We’ve recently looked in detail at what happens before a QCP project inspection, and the five different categories of inspection. In this article, we explore what to expect during the inspection process.
Inspection Scheduling
Once a QCP inspector receives an inspection notice, s/he will make contact with the woodworker to let them know that s/he is responsible for doing the inspection. The inspector will also request shop drawings and the project schedule. The woodworker is responsible for scheduling the required inspections and coordinating with the QCP representative. QCP needs 14-days’ notice to schedule an inspection – and the further ahead the better, as it helps to keep your costs down.
When Should an Inspection Take Place?
As a general rule for both fabrication and installation, a minimum of 75% of the project should be completed or installed prior to inspection. Key factors which help you know when you’re ready for inspection is whether or not there is a wide cross-section of items from the project scope available to inspect. For example, if you have laminated cabinets, laminated countertops, wood casework, and wood paneling in your project scope, each of these items should be available for inspection. Phased projects can also be accommodated with notice – just let QCP know that it’s happening and we can allow for it as long as we know in advance.
What Items Will be Inspected?
For fabrication, QCP will inspect:
- Machined parts for joinery review against standards and specifications
- The assembled product to verify fit and alignment
- For wood, we need to see the finished product for finish evaluation
For installation, we will inspect:
- Fully installed millwork including final adjustments – if it is not finished, it cannot be inspected
Virtual Project Inspections
QCP has recently implemented Virtual Project Inspection (VPI) technology to remotely inspect projects across the US as well as around the world. This technology uses video sharing software so that one person who is on-site can be directed to show video of the architectural woodwork products in real-time as the QCP Inspector views and directs.
The recorded video can be reviewed multiple times after the live inspection and it provides flexibility in scheduling along with eliminating the travel expenses of a traditional inspection.
Read our virtual project inspection case study to find out how beneficial a virtual inspection can be.
What Happens if a Project Schedule Changes?
If the project schedule changes and you don’t have a sufficient amount of the product available at the time of inspection, the project may require re-inspection. The costs of this are the woodworker’s responsibility. If you think you may need to postpone an inspection, let QCP know in plenty of time as it’s always better to cancel or postpone than go ahead with the inspection. The costs are $250 if an inspection is canceled or postponed less than seven calendar days but more than 48 hours before the scheduled date and time, and $500 if it’s within 48 hours.
On the other hand, if the general contractor requests for the millwork to be installed more quickly than originally planned and you have to advance the fabrication schedule, first and foremost, QCP should never be used as a reason to delay a project. You should notify your inspector or the QCP Inspections Manager and they will try to accommodate the change. This may result in a “modified certificate” where the project is certified but QCP has not been able to view the fabrication to determine its conformance.
Find out what happens after a project has been inspected here.
