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02Special inspections

Special inspections, performed and reported by certified inspectors.

Code-required inspection carried out on site by inspectors holding the specific certification for that scope. Findings are recorded in the field and the report is filed the day the work is inspected, so the record keeps pace with the build rather than trailing it.

02.1Scope — 19 services

Inspection scopes we perform.

Detail 02.01Field

Reinforced concrete

Verification of reinforcing steel size, grade, spacing, cover and splice lengths against the approved drawings, followed by observation of placement and consolidation during the pour. The steel inspection happens after tying and before the pour is released; placement inspection runs continuously while concrete is being placed.

Detail 02.02Field

Structural masonry

Verification of unit placement, mortar joints, reinforcement position, grout lift heights and cleanouts as the wall goes up. Depending on the design strength and the risk category, inspection is either periodic or continuous through laying and grouting.

Detail 02.03Field

Post-tension concrete

Verification of tendon profile, support bar spacing, anchorage hardware and end-block reinforcement before the pour, then witness of the stressing operation. Measured elongations are checked against the calculated values on the stressing record before tails are cut.

Detail 02.04Field

Structural steel and bolting

Verification of member identification, connection fit-up, faying surface condition and bolt grade, along with installation method and pretension verification for slip-critical and pretensioned joints. Carried out during erection, ahead of deck or fireproofing.

Detail 02.05Field

Welding

Review of welder qualifications and the applicable procedure specification, then inspection of joint preparation, preheat, interpass temperature and completed welds. Visual inspection is continuous for complete-joint-penetration welds; volumetric methods are applied where the drawings or code require them.

Detail 02.06Field

Soil compaction

Observation of subgrade preparation and fill placement, with in-place density and moisture measured lift by lift against a laboratory maximum dry density. Performed during grading, trench backfill and pavement subgrade work, before the next lift is placed.

Detail 02.07Field

Fireproofing

Verification that sprayed fire-resistive material matches the listed assembly for thickness, density and bond. Inspection happens after application and before the material is concealed by ceilings, walls or cladding.

Detail 02.08Field

Fire stopping

Verification that penetration firestops and joint systems match the tested and listed system for the rated assembly they occur in, including annular space, fill depth and backing. Inspected during installation, before the penetration is covered.

Detail 02.09Field

Anchors and dowels

Verification of hole diameter and depth, hole cleaning, adhesive handling and embedment for post-installed anchors and dowels, plus proof-load testing where specified. Adhesive anchors in sustained tension require continuous inspection during installation.

Detail 02.10Field

Wood framing and nailing

Verification of shear wall sheathing, nail size, edge distance and spacing, hold-down installation and anchor bolt placement against the approved drawings. Inspected after framing and before insulation or drywall closes the assembly.

Detail 02.11Field

Shotcrete

Observation of nozzle technique, placement sequence and encasement of reinforcement, with test panels shot for later coring. Inspection is continuous during placement, since defects are concealed by subsequent material.

Detail 02.12Field

Piles, drilled piers and caissons

Recording of installation data for deep foundations: driving resistance and tip elevation for driven piles, or shaft dimensions, bearing material and cleanliness for drilled elements, plus reinforcement and concrete placement. Inspection is continuous through installation and the record forms part of the foundation documentation.

Detail 02.13Field

Mass timber

Verification of panel and member grade stamps, connection hardware, fastener type and installation, and erection tolerances for cross-laminated and glue-laminated assemblies. Moisture content and weather protection are checked during erection, before enclosure.

Detail 02.14Field

Modular building

In-plant inspection of prefabricated units against the approved plans, followed by inspection of the on-site work — foundations, module connections, and the utility and structural tie-ins that the factory could not complete. Plant inspection has to be scheduled against the fabrication programme, not the site programme.

Detail 02.15Field

Asphalt

Observation of mix delivery temperature, lift thickness, joint construction and rolling pattern, with in-place density measured behind the breakdown roller. Inspection runs during paving, since compaction cannot be corrected once the mat has cooled.

Detail 02.16Field

Non-destructive testing

Ultrasonic, magnetic particle, dye penetrant and radiographic examination of welds and materials where volumetric or surface verification is required without disassembly. Applied to complete-joint-penetration welds and to locations called out on the drawings or by the engineer of record.

Detail 02.17Field

Metal stud framing

Verification of stud gauge and spacing, track attachment, screw type and pattern, and bracing for load-bearing and shear wall assemblies in cold-formed steel. Inspected before the assembly is closed in.

Detail 02.18Field

Pull and torque testing

Proof-load and torque verification of post-installed anchors, dowels and fasteners to the load specified by the engineer of record. Usually performed on a sampling basis after installation, with the tested anchors identified on the report.

Detail 02.19Field

Paint coating

Verification of surface preparation, ambient and substrate conditions at application, wet and dry film thickness, and adhesion of protective coatings on structural steel. Conditions are recorded at the time of application because they cannot be reconstructed afterwards.

02.2Referenced methods

The published methods behind this work.

ASTM C1019Standard Test Method for Sampling and Testing Grout for MasonryVerified
ASTM D1557Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified EffortVerified
ASTM D6938Standard Test Methods for In-Place Density and Water Content of Soil and Soil-Aggregate by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)Verified
AASHTO T 180Moisture-Density Relations of Soils Using a 10-lb (4.54-kg) Rammer and an 18-in. (457-mm) DropVerified
ASTM E814Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop SystemsVerified
ASTM E1966Standard Test Method for Fire-Resistive Joint SystemsVerified
ASTM E2174Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Firestop SystemsVerified
ASTM E2393Standard Practice for On-Site Inspection of Installed Fire Resistive Joint Systems and Perimeter Fire BarriersVerified
ASTM D2950/D2950MStandard Test Method for Density of Asphalt Mixtures in Place by Nuclear MethodsVerified
ASTM E164Standard Practice for Contact Ultrasonic Testing of WeldmentsVerified
ASTM E709Standard Guide for Magnetic Particle TestingVerified
ASTM E165/E165MStandard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General IndustryVerified
SSPC-PA 2Procedure for Determining Conformance to Dry Coating Thickness RequirementsVerified
ASTM D7091Standard Practice for Nondestructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Nonmagnetic Coatings Applied to Ferrous Metals and Nonmagnetic, Nonconductive Coatings Applied to Non-Ferrous MetalsVerified
02.3To open a job

What we need from you to start.

Item 01

Plans

The current drawing set, including structural and the relevant specification sections.

Item 02

Inspection schedule

The statement of special inspections, or the schedule the building department has approved.

Item 03

Project address

The site address and the jurisdiction reviewing the work, since requirements vary between them.

Item 04

Anticipated start

Approximate start date and duration, so inspectors can be committed against your programme.

Send the plans. We'll send back a scope and a price.

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