Good practice guidelines for the inspection of construction work in Quebec

Purpose and scope
This guide deals with good inspection practices in the Quebec building construction sector, and is intended for professionals in the trade and project initiators wishing to expand their knowledge.

This guide will enable the Quebec construction industry to provide a better framework for practices to ensure the prevention of problems that may have been detected before the building work was completed. This guide will complement the forces already in place in the professional orders (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ), Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec (OTPQ)) and Garantie de construction résidentielle du Québec (GCR). The best practice guide will contain a building site supervision plan based on three inspection interventions that will now be carried out at key stages of construction for residential buildings: 
A first inspection before the walls are closed, to target electrical, heating, piping and plumbing components;

A second complete “360-degree” inspection during construction;

A third complete inspection before delivery of the property.

For institutional, commercial and industrial buildings, the guide will contain recommendations for the development of a project-specific monitoring plan designed to maintain a uniform standard of quality.

For each of the interventions listed above, a checklist will be associated with each inspection phase:

Inspection of work quality and compliance with plans, specifications and standards

Inspection of structural elements

Inspection of insulation and ventilation

Inspection of edible materials

Field tests and material sampling

Inspection of paints and coatings

Review and execution of change orders

Inspection of delivered materials

Maintenance of an inspection logbook

The good practice guide will cover the following seven areas:

Building structure

Substructure

Hoisting equipment

Building mechanics

Electrical systems

Exterior envelope

Interior systems

The guide will exclude instructions on methods and means of carrying out inspection points, as well as the management of non-conformities during inspection.