Prepare for a Framing Inspection

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one complete framing inspection-readiness package covering the entire structure's load path — sill, floor, wall, opening, roof, sheathing, connector, bracing, and fire-blocking verification — supported by photographs, a corrected deficiency list, and a documented official inspection result.

B. Verification Zone Schedule (Component Schedule)

Zone	Quantity	Reference Document	Required Verification	Concealment Hold Point
Sill & Anchorage	1 per structure	Foundation plan, structural notes	Anchor bolts, hold-downs, moisture separation, treated-material use	Before wall raising conceals plate
Floor Framing	1 per level	Floor framing plan, structural details	Beams, joists, blocking, bearing, hangers, openings	Before subfloor or ceiling below conceals framing
Wall Framing	1 per wall line	Wall sections, structural notes	Plumb, alignment, studs, plates, corners, backing	Before sheathing or drywall conceals framing
Openings	1 per opening	Door/window schedule, structural details	Header size, kings, trimmers, cripples, sill support	Before exterior or interior finish conceals opening
Roof Framing	1 per roof plane	Roof framing plan, truss layout, structural details	Rafters, trusses, ridge, ties, connectors, overhangs	Before roof sheathing conceals connections
Sheathing & Shear	1 per panel line	Shear wall schedule, nailing schedule	Type, thickness, orientation, edge support, nailing pattern	Before siding or roofing conceals panel edges
Connectors	1 per connection point	Connector schedule, manufacturer data	Type, fastener, every specified hole filled, corrosion compatibility	Before any finish conceals the connector
Bracing & Fire Blocking	1 per required location	Braced-wall plan, fire-blocking notes	Braced-wall panels, fire blocking, draft stopping, concealed-space limits	Before insulation or drywall conceals the assembly

C. Resource Takeoff

• Reference documents: current approved architectural, structural, truss, engineering, and product-approval documents, cross-checked against the document register for revision currency.
• Prior approvals: foundation, slab, anchor, and any prior structural inspection results, confirmed as approved rather than pending or conditional.
• Trade coordination records: confirmation of rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and fire inspection status required before or alongside framing sign-off.
• Photographic record: dated photographs of every concealed structural, connector, and fire-blocking condition, indexed by zone and location.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Dimension and layout conformance	Measured wall locations, story heights, and dimensions match the approved plans within the tolerance stated in the approved documents
Opening and header conformance	Every rough opening's header, kings, trimmers, cripples, and sill match the approved door/window schedule and structural details
Connector conformance	Every connector shown on the approved documents is installed with the specified fastener type in every specified hole
Bracing and fire-blocking visibility	All required braced-wall panels and fire-blocking locations remain visible and match approved details at the time of inspection
Trade coordination	All rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and fire inspections required before framing sign-off are confirmed complete or scheduled in sequence
Concealment control	No required framing, connector, or fire-blocking item is concealed before the official inspection result is documented

E. Preparation — Confirm Scope, Documents, and Prior Approvals

1. Confirm the framing inspection scope and whether separate shear, rough, roof, fire, or trade inspections must occur first. Record the exact inspection type or types required from the jurisdiction's published procedure in the Chapter 1 binder.
2. Confirm current approved architectural, structural, truss, engineering, and product documents are onsite. Compare the sheet dates and revision numbers against the document register before proceeding.
3. Confirm required foundation, slab, anchor, and prior structural inspections are approved. Do not proceed to framing verification on a foundation stage that remains conditional or unapproved.

F. Verify Layout, Sill, and Floor Framing

1. Verify building dimensions, floor elevations, wall locations, openings, and story heights against approved plans. Measure at a minimum of three reference points per level and record the field value against the plan value.
2. Verify sill plates, anchors, washers, hold-downs, post bases, moisture separation, and treated-material requirements. Confirm each anchor bolt and hold-down location and embedment matches the foundation inspection record from Chapter 6.
3. Verify floor beams, girders, posts, joists, trusses, rim boards, blocking, bearing, hangers, and openings. Confirm every hanger is fastened with the specified nail or screw type in every manufacturer-specified hole.

G. Verify Wall Framing and Openings

1. Verify walls are plumb, aligned, braced, and located correctly. Check plumb with a level at both ends of each wall line and record any deviation exceeding the approved tolerance.
2. Verify studs, plates, corners, intersections, backing, tall-wall framing, rake walls, and specialty framing. Confirm stud spacing and plate lamination match the approved wall sections.
3. Verify door and window rough openings, headers, kings, trimmers, cripples, sills, and structural support. Confirm each opening dimension against the door/window schedule before any product is installed.
4. Verify beams, columns, posts, point-load paths, squash blocks, bearing blocks, and foundation support align as designed. Trace each point load from roof to foundation and confirm continuous bearing at every transition.

H. Verify Roof Framing, Sheathing, and Connectors

1. Verify roof rafters, trusses, ridge elements, hips, valleys, ties, connectors, bracing, and overhang framing. Confirm truss placement and spacing match the approved truss layout and truss certificates.
2. Do not cut, drill, notch, or field-modify trusses or engineered members without written authorization. Refer any observed unauthorized modification to the truss designer or engineer of record before continuing.
3. Verify sheathing type, thickness, orientation, edge support, fastening, blocked zones, shear panels, diaphragms, and nailing patterns. Confirm nail spacing at panel edges and field against the approved nailing schedule.
4. Verify structural connectors, straps, clips, hangers, bolts, screws, nails, tension devices, and corrosion compatibility. Confirm every connector matches the connector schedule for type, size, and fastener count.
5. Confirm required fastener type and installation in every specified connector hole. Do not accept a connector with unfilled specified holes as complete.
6. Verify braced wall, shear wall, portal, collector, drag, uplift, and hold-down details from approved documents. Confirm each braced-wall panel location and length matches the braced-wall plan.

I. Verify Fire Blocking, Trade Coordination, and Access

1. Verify fire blocking, draft stopping, concealed-space limits, stair blocking, and rated-assembly framing remain visible. Confirm every fire-blocking location shown on approved documents is installed and not yet concealed.
2. Verify stair openings, landings, guards, handrail backing, and support framing where required at this stage. Confirm backing blocks are located at the heights shown on the stair details.
3. Verify backing and blocking for cabinets, fixtures, rails, grab bars, equipment, finishes, and MEP supports where shown. Confirm each backing location against the approved interior elevations.
4. Verify plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas, fire, and other rough work has not damaged structural members or violated approved boring and notching details. Inspect every bored or notched member against the approved boring and notching limits.
5. Verify penetrations are protected, sleeved, supported, and firestopped only at the required inspection stage. Do not install firestop material before the framing inspector has verified the penetration location.
6. Confirm rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas, and fire inspections required before framing approval are complete. Record each trade inspection's status, date, and result on the framing deficiency checklist.
7. Verify roof, wall, and floor assemblies are dry enough for inspection and not concealed by insulation or finishes. Confirm no cavity has been insulated or covered before the framing inspection is scheduled.

J. Document, Correct, and Prepare for Inspection

1. Collect truss certificates, engineered-lumber documents, connector data, welding reports, special-inspection reports, and approved revisions. Assemble these documents at the jobsite permit station before scheduling.
2. Photograph concealed structural and fire-blocking conditions. Index each photograph by room, elevation, or framing zone and date.
3. Provide safe stairs, ladders, platforms, lighting, fall protection, and access to every inspection area. Confirm access to roof framing and upper-level connections before the inspector arrives.
4. Remove scrap, stored material, temporary hazards, and obstructions. Clear walking surfaces and inspection sightlines throughout the structure.
5. Complete a room-by-room and load-path preinspection. Walk the entire load path using the Verification Zone Schedule before scheduling the official inspection.
6. Create and correct a framing deficiency list. Assign each deficiency to the responsible trade with a target correction date.
7. Confirm no unauthorized field changes remain unresolved. Close every unauthorized-change item through the required revision or design-professional acceptance before scheduling.
8. Schedule the correct inspection type and record confirmation. Use the inspection-request procedure from the Chapter 1 binder and record the confirmation number and scheduled date.

K. Attend Inspection and Record Result

1. Attend the inspection with approved documents and responsible trade representatives. Have the current approved plan set, truss certificates, and connector data available at the inspection.
2. Record approval, partial approval, correction items, deferred submittals, and areas that must remain open. Preserve the inspector's official result exactly as issued.
3. Do not insulate or conceal framing until all required approvals are documented. Hold all concealment work until the official approval is recorded.
4. File the checklist, photographs, reports, inspector record, and correction status. Archive the completed package in the compliance record established in the Chapter 1 binder.