Framing inspection
The framing inspection is the certifier's visit between completed frame and sheeting. Confirms spans, bracing, tie-downs, lintels match the engineering before lining.
Ask Chalkline about this →A framing inspection is the certifier’s site visit between completed frame and sheeting / lining. The certifier confirms that the structural frame matches the engineering drawings and AS 1684 before any plasterboard, cladding, or wet-area lining hides the frame. It is one of the mandatory hold-point inspections in every state’s residential building approval framework.
What gets checked:
| Check | What the certifier confirms |
|---|---|
| Stud spacing and centres | 450 / 600 mm centres per AS 1684 or engineer’s design |
| Span tables | Lintels, beams, joists within AS 1684 span limits OR engineer-specified |
| Bracing layout | Bracing units installed per plan; type and location match |
| Tie-down schedule | Hold-down connectors, hurricane ties, and uplift restraints per engineering |
| Noggings | Mid-span noggings present per AS 1684 |
| Lintels | Size and fixing per engineering or AS 1684 |
| Wet-area framing | Studs and noggings to suit waterproofing and tile substrate |
| Truss bracing | Truss tie-downs and lateral restraint per truss design |
| Service penetrations | Drilling/notching of framing within AS 1684 limits |
| WHS items | (Some jurisdictions) edge protection still in place |
When the inspection is called:
- After all framing is complete: studs, top and bottom plates, noggings, lintels, trusses or roof framing.
- Before any sheeting goes on: no plasterboard, no fibre cement, no cladding, no wet-area substrate.
- Before service rough-in penetrations are made: actually, sometimes service rough-in happens before frame inspection; check the certifier’s preferred sequence at the start of the job.
The window is tight on most builds: the chippy is keen to start sheeting; the certifier needs ~24-48 hours to attend; lining trades need to start.
Common holds at framing inspection:
| Hold | Fix |
|---|---|
| Tie-down connector missing on one stud | Install per schedule, request re-inspection |
| Wrong bracing type at one wall | Replace with correct bracing unit |
| Lintel undersized for opening | Replace lintel; structural cert may be needed |
| Truss not braced per design | Install temporary lateral restraint pending permanent bracing |
| Noggings missing or wrong centres | Add noggings |
| Stud notched beyond AS 1684 limit | Sister another stud OR replace |
| Hold-down bolt not embedded enough | Engineering signoff or rectification |
Cost and time of a hold:
- Same-day hold (minor item, fixed during inspection): zero days lost.
- Next-day hold (item fixed, re-inspection booked): 1-2 days lost.
- Engineering-required hold (structural change needed): 1-2 weeks lost.
The lost time cascades because lining trades, electrical rough-in, and plumbing rough-in are typically all booked back-to-back after frame inspection.
For builders:
- Pre-inspect with the chippy 1-2 days before the certifier visit. Walk every connection, every brace, every lintel. Fix everything visible.
- Compare the frame to the engineering drawings, not just AS 1684. Engineer-specified items override AS 1684 standards.
- Have the structural certificate, truss design, and engineer details on site. The certifier may ask to see them.
- Don’t sheet before sign-off. Sheeting before the certifier visits forces them to either pass-on-photos (rare) or fail the inspection (common). Re-opening sheeted wall is expensive.
Also known as: frame inspection, frame stage inspection, pre-sheeting inspection.
Category: Compliance / inspections / framing.
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Last updated: 2026-05-15. Verified: 2026-05-15.