Framing Inspections

Framing Inspection: Interior and exterior walls should be constructed according to the type of material used as specified in the state building code. The framing inspection should be made after all electrical, plumbing, and mechanical rough-in has been inspected and all ducts, chimneys, hold-downs and shear walls are installed and framing is complete. Pre-assembled walls must be ICC listed. The manufacturer must comply with ICC’s quality control requirements, continuing to keep the wall assemblies listed, as long as the wall assemblies are used in new construction. Either the manufacturer of the pre-assembled walls or the contractor using them must provide the authorized inspector with a copy of the third-party evaluation report on the wall assembly. The authorized inspector must verify that each wall assembly is, at a minimum, stamped with: 1) the name and address of the manufacturer and 2) the third-party evaluation report number.

What is Involved in Framing Inspections ?

A Certified Building Code Official reviews the assembly of the structural members for compliance with the building permit drawings and the Ontario Building Code. The following is a list of the 17 major areas that are inspected.

• Columns and Beams
• Anchorage of building frames
• Floor joists
• Fire separation, collapse and reduction
• Headers and trimmer joists
• Glue-laminated beams
• Support of walls and Wall studs
• Lintels and Windows
• Spans-joists, rafters and beams
• Intermediate support for rafters and joists
• Roof sheathing and Roof spaces-ventilation
• Wood roof trusses
• Fire stopping
• Fire separation between dwelling units
• Firewalls and Egress and travel limit
• Above-grade masonry and Stairs
• Ceramic tile reinforcement

The construction progress, including Building Code deficiencies, are documented on a Field Inspection
Report issued by the building inspector immediately after the site inspection.

Roof Truss Inspections

Essentially, roof trusses create a roof’s frame. They determine the shape of the roof and ceiling, while providing support for the roof. Trusses are pre-engineered in a factory using lightweight materials, like 2x4s, and are shipped to the construction site. ( the Fink Truss design is most common for homes ) Trusses consist of three main parts:

1. Top chords
2. Bottom chords (also known as I-joists, or ceiling joists)
3. Webbing/posts

An advantage of truss systems is that they distribute the weight of the roof onto the exterior walls of the house, not the interior walls. With few to no interior load-bearing walls, home developers can easily create the wildly popular open-concept living spaces. 

Some helpful guides and check list for Home Framing Inspections

Framing Inspection Guide

Framing Inspection Check List