Inspection process
Source inspection
A source inspection is an inspection performed at the point of origin (the fabricator, the manufacturer, the supplier's shop) before the product leaves for the site. Structural steel, precast, tanks, switchgear, and other fabricated items are verified against the drawings and specification where they're made. The idea is simple: find the problem where it can still be fixed easily, not after it's been trucked to the job.
Run it with the Photo Gate
Structural steel inspection checklist
12 items · 27 photos required
Why it matters
A fabricated item rejected on site is a schedule crisis: it has to go back, get reworked, and ship again while the crew waiting on it stands down. Catching the same defect at the shop keeps the problem contained to the fabricator's floor, where correcting it costs a fraction as much.
What proves it
Source inspection commonly folds in a first article inspection of the first fabricated piece, then witness or hold points at key fabrication stages. The records (dimensions, materials, weld and coating verification, releases to ship) travel with the item and land in its turnover documentation.
Checklists that put source inspection to work
Free, field-ready checklists, each with the photo every item needs before it can be submitted.
Related terms
- First article inspectionA full inspection of the first produced or installed item against every requirement before the rest of the run is allowed to proceed.
- Hold pointA stop in the inspection and test plan where work cannot continue until a required party inspects and signs off the release.
- 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.
- Factory acceptance test (FAT)A witnessed test of assembled equipment at the manufacturer's facility, proving it performs to spec before it is shipped to the site.
- 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.
- 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.
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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