Checklists by trade
3 lists · 14 items · 24 photosFire alarm inspection checklists
Fire alarm inspection checklists for the rough-in, final and punch walks: 3 free lists, 14 items and 24 photo requirements, each item naming what to look for and the photo that proves it. Work is commonly verified against NFPA 72; the edition in force is the AHJ's call on each project.
The fire alarm walks, in build order
Fire alarm Rough-in· Fire alarmFire alarm rough-in inspection checklistBack boxes, conduit, wire type and mounting heights verified before the walls and ceilings cover the rough-in5 items8 photosFire alarm Final· Fire alarmFire alarm final inspection checklistAcceptance-test walk observing and documenting each device, appliance, panel function and interface before turnover5 items10 photosFire alarm Punch· Fire alarmFire alarm punch checklistCloseout walk for mislabeled devices, coverage gaps and trouble signals cleared before signoff4 items6 photos
Where each walk sits in the schedule
- Fire alarm rough-in inspection checklistrough-in
- After back boxes and conduit are set and the circuits are pulled, before insulation, drywall and ceiling grid close in and before the rough-in inspection is called. Run by: The fire alarm foreman walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point.
- Fire alarm final inspection checklistfinal
- After the system is trimmed out and programmed, at the acceptance test before the AHJ signs off and the building is turned over. Run by: The fire alarm technician running the acceptance test with the AHJ, while the GC's superintendent observes and documents each device and interface for the record.
- Fire alarm punch checklistpunch
- During closeout, after the acceptance walk turns up wrong labels, thin coverage and standing trouble conditions on the panel. Run by: The fire alarm technician on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing life-safety punch items.
What most often sends fire alarm work back
- Device back boxes roughed to a stud line without checking the ceiling and reflected plan, so pulls and horns land off the required mounting height once the finish goes up.
- Initiating and notification wiring run in the same raceway as line-voltage circuits, with the separation never verified before the walls close.
- The wrong cable type pulled for the circuit, discovered after cover when it won't pass the acceptance walk.
- A device counted as tested from the panel event log without anyone confirming the right point in the right room actually actuated.
- Notification appliances checked for sound but never observed for synchronized visual coverage across the space they serve.
- An interface to the elevators, HVAC shutdown or door holders assumed working because the panel showed the output, with no one watching the equipment actually respond.
- A device labeled to the wrong room at the panel, so responders are sent to the wrong location when it eventually alarms.
- A standing trouble signal silenced instead of cleared, leaving a fault on the circuit that no longer annunciates.
Verified against
Families only, never clause numbers. Adoption varies by jurisdiction; confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
Common questions
- Which fire alarm inspections do these checklists cover?
- Fire alarm rough-in inspection checklist (rough-in): After back boxes and conduit are set and the circuits are pulled, before insulation, drywall and ceiling grid close in and before the rough-in inspection is called. Fire alarm final inspection checklist (final): After the system is trimmed out and programmed, at the acceptance test before the AHJ signs off and the building is turned over. Fire alarm punch checklist (punch): During closeout, after the acceptance walk turns up wrong labels, thin coverage and standing trouble conditions on the panel.
- Who runs a fire alarm inspection?
- The fire alarm foreman walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point. The fire alarm technician running the acceptance test with the AHJ, while the GC's superintendent observes and documents each device and interface for the record. The fire alarm technician on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing life-safety punch items.
- What most often sends fire alarm work back?
- Device back boxes roughed to a stud line without checking the ceiling and reflected plan, so pulls and horns land off the required mounting height once the finish goes up. Initiating and notification wiring run in the same raceway as line-voltage circuits, with the separation never verified before the walls close. The wrong cable type pulled for the circuit, discovered after cover when it won't pass the acceptance walk. A device counted as tested from the panel event log without anyone confirming the right point in the right room actually actuated.
- Which standards is fire alarm work verified against?
- NFPA 72, published by the National Fire Protection Association. Adoption varies by jurisdiction. Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction enforces before you run a walk against it.
- Can I run these checklists in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace and load any of the 3 lists (14 items in total). The Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached, and approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.