Build a Trade Scope Checklist from Construction Documents

A. Finished-Package Specification

Deliverable set: one work-package boundary statement; one source register listing every governing reference and its revision; one build-ready checklist organized chronologically from preconstruction through closeout with source references, prerequisites, materials, interfaces, and inspections attached to every item; and one open-item list consolidating every scope gap, missing material, unclear responsibility, or incomplete acceptance criterion found during extraction.

B. Deliverable Schedule (Component Schedule)

Component	Quantity	Source	Required Fields	Preparation / Purpose
Work-package boundary statement	1	Approved scope documents, contracts, division responsibilities	Physical boundary, contractual boundary, included and excluded work	Establishes the exact extent the checklist must cover
Source register	1	Every governing sheet, detail, schedule, specification, submittal, RFI, and addendum	Document type, number, title, revision, relevance to the package	Confirms every reference used in the checklist is current
Build-ready checklist	1	Extracted scope items organized chronologically	Item, source reference, responsible party if established, prerequisite, acceptance criterion, status	The primary execution-ready deliverable
Interface and prerequisite map	1	Related-discipline scope affecting the package	Interface location, adjacent trade, dependency, sequencing note	Shows where the work package depends on or affects other trades
Open-item list	1	Discrepancies and gaps found while extracting scope	Item, description, affected location, requested action, required-by date	Records unresolved items for the document-control and RFI process

C. Source Material Takeoff

• Primary source: the complete current drawing package, specifications, approved submittals, approved RFIs, and addenda affecting the selected work package.
• Coordination source: the Chapter 17 cross-trade conflict register and the Chapter 18 controlled field-markup set for the same project.
• Reference tools: one straightedge, a consistent set of markup colors, and sticky flags or tabs for frequently referenced sheets.
• Recording medium: one document-control log or spreadsheet capable of holding all five deliverable components listed in Section B.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Boundary clarity	The work-package boundary statement identifies exactly what is included and excluded, with no scope item extracted that falls outside the stated boundary
Source completeness	Every checklist item traces to a specific sheet, detail, schedule, specification section, submittal, or RFI recorded in the source register
Cross-discipline coverage	Architectural, structural, and every MEP or specialty discipline touching the package has been searched for supporting or interfering scope
Chronological organization	The checklist is organized in field sequence from preconstruction through closeout, not grouped only by discipline or sheet
Conflict and markup incorporation	Every open item from the Chapter 17 register affecting this package appears on the checklist or the open-item list, and only approved Chapter 18 markup information is incorporated
Open-item capture	Every scope gap, missing material specification, unclear responsibility, or incomplete acceptance criterion is recorded, not silently resolved

E. Preparation — Select and Bound the Work Package

1. Select the approved trade or work package and define its physical, contractual, and document boundaries. Record the boundary directly on the Work Package Identity Record before any extraction begins.
2. Collect all current sheets, details, schedules, specifications, approved submittals, approved RFIs, addenda, and scope documents affecting the package. Gather every document type that could govern the boundary defined in Step 1.
3. Create a source register listing every governing reference and revision. Populate one row per document in the document-control log.
4. Identify the work locations, phases, alternates, options, allowances, unit-price items, and owner decisions affecting the scope. Record each against the work-package boundary statement.

F. Scope Extraction

1. Extract explicit scope items from plans, notes, schedules, details, and specifications. Work sheet by sheet and section by section within the defined boundary.
2. Search related disciplines for work that affects or supports the selected trade. Check every discipline listed in the source register, not only the one matching the package's name.
3. Identify required demolition, protection, temporary work, layout, field verification, substrate preparation, and access. Record each as a discrete checklist item with its source reference.
4. Identify owner-furnished, contractor-furnished, trade-furnished, installed-by-others, and delegated-design components. Tag each extracted item with its furnishing and installation responsibility as documented.

G. Materials, Submittals, and Prerequisites

1. Identify materials, products, grades, sizes, finishes, accessories, fasteners, connectors, sealants, flashings, and consumables only as documented. Do not add a material not stated by the drawings, specifications, or approved submittals.
2. Distinguish required materials from quantities to be determined in Book 24. Record material identity and specification reference here; leave quantity fields for the takeoff process.
3. Identify approved submittals, samples, mockups, engineering, shop drawings, manufacturer instructions, and procurement hold points. Attach each to the checklist item it governs.
4. Identify long-lead items, field-measured items, custom fabrication, and release dependencies. Flag these items in the procurement section of the checklist.
5. Identify prerequisites that must be complete and accepted before the trade begins. Record each prerequisite with its source reference and required acceptance status.
6. Identify substrate, framing, backing, utilities, environmental, weather, moisture, temperature, and access requirements. Attach these to the pre-installation section.

H. Layout, Interfaces, and Sequencing

1. Identify layout controls, dimensions, elevations, grids, benchmarks, centerlines, tolerances, and field-verification points. Record each with its governing sheet or detail reference.
2. Identify interfaces with adjacent trades, finishes, equipment, penetrations, and owner operations. Populate the interface and prerequisite map with each identified dependency.
3. Identify sequencing requirements and work that must remain exposed for coordination or inspection. Record sequencing notes directly against the affected checklist items.

I. Testing, Inspection, and Closeout Requirements

1. Identify testing, inspection, special inspection, manufacturer review, mockup acceptance, and quality-control checkpoints. Attach each hold point to the checklist item it controls.
2. Identify protection, cleaning, touch-up, adjustment, startup, demonstration, and temporary-service requirements. Record these in the closeout section of the checklist.
3. Identify warranties, record documents, maintenance data, spare materials, attic stock, labels, training, and closeout submittals. Attach each to the closeout section with its source reference.
4. Identify exclusions, assumptions, scope gaps, duplication, and responsibility ambiguities. Log each on the open-item list rather than resolving it in the checklist.

J. Coordination Incorporation and Assembly

1. Review the Chapter 17 conflict register and include every open item affecting the work package. Cross-check each conflict number against the work-package boundary.
2. Review the Chapter 18 field markup and incorporate only approved and current information. Confirm the markup revision matches the source register before incorporating any item.
3. Organize the checklist in chronological field sequence from preconstruction through closeout. Arrange all extracted items into the sequence used in Section B.
4. Assign each item a source reference, responsible party where established, prerequisite, acceptance criterion, and status. Complete every required field before marking an item ready.
5. Create separate sections for procurement, pre-installation, installation, inspection, correction, and closeout. Confirm every extracted item is filed under the correct section.
6. Add stop-work or hold-point language where unresolved information controls safety, structure, water, utilities, code, or fit. State the exact condition that must be resolved before the affected item may proceed.
7. Do not convert contractor means and methods into design requirements unless the documents require them. Review each item and remove any method-level assumption not stated by the documents.
8. Do not assign a trade based solely on drawing convention when the scope documents are silent. Flag any such item as an open responsibility question instead.

K. Review and Issue

1. Prepare RFI-style questions for scope gaps, missing materials, unclear responsibility, or incomplete acceptance criteria. Draft one neutral question per open item or logically related group.
2. Review the checklist with related trades or project leadership through the approved coordination process. Route the draft checklist and open-item list for review before treating it as issued.
3. Revise the checklist only from approved clarifications and maintain revision history. Record each revision's date, source approval, and affected checklist items.
4. Perform a build-readiness review confirming documents, submittals, materials, access, prerequisites, layout, inspections, and unanswered questions. Complete the Build-Readiness Worksheet in the Inspection Checklist section below.
5. Issue the checklist with a current source register and open-item list. Distribute the completed package through document control.
6. Define how completed items will be verified and archived for project closeout. Record the verification and archiving method directly on the checklist.