Stage 6 of 7 · Build
Quality: inspections, NCRs, punch lists
Inspect work against the specification, record defects and close them out.
- CoursesCourse in preparation
- Free videosNo video yet
- Output
- Inspection records, NCR log and closed punch list
- Module
- Quality, safety and compliance
- Documents
- Standards and references
What it is
Quality management on site proves that the work meets the specification before it is covered up or handed over. It is planned through inspection and test plans that state what is checked, when, by whom and against which criteria, with hold and witness points for the client. Each inspection produces a record that passes or fails the work.
When work or material does not conform, a non-conformance report records the problem, its root cause and the agreed correction. Near completion the team walks the works and lists remaining defects as a punch or snagging list, which must be closed with evidence before handover. Trends in NCRs show which processes need fixing.
Who does it
- Quality manager
- Owns the quality plan, the ITPs and audits.
- Site engineer / supervisor
- Carries out inspections and raises NCRs.
- Subcontractor
- Corrects defects and provides evidence of the fix.
- Client's inspector or Engineer
- Attends hold and witness points and verifies close-out.
How it runs
Prepare ITPs
Write an inspection and test plan for each work package with acceptance criteria and hold and witness points.
Inspect at the right time
Inspect before work is covered, using the checklist and recording results with photos.
Raise NCRs
Record non-conforming work or material, the cause and the proposed correction, and agree the disposition.
Verify the correction
Re-inspect after the fix and close the NCR with evidence.
Walk the works
List remaining defects by room or zone as a punch list with the responsible party and a photo.
Close out
Verify each item, collect sign-off and include the quality records in the handover file.
How it differs by country
- United Kingdom
- Quality requirements come from the specification or Scope, and under NEC4 the Supervisor notifies defects. For higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 requires a golden thread of information that includes evidence of what was built.
- Germany
- Works are accepted through Abnahme under VOB/B §12, and defects found are recorded in the Abnahmeprotokoll. VOB/B §13 sets the defects liability rules, with a default four-year period for building works unless otherwise agreed.
- France
- At réception, reservations are recorded following the opérations préalables à la réception (OPR). The garantie de parfait achèvement covers defects notified within one year of réception.
- United States
- AIA A201 covers tests and inspections, correction of work and a one-year correction period after substantial completion. A punch list is typically prepared at substantial completion.
- International
- ISO 9001 sets the framework for quality management systems used by many contractors. Under FIDIC 2017 the Engineer may inspect and test, and defects are remedied during the Defects Notification Period.
Common mistakes
- Inspecting after the work is covered, so it cannot be checked.
- ITPs without measurable acceptance criteria.
- Closing NCRs without re-inspection or evidence.
- Punch lists written as vague notes without location, photo or responsible party.
- Leaving snagging until the last week before handover.
- Not analysing NCR trends, so the same defect repeats on every floor.
In OpenConstructionERP
Module: Quality, safety and compliance
The Quality, safety and compliance modules cover this process. Quality Management System (QMS) unifies ITPs, inspections, NCRs, punch lists and audits with quality-cost analytics. Quality Inspections runs checklists with pass/fail workflows, and Non-Conformance Reports records root cause and corrective action. Punch List tracks snags with photo evidence and verification. Construction Control manages acceptance criteria, material passports and as-built records, and Commissioning (Cx) handles prefunctional and functional checklists and an issue log before handover.
Quality Management System (QMS) · Quality Inspections · Non-Conformance Reports · Punch List · Construction Control · Commissioning (Cx)
The app runs at openconstructionacademy.com/app for course learners.
Free videos
There is no free video on this process yet.
Courses
Course in preparation
Practise it in OpenConstructionERP
The free videos explain the process. The full course lets you run it yourself in the ERP, task by task.