Inspection process
Follow-up phase inspection
The follow-up phase inspection is the ongoing verification that runs while a definable feature of work is being completed. Having set the standard at the initial phase, QC returns at a frequency the plan calls for to confirm the work still meets it and that nothing has drifted as crews, conditions, or shifts change. It is the third of the three phases of control and the one that actually runs across the bulk of the work.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Construction quality control plan
12 items · 15 photos required
Why it matters
A benchmark set once decays without checking. Follow-up inspections catch the slow slide (a crew that changed, a detail that got sloppy, a substrate that arrived wet) before it becomes a feature-wide defect that only shows up at final.
What proves it
Each follow-up carries its date, what was checked, any deficiencies found, and their correction. In RTI these repeat as dated, photo-backed steps on the feature's checklist, so the follow-up history is one continuous record rather than a single signoff at the end.
Guides that use it
- How to run a three-phase inspectionRun the preparatory, initial, and follow-up phases of quality control on a definable feature of work so defects surface before they multiply.
- How to run a follow-up phase inspectionRun the recurring checks that confirm a feature stays true to the benchmark set in the initial phase, catching drift before it becomes feature-wide rework.
Checklists that put follow-up phase inspection to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- Definable feature of workA discrete, separately inspectable task or segment of work with its own start, finish, and acceptance criteria within the QC plan.
- Preparatory phase inspectionThe first of the three phases of control: a before-work review of submittals, materials, and criteria for a definable feature of work.
- Initial phase inspectionThe second phase of control: inspecting the first representative portion of a feature to set the workmanship standard for the rest.
- Punch listThe running list of incomplete or defective work a contractor has to fix before an area is accepted and closed out.
- Surveillance inspectionAn unannounced or periodic check of work while it is being performed, verifying the crew is following the approved process, not just the result.
- Rough-in inspectionVerification of concealed MEP work (piping, wiring, and ductwork in the framing) before insulation and finishes cover it.
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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