Free checklist
Structural steelStructural steel final inspection checklist
Structural steel 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 AISC, AWS D1.1, the applicable building code. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 5
- Photos required
- 8
- Built for
- General contractors
Who runs it
The GC's superintendent with the steel foreman, closing out the structure with the special inspector's connection reports in hand.
When in the schedule
After the frame is topped out and all connections are made, before the fireproofing crew mobilizes and covers the steel.
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.
Connections complete
- 2 photos
All bolted connections final and verified
Every joint completed to its specified condition, pretensioned joints confirmed tensioned, no snug-tight bolts remaining where pretension is required, no open holes.
- 2 photos
All structural welds complete and accepted
Welds finished at every location, visual and any required NDT results accepted, temporary erection aids removed and their scars ground smooth.
Decking
- 2 photos
Metal deck attachment complete at all supports
Deck welded or fastened at supports and side-laps at the specified pattern, no loose sheets, deck bearing and butt-joints landed on steel.
- 1 photo
Deck openings, closures and pour stops in place
Edge pour stops, column closures and deck openings framed and secured before the deck is signed off for concrete.
Ready for fireproofing
- 1 photo
Steel clean and complete before fireproofing
Surfaces free of loose material, connection log closed for the area, nothing left to weld or bolt on the steel once fireproofing covers it.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Fireproofing starts on a floor before the connection log confirms every bolt-up and weld on that floor is complete, sealing in an unfinished joint.
- Deck puddle welds or fasteners come up short at the perimeter and interior supports, found only when the concrete crew starts laying reinforcement.
- Shear studs or deck attachment missed at a few beams and never caught because the frame reads finished from a distance.
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 8 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 structural steel final checklist cover?
- 5 items across 3 sections, covering connections complete, decking, ready for fireproofing. 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 steel foreman, closing out the structure with the special inspector's connection reports in hand.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After the frame is topped out and all connections are made, before the fireproofing crew mobilizes and covers the steel.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 8 of the 5 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 structural steel final inspection?
- Fireproofing starts on a floor before the connection log confirms every bolt-up and weld on that floor is complete, sealing in an unfinished joint. Deck puddle welds or fasteners come up short at the perimeter and interior supports, found only when the concrete crew starts laying reinforcement. Shear studs or deck attachment missed at a few beams and never caught because the frame reads finished from a distance.
- 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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