Inspection process
Pre-cover inspection
A pre-cover inspection is the final look at everything that is about to be hidden by the next operation. Before drywall hangs, insulation fills a cavity, a trench is backfilled, or concrete is poured over rebar and embeds, someone verifies that the concealed work is complete, correct, and released. It is the assembly-level gate that sits on top of the individual trade rough-ins.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Pre-drywall inspection checklist
11 items · 20 photos required
Why it matters
Covering work is the point of no return. The pre-cover inspection is the checkpoint that forces every trade's rough-in, every required test, and every hold-point release to be genuinely closed before the crew can hide any of it.
What proves it
The record has to show the concealed condition as it was, not as it's remembered: photos of the open cavity, the reinforcement in place, the completed rough-ins, and the signoffs that released them. In RTI the cover step won't clear until those photos and releases are attached, so nothing gets buried without a record of what's behind it.
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 plumbing rough-inInspect plumbing rough-in before it disappears into the wall or slab: DWV slope, pressure test, water lines, supports and protection, with the proof each needs.
- How to inspect HVAC rough-inWalk HVAC rough-in before ceilings and walls close: duct construction and sealing, hangers, equipment, refrigerant and condensate, with the proof each needs.
- How to inspect firestoppingInspect firestopping at every rated penetration and joint before cover: right listed system, right materials, full seal, documented photo-by-photo against the assembly.
Checklists that put pre-cover inspection to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- Rough-in inspectionVerification of concealed MEP work (piping, wiring, and ductwork in the framing) before insulation and finishes cover it.
- Hold pointA stop in the inspection and test plan where work cannot continue until a required party inspects and signs off the release.
- Definable feature of workA discrete, separately inspectable task or segment of work with its own start, finish, and acceptance criteria within the QC plan.
- Hydrostatic testA test that fills a pipe or vessel with water and pressurizes it to prove it holds without leaking before it is put in service or covered.
- Slump testA field test of fresh concrete's consistency, measuring how far a molded cone of concrete slumps to confirm it meets the mix's water content.
- Above-ceiling inspectionThe inspection of everything routed in the ceiling space before the ceiling is closed, confirming all trades are complete and released.
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.
30-day trial · No card required