out.
- Handrail returned short of the top and bottom risers, leaving no graspable extension where people actually reach for it.
- Field welds ground and painted over before anyone confirmed full penetration, hiding a cold or partial weld under the finish.
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 11 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 ornamental metals and railings final checklist cover?
- 6 items across 3 sections, covering alignment and anchorage, guard geometry, welds and finish. 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 GC's superintendent with the railing installer, walking finished stairs and edges before turnover.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After rails are set and grouted and welds and finish are complete, before the owner's punch walk.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 11 of the 6 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 ornamental metals and railings final inspection?
- Guard infill spacing opened up on a raked stair run so the sphere passes between balusters, even though the level runs check out. Handrail returned short of the top and bottom risers, leaving no graspable extension where people actually reach for it. Field welds ground and painted over before anyone confirmed full penetration, hiding a cold or partial weld under the finish.
- 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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