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Final building inspection checklist template

Final building inspection checklist template

Prepare for a thorough final building inspection with our detailed checklist. Identify issues, ensure compliance, and maintain quality standards. Download your free PDF from Lumiform today!

Use this template
or download pdf
Final building inspection checklist template

Prepare for a thorough final building inspection with our detailed checklist. Identify issues, ensure compliance, and maintain quality standards. Download your free PDF from Lumiform today!

Use this template
or download pdf

About the Final building inspection checklist template

A final building inspection checklist template is essential for ensuring that your building meets the highest quality and compliance standards before occupancy or project completion. This template provides your team with a structured approach to evaluating all aspects of the building, ensuring nothing is overlooked. By using this checklist, you can identify potential issues, ensure compliance with regulations, and maintain quality standards. This template empowers your organization to proactively manage building inspections, facilitating thorough evaluations and timely corrections.

Enhance your building’s final inspection and prevent post-completion corrections

The primary goal of our final building inspection checklist template is to provide a comprehensive framework for assessing the quality and compliance of your building. This template ensures all essential areas are covered, helping your team manage inspection tasks and meet regulatory requirements. By using this checklist, you can streamline the inspection process, address issues early, and enhance overall building quality. Regular use of this checklist helps prevent costly post-completion corrections and ensures your building is ready for occupancy. It supports a proactive approach with detailed documentation and regular reviews. Ultimately, this template fosters a safe and compliant building environment, enhancing quality and peace of mind for your organization and occupants.

Key elements of the final building inspection checklist template

Our template includes crucial components to ensure thorough evaluations:

  • Exterior inspection: Assess the condition of the roof, siding, and foundation to ensure they are free from damage and defects. Verify that windows and doors are properly installed and functioning, contributing to the building’s overall integrity and energy efficiency.
  • Interior inspection: Evaluate the condition of floors, walls, and ceilings, ensuring they are free from damage and properly finished. Check that all plumbing and electrical systems are operational and meet safety standards, contributing to a safe and functional interior environment.
  • Systems and utilities: Inspect the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to ensure they are installed correctly and functioning efficiently. Proper system operation is crucial for maintaining a comfortable and safe environment for building occupants.
  • Safety features: Verify that smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers are installed and operational. Ensure that all safety features comply with local building codes and regulations, enhancing occupant safety.
  • Documentation and follow-up: Maintain comprehensive records of inspections and any corrective actions taken. This ensures transparency and supports continuous improvement in building practices, providing a clear history of efforts and facilitating future planning.

Each section guides your team through essential inspection tasks, ensuring nothing is overlooked. This comprehensive approach enhances building inspection management, promoting quality and compliance within your organization.

Get started with Lumiform’s final building inspection checklist template

Ready to ensure your building meets quality and compliance standards? Download Lumiform’s free final building inspection checklist template today and implement a robust strategy for managing building inspections. Our user-friendly template will help your team ensure quality, address issues, and maintain high standards. Act now—take the first step towards a safe and compliant building environment! Download your free template and set new standards with Lumiform.

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Preview of the template
Final Building Inspection Checklist
1. Exterior & Interior
House numbers plainly visible legible from the street or road fronting the property minimum 4” and of contrasting color.
All exterior windows, penetrations and openings caulked.
Chimney terminations are 2' above any roof/structure within 10' and not less than 3’ above the highest point where the chimney passes through the roof.
Spark arresters installed on top of chimney.
6" distance from soil to wood siding/trim.
The grade at the foundation falls away from the building a minimum of 6” within the first 10’. Minimum slope 5% where less than 6” fall in 10’. Swales (if using) minimum 2% slope.
Carports not open on at least two sides will be inspected as garages and all fire separation requirements will apply.
Single-family garages separated from the residence and its attic area by not less than ½” gypsum board applied to the garage side. Garages beneath habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable rooms above by not less than 5/8” type x gypsum board or equivalent. Structures supporting a floor/ceiling assembly are protected by a minimum ½” gypsum board or equal.
Garage door to house is weatherstripped.
Primary heat source cannot be woodstove. Any woodstove or pellet stove must be EPA certified.
Ducts in garages that penetrate the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling from the garage shall be constructed of a minimum No. 26 gage sheet metal and can have no openings into the garage.
Other penetrations through garage walls and ceilings are filled with approved material to resist free passage of flame and smoke.
1 3/8" solid door or 20-minute fire-rated door equipped with a self-closing device between house and garage.
Verify that deck placement, setback, size and materials are per approved plans.
Deck is positively attached and supports both lateral and live loads (40lb/sq.ft. minimum)
All decking material treated or naturally resistant to decay. Cuts, notches, and holes are treated with preservatives.
Fasteners and hardware for pressure preservative and fire-retardant-treated wood shall be of hot-dipped galvanized steel, stainless steel, silicon bronze, or copper.
Joists can be untreated if an approved weatherproof decking membrane is used. Note: soffits allowed when ventilated.
Ledger for decks bolted/lagged to structure in accordance with table 507.2.1 or per approved plan.
Deck lateral connections require a minimum (2) 1,500 lb. hold-down tension devices, installed in not less than two locations (ends) per deck, installed and connected to interior parallel joists per IRC figure 507.2.4 (exception decks < 30” above grade).
Cantilevers blocked at bearing line if >12".
Bottom of footings are minimum 12" below grade for freeze protection.
Where deck is >30" vertical above the grade plane, within 3’ horizontal, a guard is installed.
6'8" minimum headroom at stairways measured vertically from the nose of the treads, landings or platforms.
All stairs are provided with illumination, and a light switch at each floor level of 6 or more risers. Exterior stairway lighting is to be controlled from within the building.
Stair nosing ¾” – 1 ¼” required when solid risers are installed except when the tread depth is 11” minimum.
Open risers don’t allow passage of 4” sphere, except stairs with a rise of 30” or less.
Radius of curvature at the leading edge of the tread is not over 9/16”.
The greatest nosing projection doesn’t exceed the smallest by >3/8”.
Stair riser maximum 7 3/4", treads minimum 10".
Stair riser/tread maximum dimension doesn’t exceed smallest by >3/8".
Guards don’t allow passage of 4" sphere.
Guards installed at the sides of stairs don’t allow the passage of 4 3/8” sphere.
Triangle formed by riser, tread and bottom element of guardrail doesn’t allow passage of 6” sphere.
Guards adjacent to floor surfaces over 30” from adjacent floor or grade are a minimum 36" height to the top of the guard.
Open sides of stairs with a total rise of 30” above the floor or grade below have guards minimum 34” in height when measured vertically from the stair nosing to the top of the guard.
Handrails and guards capable of withstanding 200 lbs. applied in any direction at any point on the rail.
Handrail at stairs with 4 or more risers.
Handrail minimum 34" to maximum 38" above nose of tread to top of handrail.
Type I handrails with circular cross sections 1 1/4” - 2" diameter.
Type I handrails with noncircular cross-sections have a perimeter dimension of 4” – 6 ¼” with a maximum cross-section of 2 ¼”.
Type II handrails with perimeters greater than 6 ¼” require a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile. The minimum & maximum width above the recess is 1 ¼” – 2 ¾”.
Handrail returns to wall, maximum 4 1/2" off wall with minimum 1 1/2" clear space from inside of rail to wall.
Exterior doors have landings, minimum 36"x 36", or per size of the door opening. The floor or landing at the exit door shall not be more than 1.5” lower than the top of the threshold. Floors or landing at doors other than the exit door don’t have to meet this requirement. May step down 7 3/4" below the door opening unless the door swings over the landing. Where a stairway of two or fewer risers is located on the exterior side of a door, other than the required exit door, a landing is not required for the exterior side of the door.
Stair riser maximum 7 3/4", treads minimum 10".
Stair riser/tread maximum dimension doesn’t exceed smallest by >3/8".
6'8" minimum headroom at stairways measured vertically from the nose of the treads, landings or platforms.
All stairs are provided with illumination, and a light switch at each floor level of 6 or more risers. Exterior stairway lighting is to be controlled from within the building.
Stair nosing ¾” – 1 ¼” required when solid risers are installed except when the tread depth is 11” minimum.
Open risers don’t allow passage of 4” sphere, except stairs with a rise of 30” or less.
Radius of curvature at the leading edge of the tread is not over 9/16”.
The greatest nosing projection doesn’t exceed the smallest by >3/8”.
Stair riser maximum 7 3/4", treads minimum 10".
Stair riser/tread maximum dimension doesn’t exceed smallest by >3/8".
Guards don’t allow passage of 4" sphere.
Guards installed at the sides of stairs don’t allow the passage of 4 3/8” sphere.
Triangle formed by riser, tread and bottom element of guardrail doesn’t allow passage of 6” sphere.
Guards adjacent to floor surfaces over 30” from adjacent floor or grade are a minimum 36" height to the top of the guard.
Open sides of stairs with a total rise of 30” above the floor or grade below have guards minimum 34” in height when measured vertically from the stair nosing to the top of the guard.
Handrails and guards capable of withstanding 200 lbs. applied in any direction at any point on the rail.
Handrail at stairs with 4 or more risers.
Handrail minimum 34" to maximum 38" above nose of tread to top of handrail.
Type I handrails with circular cross-sections 1 1/4” - 2" diameter.
Type I handrails with noncircular cross-sections have a perimeter dimension of 4” – 6 ¼” with a maximum cross-section of 2 ¼”.
Type II handrails with perimeters greater than 6 ¼” require a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile. The minimum & maximum width above the recess is 1 ¼” – 2 ¾”.
Handrail returns to wall, maximum 4 1/2" off wall with minimum 1 1/2" clear space from inside of rail to wall.
2. Attics
Attic accesses required to areas exceeding 30 square feet and which have a vertical height of 30” or greater.
Accesses located in hallways or other readily accessible location.
Attic access unobstructed 22"x30" or large enough to remove the largest piece of mechanical equipment intact.
Access door insulated and gasketed at insulated ceilings and surrounding curb is minimum 12" height.
Proper insulation and thickness is installed.
Blow-in insulation has not filled/blocked baffles. Maintain 1” clearance between roof sheeting and insulation.
Blow in insulation must have 1” clearance to gas fired exhaust vents.
3. Crawl Space
Floor crawl access 18” x 24”.
Openings through a perimeter wall to crawl 16” x 24”.
Ventilation at crawl space unobstructed by insulation.
Venting at crawl as shown on plan minimum 1sq.ft. / 300sq.ft.
Vapor barrier is black 6 mil. plastic, covering crawl completely, wall to wall, with all seams lapped 12".
R-30 insulation is installed against bottom of floor and secured in place.
Pressure-treated wood posting installed at basements or cellars or supported by piers or metal pedestals projecting 1” above the floor or finished grade and 6” above exposed earth and separated by an approved impervious moisture barrier.
Pressure-treated wood posting installed in crawlspaces or unexcavated areas, supported by a concrete pier or metal pedestal 8" above exposed earth and separated by an approved impervious moisture barrier.
Remove all debris from the crawl space.
Floors constructed of lumber less than 2”x10” dimensional lumber to be fire protected on the underside where a crawl space is for storage or houses fuel-burning equipment.
Where required, flood-resistant construction in flood hazard areas (treated/water-resistant materials, flood vents, etc.)
4. Smoke Alarms / Automatic Sprinkler Systems
Smoke alarms required when interior alterations, repairs or additions requiring a building permit occur.
Alarms are interconnected and hard-wired unless the area of work does not result in the removal of the interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure unless there is an attic, crawl space, or basement available which could provide access for the hard wiring. Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm.
Smoke alarms at every floor level, in each bedroom and in hallways serving bedrooms. (If a room has a closet it qualifies as a bedroom.)
Smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72.
Carbon Monoxide detectors shall be installed at every floor level and adjacent sleeping areas.
Final inspection for automatic sprinkler system (where required) approved prior to building final. See jurisdiction for details.
5. Windows and Glazing
Bedroom window sill not more than 44" from floor to bottom of the window opening. Minimum 5.7sq.ft. clear opening, 20" minimum width, and 24" minimum height. Grade floor openings may have a minimum of 5 sq. ft. clear opening.
Emergency escape and rescue openings must be operational from the inside without the use of keys, tools, or special knowledge.
Safety glazing installed in hazardous locations is marked with type and thickness. Mark is acid etched, sandblasted, ceramic-fired, embossed, or made by other permanent means
Safety glazing is installed at hazardous locations.
Glazing in swinging doors except jalousies.
Glazing in fixed and sliding panels of sliding door assemblies and panels in sliding and bifold closet door assemblies.
Glazing in storm doors.
Glazing in all unframed swinging doors.
Glazing in doors and enclosures for hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, bathtubs, and showers. Glazing in any portion of a building wall enclosing these compartments where the bottom exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60” above any standing or walking surface.
Glazing in fixed or operable panels adjacent to a door where the nearest vertical edge is within a 24” arc of either vertical edge of the door in a closed position and where the bottom exposed edge of the glazing is less than 60” above the walking surface. Except where there is an intervening wall or partition between door and glazing or where the door accesses a closet 3’ or less in-depth.
Glazing in a individual fixed or operable panel, when all of the following apply:
Expose area of an individual pane greater then 9 sq.ft.
Bottom edge less than 18” above the floor.
One or more walking surfaces within 36” horizontally of the glazing. Exception: Where a protective 1 ½” wide bar is installed on the accessible side of the glazing 34”- 38” above the floor and capable of withstanding a load of 50lbs per linear foot.
Glazing in railings regardless of area or height above a walking surface. Includes structural baluster panels and nonstructural in-fill panels.
Glazing in walls and fences enclosing indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas where the bottom edge of the glazing is less than 60” above a walking surface and within 60” horizontally of the water’s edge.
Glazing adjacent to stairways, landings, and ramps within 36” horizontally of a walking surface when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 36” above the plane of the adjacent walking surface. Except where a handrail or guard is installed per IBC Sections 1013 & 1607.7.
Glazing adjacent to stairways within a 60” arc horizontally of the bottom tread of a stairway less than 180 degrees from the bottom tread nosing, when the exposed surface of the glass is less than 36” above the nose of the tread. Exception: When the side of the stair, landing, or ramp has a guard or handrail with balusters or in-fill panels and the plane of the glass is more than 18” from the railing.
Does the building pass your final inspection?
Confirmation
Building Inspector Full Name
Signature
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Frequently asked questions

Why is a final building inspection crucial for your organization?

A final building inspection is essential to ensure your new or renovated building meets all safety and regulatory standards before occupancy. This inspection verifies that construction has been completed according to approved plans and codes, safeguarding your organization against potential legal liabilities. By addressing any last-minute issues, you ensure a safe environment for your team and avoid costly post-occupancy modifications.

What common issues might your team encounter during a final building inspection?

During a final building inspection, your team might face issues such as incomplete installations, code violations, or safety hazards. These could include missing fire safety equipment, inadequate electrical work, or improper plumbing installations. Identifying these problems early allows your organization to rectify them before occupancy, ensuring compliance and safety. Training your team to anticipate and address these issues is key to a smooth inspection process.

How can your organization effectively prepare for a final building inspection?

To effectively prepare for a final building inspection, your organization should conduct a thorough pre-inspection review. This involves checking all systems and installations against the original plans and local building codes. Ensure that all documentation, such as permits and compliance certificates, is readily available. Engaging with a qualified inspector during this process can help identify potential issues early, allowing your team to address them proactively.

What steps should you take if issues are identified during the final inspection?

If issues are identified during the final building inspection, prompt action is crucial. Your team should first prioritize the issues based on safety and compliance urgency. Coordinate with contractors and relevant experts to address and resolve these problems swiftly. Document all corrections and communicate updates to the inspector. This approach not only ensures compliance but also facilitates a quicker approval process, allowing your organization to proceed with occupancy plans.

This template, developed by Lumiform employees, serves as a starting point for businesses using the Lumiform platform and is intended as a hypothetical example only. It does not replace professional advice. Companies should consult qualified professionals to assess the suitability and legality of using this template in their specific workplace or jurisdiction. Lumiform is not liable for any errors or omissions in this template or for any actions taken based on its content.