Structural · 11 checks

Steel Fixing / Reinforcement
QA inspection checklist

Reinforcement fixing quality audit, bar schedule, cover and pre-pour sign-off.

Every check below carries what good looks like, when it passes, the standard it comes from and the defects that usually fail it. That guidance is what turns a tick-box into an inspection.

Bar Schedule & Materials

  1. 1.
    Reinforcement matches the bar bending schedule to BS 8666
    What to look forBar marks on site match the schedule: diameter, shape code, length and bend dimensions. Schedule references the latest drawing revision. Bundles tagged and traceable to the schedule.
    Acceptable whenBar shapes and dimensions per BS 8666:2020 shape codes, bending tolerance per the standard for the bar size. Schedule matches the current IFC drawing revision, no superseded issues on site.
    StandardBS 8666:2020, Scheduling, dimensioning, bending and cutting of steel reinforcement. BS 4449:2005+A3:2016, Steel for reinforcement.
    Common defectsSuperseded schedule revision usedBar diameter substituted without engineer approvalBend dimensions outside toleranceBundles not tagged, unclear which schedule they relate to
  2. 2.
    Reinforcement grade and mill certificates traceable
    What to look forBar carries correct rolled-in identification marks for grade (typically B500B or B500C) and manufacturer. Mill certificates or CARES certification available and traceable to the delivery.
    Acceptable whenSteel to BS 4449, CARES certified. Certificates match the cast/batch on site. Ductility class (B500B general use, B500C for ductility-critical detailing) matches the specification.
    StandardBS 4449:2005+A3:2016. BS EN 10080. CARES scheme requirements.
    Common defectsNo CARES certification availableWrong ductility class for the detailing shown on drawingCertificates not traceable to the delivered batchRolled-in marks illegible or missing
  3. 3.
    Bar surface free from loose rust scale, oil or contamination
    What to look forLight surface rust is acceptable; loose scale, flaking rust, oil, grease, paint or mud that would prevent bond must be removed before fixing or before the pour.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 13670 and BS 8666: bar surface condition must not impair bond or reduce cross-sectional area below the schedule requirement. Loose rust removed by wire brush; badly corroded bar rejected.
    StandardBS EN 13670:2009, Execution of concrete structures. BS 8666:2020.
    Common defectsBar stored directly on ground, contaminated with mudOil or shutter release agent on bar from adjacent formworkHeavy pitting/section loss on stored bar not identifiedLoose scale not removed before pour
  4. 4.
    Cover to reinforcement maintained with spacers to BS 7973
    Record: Cover (mm)
    What to look forSpacers and chairs at the centres and type shown on the drawing, correct for the element (wall, slab, foundation) and exposure class. Cover checked with a cover meter or direct measurement before the pour.
    Acceptable whenCover per the structural drawing and BS 8500 exposure class, typically 25-50 mm depending on exposure. Spacers to BS 7973-1 (plastic) or BS 7973-2 (fibre-reinforced) at maximum centres per the standard, no bar resting directly on formwork or blinding.
    StandardBS 7973-1:2001 / BS 7973-2:2001, Spacers and chairs for reinforcement. BS 8500-1:2023. BS EN 13670.
    Common defectsBar sitting directly on blinding with no spacerSpacer centres too wide, bar sags below coverWrong spacer type for exposure classCover meter reading not recorded
  5. 5.
    Lap lengths and anchorage correct per drawing
    Record: Lap length (mm)
    What to look forLap lengths measured against the drawing/schedule, laps staggered where required, anchorage into supports meets the detailed length. No laps in high-stress zones unless specifically detailed.
    Acceptable whenLap and anchorage lengths per the structural drawing, calculated to BS EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2) bar diameter multiples. Laps staggered by the percentage shown on the drawing, not all in the same section.
    StandardBS EN 1992-1-1:2004+A1:2014 (Eurocode 2). BS 8666:2020.
    Common defectsLaps shorter than scheduledAll laps in the same cross-section instead of staggeredAnchorage into support shorter than detailedLap positioned in a zone where the drawing prohibits it

Fixing, Cover & Pre-Pour

  1. 6.
    Projecting starter bars and dowels capped or protected
    What to look forRebar caps or proprietary protection fitted to every projecting bar before other trades work in the area. Caps checked for damage or displacement.
    Acceptable whenNo exposed projecting bar left unprotected where personnel could fall onto it, per CDM Regulations 2015 and HSE guidance. Caps in place at all times other than during the immediate fixing operation.
    StandardCDM Regulations 2015. HSE guidance on protection from projecting reinforcement.
    Common defectsCaps missing or displacedBars left uncapped overnightCap size wrong for bar diameter, falls offNo daily check of cap condition
  2. 7.
    Reinforcement tied securely at all intersections
    What to look forTie wire at every intersection or per the schedule, no loose or missing ties that would allow the cage to move during the pour. Cage rigid enough to walk on without deforming, where access is required.
    Acceptable whenTying per BS 8666 and good practice, sufficient to hold the reinforcement in position during concreting and vibration. No displacement of bars during a hand-check push test.
    StandardBS 8666:2020. BS EN 13670:2009.
    Common defectsTies missing at corners and laps where movement risk is highestCage flexes excessively when walked onTie wire ends left projecting into cover zoneBars visibly out of position compared to the drawing
  3. 8.
    Bar position, spacing and orientation match the drawing
    What to look forBar centres, layers (top/bottom mat), orientation and any openings/penetrations match the structural drawing. Any site changes, for example to accommodate a service, are marked up and referred to the engineer.
    Acceptable whenAs-fixed reinforcement matches the IFC drawing within the tolerances in BS EN 13670. Any deviation reviewed and approved by the structural engineer before the pour, recorded on the inspection sheet.
    StandardBS EN 13670:2009 Table 6, Permitted deviations. BS 8666:2020.
    Common defectsBar spacing wider than drawing to save materialTop and bottom mats reversedPenetration cut through main reinforcement without engineer approvalNo record of a site change made to accommodate services
  4. 9.
    Working mats and edge protection maintained over voids and at height
    What to look forCrawling boards or working mats over open voids while fixing. Edge protection maintained on walls, columns and slab edges where fixers are working at height.
    Acceptable whenNo fixer working over an unprotected void or unprotected edge at height, per the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Mats/boards rated for the load and inspected before use.
    StandardWork at Height Regulations 2005. BS EN 13670:2009.
    Common defectsNo working mat over an open voidEdge protection removed to make fixing easier and not reinstatedBoards not rated for the load, flex excessivelyNo inspection of the working platform before use
  5. 10.
    Pre-pour inspection completed and signed off before concrete arrives
    What to look forFormal pre-pour inspection covering cover, spacing, cleanliness, fixings, cast-in items and formwork. Inspection signed by the site engineer or client's representative before the pour is authorised.
    Acceptable whenSigned pre-pour inspection record held before concrete is ordered, covering every item on the checklist, per BS EN 13670. No pour proceeds against an outstanding non-conformance.
    StandardBS EN 13670:2009 cl.8, Inspection. Project quality plan.
    Common defectsPour started before sign-off receivedInspection checklist incompleteNon-conformance noted but not closed out before pourNo record retained for the completion file
  6. 11.
    Execution complies with the specified execution class
    What to look forReinforcement fixing tolerances and inspection level match the execution class stated on the drawing or specification (typically Execution Class 2). Inspection frequency and record-keeping match that class.
    Acceptable whenExecution class per BS EN 13670 Annex A/B matched to the structural design, inspection level and tolerance class applied consistently across the element.
    StandardBS EN 13670:2009 Annex A/B, Execution classes and tolerances.
    Common defectsExecution class not identified on site documentationTolerances checked against the wrong classInspection level lower than specifiedNo link between design execution class and site QA records

Questions people ask

What is a steel fixing / reinforcement QA inspection for?

To record that the work was checked against the specification before it was covered up or handed over: a pass or fail against each item, a measurement where one matters, and a photo where it failed. It is the evidence a client's quantity surveyor or clerk of works asks for, and the thing that settles the argument at final account.

What standards does this checklist check against?

Each item names its reference. On this checklist that includes BS 8666:2020, BS 4449:2005+A3:2016. BS EN 10080. CARES scheme requirements., BS EN 13670:2009, BS 7973-1:2001 / BS 7973-2:2001, BS EN 1992-1-1:2004+A1:2014 (Eurocode 2). BS 8666:2020., CDM Regulations 2015. HSE guidance on protection from projecting reinforcement.. The contract specification and the approved drawings always take precedence over a general standard; where they say something stricter, inspect to that.

Who signs a QA inspection off?

The person who carried out the check, named and dated, and where the contract calls for it the client's representative as a witness. The signature records that the check was done and what was found. It is not a warranty of the work.

How many items are on it, and do I have to use them all?

11 checks across 2 sections. Delete what does not apply to the job and add anything the specification asks for that is not here. A checklist that has plainly been thought about carries more weight than a long one nobody read.

Is this useful for a subcontractor as well as a main contractor?

More so. The subcontractor is the one who gets asked to come back and open something up. A signed inspection sheet with photos at the time is the cheapest insurance on a construction site.

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