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Safety Cue
Task-specific safety guidance for ordinary work hazards.
Project 20 — Capstone Project
Complete a Residential Foundation System
Plan, build, protect, inspect, document, and hand off a complete residential foundation system, integrating layout verification, footing and stem-wall construction, waterproofing and drainage, backfill, slab construction, minor repair, and sill-plate installation into one continuous, documented project released to Book 4 framing.
Field Cue System
These cues appear at the point of work. In this capstone project, they mark the exact hold points that separate one chapter's completed work from the next chapter's starting condition.
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Critical Safety Cue
Serious injury, structural risk, or major damage is possible.
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Field Safety Cue
Practical work-area safety: excavation edges, formwork, concrete operations, and site traffic.
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Code Alert
Local requirements vary. Verify permit, inspection, and jurisdictional rules at every hold point.
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Manufacturer Cue
Follow product-specific instructions for concrete, waterproofing, insulation, and repair materials.
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Measurement Cue
Reference-point, tolerance, and control-line guidance carried forward from Chapter 1.
Job Overview
This capstone project qualifies you to plan, build, protect, inspect, document, and hand off a complete residential foundation system by executing the applicable work from Chapters 1 through 19 as one integrated project rather than as separate, disconnected exercises. The finished work product is a complete residential foundation — verified layout, formed and reinforced footings, placed and cured footing concrete, embedded hardware, formed and reinforced stem walls, placed and cured wall concrete, stripped and repaired concrete surfaces, cured and protected concrete throughout, a waterproofing or damp-proofing system, a tested foundation-drain system, foundation insulation and protection board, controlled and inspected backfill, formed slab controls, a prepared slab base with vapor barrier and reinforcement, a continuously placed and finished slab, documented minor repairs, and installed pressure-treated sill plates — together with the compiled inspection and test record required to hand the foundation to Book 4 framing.
You will assemble every controlling document used across the book, prepare a single integrated safety, formwork, reinforcement, concrete, weather, testing, curing, inspection, access, environmental, and contingency plan, and then execute the numbered sequence below in the order the approved foundation plan and this book's chapters require. Each numbered item in this project corresponds to the completed chapter work it draws on; it does not repeat the full procedure already taught in that chapter, but it does require you to meet every acceptance standard, inspection hold point, and documentation requirement that chapter established.
This is the last project in Book 3. It assumes every applicable chapter from 1 through 19 has been completed to its stated Required Outcome, or will be completed in the sequence below using this project as the controlling work order. No backfill, slab work, or sill-plate installation may proceed ahead of the concrete strength, curing, inspection, and design conditions established in the chapters that govern each stage.
Skills You Will Demonstrate
- FN-115 — Integrate the approved layout, structural, reinforcement, concrete-placement, waterproofing, drainage, slab, and sill-plate documents into a single controlling project plan.
- FN-116 — Build, reinforce, place, consolidate, finish, protect, and cure footing and stem-wall concrete in the sequence and to the standards established in Chapters 2 through 9.
- FN-117 — Install and test the waterproofing or damp-proofing, drainage, insulation, and protection-board systems to the standards established in Chapters 10 through 12, and backfill only after all release conditions are satisfied.
- FN-118 — Build slab forms, prepare the slab base, vapor barrier, and reinforcement, and execute the continuous slab placement and finishing operation to the standards established in Chapters 14 through 17.
- FN-119 — Evaluate, document, and complete only authorized minor concrete repairs, and install sill sealer and pressure-treated sill plates to the standards established in Chapters 18 and 19.
- FN-120 — Compile the complete foundation-system inspection, test, and as-built record, complete and reinspect the final punch list, and conduct a documented handoff of the foundation to Book 4 framing.
Where This Skill Fits
Every earlier chapter in this book verified, built, reinforced, placed, protected, or finished one component of the residential foundation in isolation. This capstone project is the point at which those components must be executed, sequenced, and documented together as a single system, with the release conditions from one stage controlling whether the next stage may begin. The judgment demonstrated here — recognizing which chapter's acceptance standard governs a given stage, and refusing to proceed past an unmet hold point — is the same judgment a foundation crew leader exercises on an active residential job.
Completing this project releases the foundation for Book 4 residential framing. The sill-plate layout, wall lines, and top-of-wall condition you hand off here become the starting condition for every framing project in that book.
Scope and Intended Use
This project covers:
- assembling and cross-referencing the approved site, foundation, structural, reinforcement, slab, drainage, waterproofing, insulation, anchor, and sill-plate documents into one controlling plan
- executing, in the required sequence, the applicable layout verification, formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, curing, waterproofing, drainage, insulation, backfill, slab, repair, and sill-plate work established in Chapters 1 through 19
- confirming every inspection hold point and acceptance standard from those chapters before advancing to the next stage
- compiling the complete inspection, test, product, and as-built record for the finished foundation
- completing and reinspecting a final punch list
- conducting a documented foundation-to-framing handoff
This project does not authorize the learner to:
- omit, reorder for convenience, or merge any stop-work condition, inspection hold point, or curing period established in Chapters 1 through 19
- backfill, load, or conceal any component before the concrete strength, curing, waterproofing, drainage, and inspection conditions governing that component are satisfied
- substitute independent judgment for a required surveyor, engineer, inspector, or designer decision on any unresolved conflict carried forward from an earlier chapter
- treat this capstone as a shortcut that permits skipping a chapter's numbered procedure, acceptance standard, or documentation requirement
Any condition that fails an acceptance standard established in an earlier chapter must be corrected, or escalated to the qualified professional identified in that chapter, before this project's sequence continues.
Reference Conventions
This capstone project uses the same reference terms defined in Chapter 1, plus the following integrating terms specific to the capstone sequence.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Controlling project plan | The single integrated plan assembled in Step 1 that cross-references every approved document used across Chapters 1 through 19 |
| Hold point | Any inspection, test, curing period, or approval established in an earlier chapter that must pass before the next numbered item in this project may begin |
| Release criteria | The combined concrete-strength, curing, wall-support, waterproofing, drainage, and inspection conditions from Chapter 9 and Chapter 13 that must be satisfied before backfill |
| Final punch list | The compiled list of unresolved deficiencies, across every chapter, that must be corrected and reinspected before the foundation-to-framing handoff |
| Foundation-to-framing handoff | The formal, documented release of the completed foundation system, sill plates installed, to Book 4 residential framing |
Capstone Project Record
Before beginning Step 1, record the project identity directly in the combined project record binder:
Site name/address: ______ Foundation plan revision: ______ Structural details revision: ______ Project lead: ______
Date started: ____________ Target framing handoff date: ____________
Prerequisites
- Completed and released Chapter 1 foundation-layout verification, with protected horizontal and vertical controls
- Access to every controlling document identified in Chapters 1 through 19: approved site, foundation, structural, reinforcement, slab, drainage, waterproofing, insulation, anchor, and sill-plate documents
- Written confirmation that Book 2 has delivered the required site, excavation, subgrade, access, drainage, and control conditions
- Named surveyor, engineer, inspector, testing agency, and designer contacts available for every escalation point carried forward from Chapters 1 through 19
- A combined safety, formwork, reinforcement, concrete, weather, testing, curing, inspection, access, environmental, and contingency plan prepared before mobilization
Common Field Fundamentals
This capstone project does not introduce new field technique. It requires the correct sequencing and documentation of the technique already taught in Chapters 1 through 19, and it requires recognizing which chapter's acceptance standard governs each stage of the finished foundation.
Layout and footingsChapters 1–5: verified layout, footing forms, reinforcement, concrete, embedded hardware
Stem walls and curingChapters 6–9: wall forms, reinforcement, concrete, stripping, repair, curing
Moisture and backfillChapters 10–13: waterproofing, drainage, insulation, controlled backfill
Slab and handoffChapters 14–19: slab forms, base, placement, finishing, repair, sill plates
Sequencing Discipline
Execute the numbered sequence below in order. Do not begin a numbered item that depends on an unmet hold point from an earlier item. Where an item references a Required Outcome from a specific chapter, that Required Outcome — not a summary judgment — is the pass condition for this project's corresponding step.
FN-115 – FN-120
Capstone Integration and Handoff Qualification
Complete Residential Foundation System
A. Finished-Project Specification
Deliverable: a complete residential foundation system — verified layout; formed, reinforced, and placed footings; embedded hardware; formed, reinforced, and placed stem walls; stripped and repaired concrete; cured and protected concrete throughout; an installed and tested waterproofing or damp-proofing, drainage, insulation, and protection-board system; controlled and inspected backfill; formed and prepared slab assembly; a continuously placed, finished, and cured slab; documented minor repairs; and installed pressure-treated sill plates — together with the compiled inspection, test, and as-built record and a signed foundation-to-framing handoff.
B. Assessed Capstone Schedule
| Stage | Governing Chapters | Required Outcome Standard | Hold Point Before Next Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout and footings | 1–5 | Verified layout; formed, reinforced, placed, and protected footings; correctly placed embedded hardware | Footing concrete strength and curing requirements satisfied |
| Stem walls | 6–9 | Formed, reinforced, placed, protected, and cured stem walls; stripped and repaired concrete surfaces | Wall concrete strength, curing, and repair acceptance satisfied |
| Moisture and drainage | 10–11 | Installed and inspected waterproofing or damp-proofing system; installed and tested drain system | Moisture-control and drainage inspections passed |
| Insulation and backfill | 12–13 | Installed and inspected insulation and protection board; balanced, compacted, drained backfill | All Chapter 13 release criteria satisfied in writing |
| Slab construction | 14–17 | Built slab forms; prepared base, vapor barrier, and reinforcement; continuously placed, screeded, and finished slab | Slab finishing and curing complete per Chapter 17 |
| Repair and handoff | 18–19 | Documented, authorized minor repairs; installed, aligned, and fastened sill plates | Final punch list closed and reinspected |
C. Document and Control-Point Takeoff
- Controlling documents: the complete set identified across Chapters 1 through 19 — site, foundation, structural, reinforcement, slab, drainage, waterproofing, insulation, anchor, and sill-plate documents — cross-referenced into the single controlling project plan required by Step 2.
- Control points: the building reference corner, baseline, and benchmark established and protected in Chapter 1, verified as intact before each subsequent stage begins.
- Combined material takeoff: assembled from the individual chapter takeoffs for footings, stem walls, waterproofing, drainage, insulation, backfill, slab, repair materials, and sill plates.
- Escalation contacts: the named surveyor, engineer, inspector, testing agency, and designer identified across Chapters 1 through 19, available for any conflict arising during this capstone.
D. Acceptance Standards
| Check | Standard |
|---|---|
| Layout and footing stage | Meets the Chapter 1 through 5 Required Outcomes and Acceptance Standards in full, including the released Foundation Layout Verification Worksheet |
| Stem-wall stage | Meets the Chapter 6 through 9 Required Outcomes, including documented minor repairs and completed curing records |
| Moisture-control and drainage stage | Meets the Chapter 10 and 11 Required Outcomes, including passed continuity or flow testing |
| Insulation and backfill stage | Meets the Chapter 12 and 13 Required Outcomes; backfill does not proceed until every Chapter 13 release condition is confirmed in writing |
| Slab stage | Meets the Chapter 14 through 17 Required Outcomes, including uninterrupted transition from placement to finishing as required by the Chapter 16–17 Continuity Control |
| Repair and sill-plate stage | Meets the Chapter 18 and 19 Required Outcomes; no repair proceeds outside the Chapter 18 Scope Control |
| Final documentation and handoff | Complete, cross-referenced inspection, test, and as-built record; closed and reinspected final punch list; signed foundation-to-framing handoff |
E. Planning and Document Integration
- Assemble the approved site, foundation, structural, reinforcement, slab, drainage, waterproofing, insulation, anchor, and sill-plate documents. Confirm every document referenced in Chapters 1 through 19 is present and current before proceeding.
- Prepare the complete safety, formwork, reinforcement, concrete, weather, testing, curing, inspection, access, environmental, and contingency plans. Cross-reference each chapter's individual plan requirements into this single controlling project plan.
- Verify that Book 2 has delivered the required site, excavation, subgrade, access, drainage, and control conditions. Confirm the Book 2 handoff record before disturbing any protected control.
F. Layout and Footing Stage (Chapters 1–5)
- Verify the building footprint, setbacks, dimensions, diagonals, footing locations, and elevations. Execute the complete Chapter 1 procedure and confirm the Foundation Layout Verification Worksheet is released.
- Build, brace, clean, and inspect footing forms. Execute the complete Chapter 2 procedure and confirm the formwork inspection record passes before reinforcement begins.
- Prepare, place, support, tie, and inspect footing reinforcement and footing-stage embedded items. Execute the complete Chapter 3 procedure and, where applicable, the Chapter 5 embedded-hardware procedure for items designated for the footing.
- Receive, test, place, consolidate, finish, protect, and begin curing footing concrete. Execute the complete Chapter 4 procedure, including required field sampling and testing.
- Verify all footing dimensions, elevations, dowels, and construction-joint conditions. Confirm every Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 acceptance standard passes before advancing to stem-wall formwork.
G. Stem-Wall Stage (Chapters 6–9)
- Build, align, plumb, tie, brace, clean, and inspect stem-wall forms. Execute the complete Chapter 6 procedure and confirm footing surfaces meet the required condition first.
- Install stem-wall reinforcement, anchor bolts, hold-downs, sleeves, blockouts, and embedded hardware. Execute the complete Chapter 7 reinforcement procedure and the applicable Chapter 5 embedded-hardware procedure for wall-top hardware.
- Receive, test, place, consolidate, finish, protect, and begin curing stem-wall concrete. Execute the complete Chapter 7 placement procedure.
- Strip forms at the approved time and inspect all exposed concrete. Execute the complete Chapter 8 stripping and inspection procedure.
- Document defects and complete only authorized minor repairs. Apply the Chapter 8 Scope Control; escalate any defect exceeding minor-repair limits.
- Continue curing and early-age protection until release criteria are met. Execute the complete Chapter 9 procedure and confirm the curing closeout record before moisture-control work begins.
H. Moisture, Drainage, Insulation, and Backfill Stage (Chapters 10–13)
- Prepare foundation surfaces and install the specified damp-proofing or waterproofing system. Execute the complete Chapter 10 procedure, applying its Scope Control to distinguish damp-proofing from waterproofing zones.
- Install and test the permanent foundation-drain system. Execute the complete Chapter 11 procedure, including the required continuity, flow, or camera test.
- Install compatible foundation insulation, drainage mat, termination components, and protection board. Execute the complete Chapter 12 procedure and confirm compatibility with the installed waterproofing system.
- Obtain required inspections before concealment. Confirm every jurisdictional inspection hold point for waterproofing, drainage, and insulation is satisfied before backfill begins.
- Backfill in balanced controlled lifts while protecting the wall, drainage, waterproofing, insulation, utilities, and required grade. Execute the complete Chapter 13 procedure only after confirming every Chapter 13 release condition in writing.
I. Slab Construction Stage (Chapters 14–17)
- Build and verify slab forms and elevation controls. Execute the complete Chapter 14 procedure.
- Prepare and compact the slab base. Execute the applicable Chapter 15 base-preparation procedure.
- Install and inspect the vapor barrier, reinforcement, joints, sleeves, penetrations, and embedded systems. Execute the complete Chapter 15 procedure and confirm the pre-pour inspection record.
- Plan and execute the continuous slab placement, screeding, floating, edging, jointing, finishing, curing, and protection operation. Execute the complete Chapter 16 and Chapter 17 procedures as one uninterrupted operation, per the Chapter 16–17 Continuity Control.
J. Final Repair, Sill-Plate, and Handoff Stage (Chapters 18–20)
- Inspect the foundation and slab for dimensions, elevations, alignment, concrete condition, moisture control, drainage, backfill, and defects. Compare current conditions against every governing chapter's acceptance standards.
- Complete authorized minor repairs and document all unresolved items. Apply the Chapter 18 Scope Control and escalate any defect outside minor-repair limits.
- Prepare, drill, install, align, and fasten sill sealer and pressure-treated sill plates. Execute the complete Chapter 19 procedure.
- Mark framing reference lines and verify the foundation is ready for Book 4. Confirm wall lines, splice locations, and framing offsets required by Book 4 are marked and legible.
- Compile survey records, dimensions, reinforcement inspections, concrete delivery and test records, curing logs, product records, concealed-work photographs, repair records, drainage tests, compaction results, inspection approvals, and as-built information. Cross-reference every record against the chapter that produced it.
- Prepare and complete the final punch list. Consolidate every open item recorded across Chapters 1 through 19 and this project's own inspections into one list.
- Reinspect every corrected item. Confirm each punch-list item meets its governing chapter's acceptance standard before closing it.
- Conduct the formal foundation-to-framing handoff with continuing protection, maintenance, and restriction requirements. Sign and date the handoff record, and state any continuing protection or access restriction that applies until Book 4 work begins.
Common Capstone Inspection
Inspect every stage using the acceptance standard established by the chapter that governs it; do not substitute a general visual check for a chapter-specific standard.
- Layout and footing check: confirm Chapter 1 through 5 acceptance standards, using the released Foundation Layout Verification Worksheet as the controlling record.
- Stem-wall check: confirm Chapter 6 through 9 acceptance standards, including documented minor repairs and completed curing closeout.
- Moisture and drainage check: confirm Chapter 10 and 11 acceptance standards, including passed continuity or flow testing.
- Insulation and backfill check: confirm Chapter 12 and 13 acceptance standards, including written confirmation of all Chapter 13 release conditions before backfill.
- Slab check: confirm Chapter 14 through 17 acceptance standards, including uninterrupted transition from placement to finishing.
- Repair and sill-plate check: confirm Chapter 18 and 19 acceptance standards, including the Chapter 18 Scope Control.
- Final documentation check: confirm the compiled record is complete, cross-referenced, and supports the signed handoff.
Complete the Capstone Foundation-System Closeout Record in the Inspection Checklist section below before signing the foundation-to-framing handoff.
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Failure Points and Troubleshooting
Cleanup
This capstone project ends with a signed handoff and an archived project record, not a torn-down worksite.
- Confirm every tool, form component, and piece of equipment used across the capstone sequence is cleaned, accounted for, and returned or staged for Book 4
- Remove construction debris, packaging, and surplus material from the finished foundation area
- Protect the finished slab, sill plates, and sill sealer from weather and construction traffic until framing begins
- Store surplus repair, waterproofing, insulation, and sill-plate materials with their product records
- File the complete compiled project record, final punch list, and signed handoff with the permanent project documentation
Field Terms
- Controlling Project Plan
- The single integrated plan cross-referencing every approved document used across Chapters 1 through 19.
- Hold Point
- An inspection, test, curing period, or approval that must pass before the next stage may begin.
- Release Criteria
- The combined conditions from Chapters 9 and 13 that must be satisfied before backfill.
- Final Punch List
- The compiled list of unresolved deficiencies across every chapter, corrected and reinspected before handoff.
- Foundation-to-Framing Handoff
- The formal, documented release of the completed foundation to Book 4 residential framing.
- Concealment
- Any point at which backfill, insulation, protection board, or finishing covers work that requires a prior inspection.
- As-Built Information
- The final recorded dimensions, elevations, and conditions of the completed foundation as actually constructed.
- Stop-Work Condition
- Any condition identified in Chapters 1 through 19 requiring qualified review before work continues.
- Combined Material Takeoff
- The assembled material list drawn from the individual takeoffs of Chapters 2 through 19.
- Capstone Foundation-System Closeout Record
- The compiled inspection, test, and as-built record supporting the signed handoff.
Skill Check
- Why does this capstone project reference the acceptance standards of Chapters 1 through 19 instead of restating a new set of standards?
- What must happen if a later stage was started before an earlier chapter's hold point was confirmed satisfied?
- Why must the building reference corner, baseline, and benchmark established in Chapter 1 remain the controls used throughout this entire capstone project?
- What is the required response when two controlling documents from different chapters conflict?
- Why must backfill not begin until every Chapter 13 release condition is confirmed in writing?
- Why must Chapters 16 and 17 be executed as one uninterrupted operation rather than as two separately scheduled work sessions?
- What is the difference between correcting a punch-list item and reinspecting it, and why are both required before handoff?
- What must the final compiled project record contain, and why is a documentation gap treated as a deficiency even if the underlying work appears sound?
- Why does the foundation-to-framing handoff include continuing protection and restriction requirements rather than ending all obligations at signature?
- Why is this capstone project described as a project-management sequence rather than a new construction procedure?
Competency Rubric
| Competency | Independent Pass Standard | Not Demonstrated | With Assistance | Independently |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN-115 | Assembles and cross-references the complete set of controlling documents from Chapters 1 through 19 into a single, accurate project plan | |||
| FN-116 | Executes the footing and stem-wall stages to the Required Outcome and acceptance standards of Chapters 2 through 9, confirming every hold point before advancing | |||
| FN-117 | Executes the waterproofing, drainage, insulation, and backfill stages to the Required Outcome and acceptance standards of Chapters 10 through 13, backfilling only after written confirmation of release criteria | |||
| FN-118 | Executes the slab-construction stage to the Required Outcome and acceptance standards of Chapters 14 through 17, maintaining the required placement-to-finishing continuity | |||
| FN-119 | Completes only authorized minor repairs per the Chapter 18 Scope Control and installs sill plates to the Chapter 19 Required Outcome | |||
| FN-120 | Compiles a complete, cross-referenced inspection and as-built record, closes and reinspects the final punch list, and conducts a signed foundation-to-framing handoff |
Mark one column per competency. Only Demonstrated Independently awards the competency; Demonstrated with Assistance authorizes additional supervised practice but does not complete the requirement.
Inspection Checklist — Capstone Foundation-System Closeout Record
| Stage | Governing Chapters | Hold Point Confirmed (Y/N) | Date | Verifier | Open Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Layout verification released | 1 | ||||
| Footing forms, reinforcement, concrete | 2–5 | ||||
| Stem-wall forms, reinforcement, concrete | 6–7 | ||||
| Form stripping and minor repair | 8 | ||||
| Curing and protection closeout | 9 | ||||
| Waterproofing / damp-proofing | 10 | ||||
| Foundation drain tile, tested | 11 | ||||
| Insulation and protection board | 12 | ||||
| Backfill release criteria (written) | 13 | ||||
| Slab forms and control lines | 14 | ||||
| Slab base, vapor barrier, reinforcement | 15 | ||||
| Continuous slab placement and finishing | 16–17 | ||||
| Minor foundation repair (authorized) | 18 | ||||
| Sill sealer and sill plates | 19 |
Final punch list attached: ______ (Y/N) All punch-list items reinspected and closed: ______ (Y/N)
Foundation-to-framing handoff declared complete: ______ (Pass/Fail) Date: ____________ Project lead: ____________ Released by: ____________
Performance Check
With every stage from Chapters 1 through 19 executed, inspected, and recorded, review the finished foundation against the Acceptance Standards table and confirm the layout and footing stage, the stem-wall stage, the moisture-control and drainage stage, the insulation and backfill stage, the slab-construction stage, and the repair and sill-plate stage each meet their governing chapter's Required Outcome. Confirm the final compiled record is complete and cross-referenced, the final punch list is closed and every item reinspected, and no unresolved conflict or stop-work condition remains open. If any stage fails, identify whether the failure occurred in document integration, sequencing, execution against the governing chapter's procedure, or documentation, correct it using the method specified by the governing chapter, and repeat the affected acceptance check before signing the foundation-to-framing handoff.
Project Closeout
You have completed the capstone project of the concrete and residential foundations sequence: a complete residential foundation system. This project required you to integrate the approved layout, structural, reinforcement, concrete-placement, waterproofing, drainage, slab, and sill-plate documents into a single controlling plan (FN-115), build, reinforce, place, protect, and cure footing and stem-wall concrete to the standards of Chapters 2 through 9 (FN-116), install and test the moisture-control, drainage, and insulation systems and backfill only after all release conditions were satisfied (FN-117), build slab forms and execute the continuous slab placement and finishing operation of Chapters 14 through 17 (FN-118), complete authorized minor repairs and install sill sealer and sill plates to the standards of Chapters 18 and 19 (FN-119), and compile the complete inspection and as-built record supporting a documented foundation-to-framing handoff (FN-120).
You now have a complete, inspected, protected, and documented residential foundation system with sill plates installed. That released foundation carries directly into Book 4: the wall lines and framing reference marks you established in Chapter 19 and verified in this capstone are the starting condition for every framing project that follows.
Maintain the continuing protection and access restrictions recorded in your handoff until Book 4 framing begins. The compiled project record produced by this capstone remains the permanent reference for the foundation you have just completed.