Free checklist
Special inspectionStructural welding special inspection checklist
A weld tells its story once. The independent inspector confirms the procedure and the welder are qualified for the joint, watches the work while it can still be corrected, and records the completed weld and any testing before it is coated over.
- Items
- 8
- Photos required
- 14
- Built for
- Owner's reps & special inspectors
Who runs it
A third-party or owner's-rep welding inspector, coordinating with the fabricator or erector's welding crew.
When in the schedule
Before welding starts (qualifications and fit-up), during welding for critical joints, and at completion before coatings or fireproofing.
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.
Qualification and preparation
- 1 photo
Welding procedure specifications available for the joints being welded
A qualified procedure exists and matches the material, position and process.
- 1 photo
Welder qualification current for the position and process
Continuity and qualification records cover the welder and the work in front of you.
- 2 photos
Fit-up, joint preparation and pre-heat verified before welding
Root openings, bevels and cleanliness as detailed; pre-heat confirmed where required.
In-process inspection
- 1 photo
Consumables and settings match the qualified procedure
Electrode type and storage, gas and parameters consistent with the procedure in use.
- 2 photos
Interpass condition and technique observed on critical joints
Interpass cleaning and temperature control witnessed on representative welds.
Completed welds and testing
- 3 photos
Completed welds visually inspected against acceptance criteria
Size, length and profile correct; no undercut, porosity, cracks or missed returns.
- 2 photos
Nondestructive testing witnessed where required
The specified method performed at the specified joints; results recorded with locations.
- 2 photos
Repairs re-inspected and accepted before coating
Any rejected weld reworked, re-tested and signed off; nothing coated before acceptance.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Welder qualification expired or not current for the position and process actually used.
- Completed welds coated before the visual inspection and any required NDT were recorded.
- Fit-up gaps and pre-heat left unverified on joints that called for them.
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 structural welding checklist cover?
- 8 items across 3 sections, covering qualification and preparation, in-process inspection, completed welds and testing. 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?
- A third-party or owner's-rep welding inspector, coordinating with the fabricator or erector's welding crew.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- Before welding starts (qualifications and fit-up), during welding for critical joints, and at completion before coatings or fireproofing.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 14 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 structural welding inspection?
- Welder qualification expired or not current for the position and process actually used. Completed welds coated before the visual inspection and any required NDT were recorded. Fit-up gaps and pre-heat left unverified on joints that called for them.
- 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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