Field Inspection
The Key to Passing Field Inspection
Knowing what inspectors are looking for before the field inspection is critical. That means building quality into the project from the beginning to avoid costly changes or delays.
Contractor’s Own Inspection Program
The quality assurance program contractors develop involves all workers and field supervisors on the team. Essentially, contractors should appoint their own field inspectors chosen from their team to monitor the construction process. This ensures that finished construction meets the owner’s requirements, while similar programs by the material producers and suppliers assure that the products and materials will meet the specific requirements of the material standards.
Establishing a Checklist
At the outset of the construction project, set in place an inspection program. The inspector should meet with the general contractor’s superintendent, the supplier’s representative, the ironworker foreman, and other interested parties such as the architect/engineer or the architect/engineer’s inspector.
Checklist Items may Include:
- Materials
- In-Place Reinforcing Bars
- Bar Supports
- Tying Requirements
- Splices
- Coatings
- Tolerances, including fabricating and placing
- In-Situ Bending and Rebending Reinforcing Bars
- Field Cutting of Reinforcing Bars
- Lap Splices, Mechanical Splices, and Welded Splices
What the Inspector Needs to Know
Inspection is a time consuming task, and one requiring workers to perform to the best of their ability. The inspector should not be adversarial, but complement the workers in support of good construction techniques and practice.
The Inspector Must Have:
- project specifications and drawings, and be familiar with them
- reasonable knowledge of the building code requirements
- access to material standards and reference codes
- industry manuals and reports