Request for inspection

Full Description

This request for inspection template lets you formally ask a consultant, engineer or inspector to inspect completed work on your construction site. It documents that the request was made and gives you one place to record the inspection result.

What is a request for inspection?

A request for inspection (RFI or IR) is a written notice from the contractor asking the consultant, engineer or client’s inspector to check a specific piece of work before it is covered up or the next activity starts. It names the work, its location, the drawings or specification it must meet, and when it will be ready. The inspector records whether the work is approved, approved with comments or rejected. It is a key quality control record on most commercial projects.

When to use it

• The specification or contract requires inspection before work proceeds
• Before concrete pours, after rebar and formwork are complete
• Before closing walls or ceilings over services
• Before backfilling trenches, footings or buried services
• When a hold point in your inspection and test plan is reached

What’s included

The download is an editable request for inspection document. Use it to send a written request for inspection to your consultant and to record the results of the inspection in the same place, so you have proof the request was made even if the inspector does not show up.

How to fill it out

1. Give the request a number and enter the project name and date.
2. Describe the work to be inspected and its exact location, such as grid lines, level or room.
3. Reference the drawing, specification section or inspection and test plan item it must meet.
4. State the date and time the work will be ready, giving the notice your contract requires.
5. Sign as the contractor’s representative and send it to the consultant or inspector.
6. After the inspection, record the result, comments and signatures, and file it in your RFI log.

Why document every inspection request

• If the inspector does not attend, you have a dated record that you asked.
• It keeps quality decisions in writing, not just verbal approval on the slab.
• Rejected inspections give you a clear list of what to fix before you re-submit.
• A complete set of approved requests supports your handover and closeout documents.

Related templates and guides

• Reinforcement inspection request form
• Request letter of inspection – letter format
• Non-conformance work report – if the work fails
• Quality control templates
• Controlling quality on the construction site

Frequently asked questions

Is a request for inspection the same as a building permit inspection request?

Not quite. A building permit inspection request goes to your local building department to schedule a code inspection. A request for inspection on a construction project usually goes from the contractor to the consultant, engineer or client’s inspector to check work against the contract drawings and specifications.

Who submits a request for inspection?

The contractor, usually the site engineer, foreman or quality control lead, submits the request once the work is complete and ready. It goes to the consultant, resident engineer or inspector named in the contract, who carries out the inspection and records the result.

How much notice should you give for an inspection?

Follow the notice period in your contract or specification. Many projects ask for at least 24 hours, and some hold points need more. Giving notice early avoids crews standing idle while they wait for the inspector.

What happens if the work fails the inspection?

The inspector records the reasons for rejection on the form. The contractor corrects the work, then submits a new or revised request for re-inspection. Serious or repeated issues may also be raised as a non-conformance report.

What is the difference between a request for inspection and a request for information?

Both can be shortened to RFI. A request for information asks the design team a question about the drawings or specifications. A request for inspection asks the inspector to check completed work. Many projects use IR or WIR for inspection requests to avoid confusion.