Inspection sequence in Pittsburgh, PA

When: After tear-off and underlayment, before any covering goes down

• Deck condition, re-nailing pattern and replacement of rotted sheathing
• Underlayment type and lap, plus secondary water barrier where required
• Valley, eave and rake flashing and drip edge
• Penetration boots and counter-flashing at walls and chimneys

Most common fail: Shingles already loaded and partially laid over the dry-in, so the inspector cannot verify the deck or fastening.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: Combined with dry-in in most jurisdictions; separate in high-wind areas

• Deck fastener size, pattern and edge spacing against the approved detail
• Product approval or evaluation-report numbers matching what is installed

Most common fail: Installed fastener does not match the number listed on the application's product approval.

Have on site: Product approval / evaluation report printouts for the installed system

When: After the covering, ridge vent and all flashing are complete

• Complete covering with correct exposure and starter course
• Ventilation net free area, ridge and off-ridge vents
• Site cleaned of nails and debris

Most common fail: Open penetrations or missing pipe boots on a roof otherwise complete.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: Only when ducts, refrigerant lines or gas piping are opened or concealed

• Duct support, sealing and R-value of new runs
• Refrigerant line-set insulation and penetration sealing
• Gas line sizing and pressure test where applicable

Most common fail: Concealed duct closed in before the call, requiring re-opening the ceiling.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After the equipment is set, charged and running

• Equipment model and serial matching the permit and AHRI match on the application
• Condensate primary and secondary drain, trap, and float switch
• Disconnect within sight of the unit, correct breaker and whip size
• Pad, hurricane straps or seismic anchorage per the local amendment
• Return air path, filter access and thermostat operation

Most common fail: Secondary condensate protection missing on an attic air handler, or the AHRI numbers on the permit not matching the tags on the equipment.

Have on site: Equipment invoice, AHRI certificate and load calculation when tonnage changed

When: Before any trench is backfilled or slab is poured

• DWV layout, slope and pipe material
• Under-slab lines under head or air test with the gauge holding
• Sleeving at slab penetrations

Most common fail: Test gauge already bled off when the inspector arrives.

Have on site: Test gauge under pressure, trenches open

When: After walls are piped and vented, before drywall

• Water and DWV piping, hangers and nail plates at studs
• Vent sizing and termination path
• Water system pressure test

Most common fail: Missing nail plates where pipe passes within 1-1/4" of a stud face.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After fixtures are set and the system is live

• Fixture flow rates, trap arms and cleanout access
• Water heater T&P discharge routing, expansion tank, pan and drain
• Backflow prevention and hose-bibb vacuum breakers

Most common fail: Water heater T&P line terminated in the pan or turned up instead of run to an approved point of discharge.

Have on site: Water heater data plate accessible

When: After boxes and cable are in, before insulation and drywall

• Box fill, cable staples and support within 8" of boxes
• Nail plates, AFCI/GFCI circuit layout and grounding
• Panel feed and conductor sizing

Most common fail: Insulation already installed over the wiring, hiding staples and box fill.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: On a service change, before the utility reconnects

• Grounding electrode system and bonding at the water service
• Service conductor and main breaker sizing against the load calculation
• Meter height, weatherhead, and clearances from openings

Most common fail: Utility not scheduled in parallel, leaving the home off power overnight after a passed inspection.

Have on site: Signed load calculation and the utility work-order number

When: After devices, fixtures and the panel schedule are complete

• Panel directory legible and complete, dead front in place
• GFCI and AFCI operation tested at devices
• Smoke and CO alarm interconnection and placement
• Working clearance in front of the panel

Most common fail: Handwritten or missing panel directory after a panel change.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After the unit is set and fastened, before stucco, siding or interior trim

• Fastener type, length and spacing against the installation instructions
• Buck attachment and shim placement at anchor points
• Sill pan, flashing lap and sealant continuity
• Design-pressure label still on the unit

Most common fail: Manufacturer labels removed before inspection, so the design pressure cannot be verified against the opening schedule.

Have on site: Manufacturer installation instructions and product approval for each unit

When: After trim, sealant and interior finish are complete

• Egress size at bedrooms, safety glazing at hazardous locations
• Operation, locking hardware and weather sealing

Most common fail: A replacement bedroom window that no longer meets minimum egress clear opening.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After housewrap and flashing, before the cladding covers it

• WRB lap direction and continuity, seam taping
• Window and door head, jamb and sill flashing integration
• Lath and fastener spacing on stucco assemblies

Most common fail: Reverse-lapped housewrap above openings, found only after cladding is removed.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After cladding, trim and sealant are complete

• Clearance to grade, roof and horizontal surfaces
• Fastener pattern and expansion gaps per the manufacturer
• Penetration sealing at fixtures and vents

Most common fail: No EPA Lead-Safe RRP documentation available on a pre-1978 home when the inspector asks.

Have on site: RRP certification and containment record on pre-1978 homes

When: After gutters, downspouts and leaders are complete

• Hanger spacing and slope to outlet
• Discharge point at least the required distance from the foundation
• No discharge routed onto a neighboring lot or public walk

Most common fail: Downspout discharging over the property line, triggering a drainage review.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: After structural framing and before rough trades are concealed

• Headers, beams, posts and load path to foundation
• Notching and boring limits at joists and studs
• Fireblocking and draftstopping
• Shear panel nailing and hold-downs where engineered

Most common fail: A wall removed as non-bearing that the plans examiner reads as bearing, with no engineered header detail.

Have on site: Approved plans plus any engineer's letter for altered structure

When: Mechanical, plumbing and electrical rough, before insulation

• Each trade's rough items with the permit for that trade posted
• Penetrations sealed and nail plates in place

Most common fail: One trade's separate permit never pulled, voiding the whole call.

Have on site: All trade permits posted together

When: After rough trades pass, before drywall

• R-values against the energy code compliance path filed
• Air sealing at top plates, rim joists and penetrations

Most common fail: Compressed batts behind wiring and boxes, reading below the filed R-value.

Have on site: Energy compliance form filed with the permit

When: After all finishes and trade finals

• Egress, guards, handrails and stair geometry
• Smoke and CO alarms, safety glazing
• Ventilation for bath and kitchen exhaust

Most common fail: Bath fan ducted into the attic instead of to the exterior.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: Trench open, steel set, before concrete

• Footing width, depth and bearing soil
• Rebar size, lap and cover; anchor bolt layout
• Setbacks and the surveyed form location

Most common fail: Concrete trucks scheduled ahead of the call and the pour started early.

Have on site: Form survey and approved plans

When: After sheathing, roof dry-in and rough trades are in place

• Load path, connectors, straps and hold-downs
• Fireblocking, draftstopping and shear nailing
• Roof and wall sheathing fastener pattern

Most common fail: Missing hurricane or seismic connectors called out on the engineered sheet.

Have on site: Truss package and engineering on site

When: Mechanical, plumbing and electrical rough, before insulation

• Each trade rough item with its own permit posted
• Penetration sealing

Most common fail: One sub's permit not pulled, so no trade rough can be signed.

Have on site: All trade permits and current sub license numbers

When: After rough trades pass, before drywall

• R-values and air sealing against the filed energy path
• Duct leakage testing where required

Most common fail: Duct blower test not scheduled, holding the drywall crew.

Have on site: Energy compliance and duct test report

When: After all finishes and every trade final has passed

• Life-safety items: alarms, egress, guards, handrails
• Address numbers, grading and drainage away from the structure
• All sub-permits closed out

Most common fail: An open trade permit no one closed, blocking the certificate of occupancy.

Have on site: Approved permit card posted and visible from the street, with the approved plan set on site

When: Before any structure is touched

• Written gas, electric, water and sewer disconnect confirmations
• Sewer cap location and inspection
• Asbestos survey and, where positive, the abatement clearance
• Erosion control, fencing and rodent abatement

Most common fail: Asbestos survey not attached, which stops demolition regardless of the permit.

Have on site: Utility disconnect letters and the asbestos survey

When: After the structure is removed and the site is backfilled

• Basement or foundation removal and clean backfill
• Site graded and stabilized, no standing water
• Debris hauled and disposal tickets available

Most common fail: Foundation walls left in place below grade when full removal was permitted.

Have on site: Disposal tickets