Free checklist
Plumbing rough-in inspection checklist
Plumbing 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 IPC / UPC family — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 9
- Photos required
- 14
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The plumbing foreman walking their own rough-in ahead of the pressure test and the AHJ inspection.
When in the schedule
After underground and in-wall drain, waste, vent and supply piping is run, before backfill or wall closure and before the pressure test is called.
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.
Drain, waste and vent
- 2 photos
Slope on horizontal drain lines
Level held against the pipe showing consistent fall toward the direction of flow, no bellies or reverse pitch.
- 2 photos
Cleanouts placed and accessible
Cleanout location marked and photographed before it's buried in slab or wall, plug seated and accessible.
- 1 photo
Vent terminations sized and routed correctly
Vent stack diameter matches the fixture unit load, no vents tied into a return air path.
Piping support and protection
- 2 photos
Pipe supported at the required intervals
Hangers or strapping at the spacing appropriate to the pipe material, no sagging between supports.
- 1 photo
Nail plates and sleeves at framing penetrations
Steel plates over pipe within the setback from the stud edge, sleeves at slab and wall penetrations.
- 2 photos
Underground piping bedded and free of debris before backfill
Pipe resting on clean bedding material, no rocks or construction debris in the trench.
Water piping and pressure test
- 1 photo
Supply piping sized and material matches the design
Pipe diameter and material stamp match the plan set at each run and branch.
- 2 photos
Pressure test gauge held for the full duration
Gauge reading recorded at the start and again at the end of the hold period, no visible drop.
- 1 photo
Backflow and shutoff valve locations set per plan
Valves installed at the marked locations, accessible and oriented for correct operation.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Drain lines photographed dry with no level or slope reading to prove the fall.
- Pressure test gauges photographed at the start of the hold, not at the end when the drop actually shows.
- Cleanouts buried in the slab or wall with no location recorded before cover.
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.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this plumbing rough-in checklist cover?
- 9 items across 3 sections — drain, waste and vent, piping support and protection, water piping and pressure test. 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 plumbing foreman walking their own rough-in ahead of the pressure test and the AHJ inspection.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After underground and in-wall drain, waste, vent and supply piping is run, before backfill or wall closure and before the pressure test is called.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 14 of the 9 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 plumbing rough-in inspection?
- Drain lines photographed dry with no level or slope reading to prove the fall. Pressure test gauges photographed at the start of the hold, not at the end when the drop actually shows. Cleanouts buried in the slab or wall with no location recorded before cover.
- 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.