Inspection process
Formwork inspection
Also called: form inspection, formwork check, shutter inspection
Formwork inspection is the review of the forms that will shape a concrete member before the pour is called: that the forms are the right size and location, plumb and braced, clean and released, tight enough not to leak paste, and that the shoring under them is adequate. It runs alongside the rebar and embed check as part of the pre-pour hold point, because once concrete is placed nothing about the form can be corrected — the form's condition becomes the member's condition.
Why it matters
A form failure during a pour is one of the more dangerous and expensive things that can happen on a site — blown forms, a sagging deck, a member out of shape and out of position. The inspection is the last chance to catch inadequate bracing or shoring before the load comes on, so it is a genuine hold point, not a formality.
The form also writes the finish. Gaps and loose joints leak paste and leave honeycomb; a form not cleaned or released fouls the face. Catching those before the pour is what keeps a structural repair or a patched finish off the punch list.
How it shows up on site
A pre-pour walk confirming form dimensions and location, plumb and line, bracing and shoring, tightness at joints, clean surfaces and correct release agent, plus embeds and blockouts in place — all signed off at the hold point before concrete is ordered.
Standards it's verified against
Checklists that put formwork inspection to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- Hold pointA stop in the inspection and test plan where work cannot continue until a required party inspects and signs off the release.
- In-process inspectionInspection carried out while the work is being installed, not after — catching problems while they can still be corrected easily.
- Dimensional inspectionMeasuring built work against the drawings — locations, sizes, elevations and clearances — to confirm it lands within tolerance.
- Batch ticket (delivery ticket)The ticket that comes with each concrete truck, recording the mix, quantity, water and time so the delivered load can be verified and traced.
- Witness pointA step where a party is invited to observe the work, but the crew may proceed if that party doesn't attend within the agreed notice.
- Definable feature of workA discrete, separately inspectable task or segment of work with its own start, finish, and acceptance criteria within the QC plan.
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.