Prepare for a Foundation Inspection

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one foundation, footing, pier, or slab stage, verified against the approved foundation plan, sections, details, and structural notes, photographed before concealment, internally preinspected and corrected, and presented for the official inspection with a recorded result.

B. Inspection Component Schedule

Component	Verification Basis	Required Evidence	Concealment Restriction
Excavation and bearing	Approved foundation plan and geotechnical report	Depth and geometry measurement; qualified bearing acceptance where required	No footing placement before bearing is accepted
Footing dimensions	Approved sections and details	Width, depth, thickness, steps, keyways, pier and pad dimensions recorded	No concrete before dimensions verified
Forms and elevations	Approved plan and controlling benchmark	Form alignment, support, and elevation recorded against benchmark	No concrete before form check complete
Reinforcement	Approved structural notes and details	Size, grade, spacing, laps, hooks, supports, and cover recorded	No concrete before reinforcement verified and secured
Anchor hardware	Approved structural and electrical details	Location, type, projection, and support recorded for every device	No concrete before hardware verified
Underground utilities	Approved plumbing, electrical, and site plans	Sleeves, conduits, drains, and protective systems verified and photographed	No concrete or backfill before verification and photographs complete
Slab elements, if applicable	Approved slab details and energy documents	Base, compaction documentation, vapor retarder, insulation, joints, and penetrations recorded	No slab pour before elements verified

C. Resource Takeoff

• Design basis: one approved foundation plan set, structural notes, geotechnical report, and any required engineering, current to the latest approved revision.
• Field verification tools: tape measure, string line, laser or water level, standard level, and camera, sufficient to check every dimension and elevation called out in the Component Schedule.
• Access equipment: ladders, walkways, lighting, and trench protection sized to the actual excavation depth and site conditions.
• Records allowance: deficiency-list template, photograph log, and inspection-request confirmation record for the compliance file.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Document currency	Onsite plans, sections, details, structural notes, and reports match the latest approved revision
Excavation and bearing	Excavation reaches approved geometry with no loose, frozen, organic, disturbed, or water-covered material; bearing accepted by the qualified party where required
Footing and form geometry	Every dimension and elevation matches the approved plan within the tolerance stated in the approved documents
Reinforcement and hardware	Every bar, lap, hook, support, and anchor device matches the approved structural notes and is secured against displacement
Underground work	Required plumbing, conduit, and protective systems are complete, verified, and photographed before concealment
Access and safety	Safe, obstruction-free access is provided for every area the inspector must reach
Inspection result	An official inspection result is recorded, and no concealment occurs before that result documents approval

E. Confirm Stage, Documents, and Site Controls

1. Identify the exact required inspection stage and whether it occurs before concrete, before backfill, at slab preparation, or at another jurisdiction-defined point. Confirm this against the Project 01 binder's inspection-sequence resources and the Project 03 approved permit.
2. Confirm permit issuance, inspection authorization, approved plan revision, and required special-inspection or testing agency. Record the permit number, plan revision date, and any assigned special inspector on the Foundation Project Record.
3. Keep the permit card, approved site plan, foundation plan, sections, details, structural notes, engineering, and product approvals onsite. Store these documents at a fixed, accessible jobsite location for the duration of the inspection.
4. Confirm survey layout, property lines, setbacks, easements, benchmark, and required elevation controls. Verify the controlling benchmark matches the one identified on the approved site or foundation plan.
5. Confirm excavation and trench safety, access, weather, groundwater, spoil placement, and site barriers. Correct any unsafe condition before proceeding to the next phase.

F. Verify Excavation, Bearing, and Footing Geometry

1. Verify excavation reaches approved bearing and required geometry without loose, frozen, organic, disturbed, or water-covered material. Measure depth and plan dimensions against the approved foundation plan at every corner and transition.
2. Do not make soil-bearing acceptance beyond the qualifications and inspection authority provided. Refer any uncertain bearing condition to the geotechnical engineer or building official.
3. Arrange geotechnical or engineering review when required by plans, permit conditions, or changed soil conditions. Record the reviewing party, date, and written finding on the Foundation Project Record.
4. Verify footing width, depth, thickness, steps, keyways, piers, pads, and transitions against approved dimensions. Record each measurement on the inspection checklist with its approved target value.
5. Verify frost, slope, adjacent-foundation, property-line, and excavation-protection conditions as documented. Confirm every condition shown on the approved plan is physically present at the correct location.

G. Verify Forms, Reinforcement, and Anchor Hardware

1. Verify forms are aligned, supported, dimensionally correct, clean, and at the approved elevation. Check form elevation against the controlling benchmark at multiple points.
2. Verify reinforcing size, grade, quantity, spacing, laps, hooks, bends, dowels, supports, and concrete cover against approved documents. Record each value against its approved target on the inspection checklist.
3. Verify reinforcement is secured and will not be displaced during placement. Confirm chairs, ties, and supports hold the reinforcement at the approved cover distance.
4. Verify anchor bolts, hold-downs, post bases, straps, embeds, sleeves, blockouts, grounding electrodes, and other hardware by location, type, projection, and support. Check every device against the approved structural and electrical details.
5. Verify underground plumbing, sleeves, conduits, drains, radon, termite, vapor, capillary, insulation, and utility work required before the inspection stage. Confirm each system is complete and matches its approved detail.

H. Verify Slab Elements and Required Test Documentation

1. Verify slab base, compaction documentation, vapor retarder, insulation, reinforcement, joints, and penetrations where part of the inspection. Confirm each element matches the approved slab detail and energy documents.
2. Verify required concrete mix, testing, placement, curing, and cold- or hot-weather documents are available. Collect the mix design and any required test protocol before scheduling.
3. Confirm required compaction, soil, concrete, reinforcing, welding, or special-inspection reports are current and complete. File each report with the Foundation Project Record.
4. Identify work that will be concealed by concrete or backfill and photograph it before inspection. Label each photograph with location, date, and the approved detail it documents.
5. Mark dimensions, elevations, and hardware locations for efficient verification without substituting markings for actual compliance. Use markings only as a visual aid; confirm the underlying measurement independently.

I. Preinspect, Correct, and Prepare Safe Access

1. Remove mud, debris, standing water, loose materials, and obstructions that prevent inspection. Clear every area the inspector must view or enter.
2. Provide safe ladder, walkway, lighting, trench access, guard, and weather conditions for the inspector. Confirm access equipment matches the actual excavation depth and site layout.
3. Do not require the inspector to enter an unsafe excavation. Correct any unsafe access condition before requesting the inspection.
4. Complete a trade-by-trade preinspection with the concrete, framing, plumbing, electrical, survey, and special-inspection parties as applicable. Walk the site with each responsible party and record findings on the deficiency list.
5. Create a deficiency list and assign each item. Assign a responsible party and target date to every item identified during the preinspection.
6. Correct all incomplete work before scheduling the inspection. Verify and close every deficiency before proceeding to Section J.

J. Schedule, Attend, and Record the Inspection

1. Confirm inspection request type, permit number, address, contact, access, documents, and required tests. Use the request procedure recorded in the Project 01 binder.
2. Schedule the inspection within the jurisdiction's procedure and record confirmation. Record the confirmation number, date, and time on the Foundation Project Record.
3. Protect the work from weather, damage, displacement, and unauthorized concrete placement before inspection. Maintain barriers and coverage as needed until the inspector arrives.
4. Attend the inspection with approved documents and a focused question list. Bring the permit card, approved plans, and any test reports to the inspection.
5. Record result, approved areas, partial approval, corrections, inspector notes, and next permitted action. Use the official inspection record as the controlling result, not a verbal comment alone.
6. Do not place concrete or backfill until the required approval is documented. Treat this as a stop-work condition regardless of schedule pressure.
7. File photographs, checklist, reports, inspection result, and corrections in the compliance record. Store these records where they will be available for the Project 17 correction log and the Project 20 capstone archive.