Quality concepts
Acceptance criteria
Acceptance criteria are the specific, agreed conditions a piece of work has to meet to be accepted: the tolerance, the test result, the finish level, the code family it must satisfy. They come from the drawings, the specifications, the approved submittals and the applicable standards. Their whole job is to take the argument out of "good enough": an inspection either measures the work against the criteria and it passes, or it does not and gets written up.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Inspection and test plan (ITP)
11 items · 8 photos required
Why it matters
Without stated criteria, acceptance is one person's opinion versus another's, and the loser is usually whoever has to prove a negative later. Defined criteria mean the checklist item has a pass/fail answer instead of a judgment call.
They also set the target before work starts, so the crew builds to a known standard rather than finding out at final what "acceptable" meant.
How it shows up on site
Checklist items written as measurable conditions (a slope, a torque, a pressure held for a set time, a finish level), tied to the drawing, the submittal or the standard family they come from, so a passing photo actually proves the point.
Guides that use it
- How to inspect electrical rough-inWalk electrical rough-in before insulation and drywall close it in: boxes, conductors, grounding, supports and clearances, with the photo each one needs.
- How to inspect a fire sprinkler systemObserve and document sprinkler rough-in and final (layout, hangers, heads and hydro test) while the licensed contractor and AHJ run the required hydrostatic and acceptance tests.
- How to inspect drywall before closeRun the pre-drywall walk while the walls are open, then inspect board install: backing, fastening, board type, joints and finish level, with proof at each stage.
- How to inspect a flooring installationInspect a flooring install from the substrate up: moisture and flatness, prep, layout, adhesion and finish, with the readings and photos each stage needs.
Standards it's verified against
Checklists that put acceptance criteria to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- ToleranceThe allowable amount a dimension or condition can vary from the target and still be acceptable: the plus-or-minus on a spec.
- Hold pointA stop in the inspection and test plan where work cannot continue until a required party inspects and signs off the release.
- Quality control (QC)The hands-on inspection and testing of installed work against the spec: checking the actual product, not the process that made it.
- SignoffA named party's recorded approval that a step, inspection, or feature meets its criteria and the work is released to proceed.
- Benchmark sampleAn approved sample of finished work kept as the reference the rest of the production is judged against for appearance and workmanship.
- Site acceptance test (SAT)A test that re-proves equipment performs to spec after it is installed and connected on site, following the earlier factory acceptance test.
Knowing the term is step one. Proving it is the job.
RTI holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and the photos are attached, then chains the record so it can be proven untouched later.
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