WHY INSPECTIONS ARE MORE THAN JUST CHECKPOINTS
Mandatory inspections are a standard part of the building process.
They are often seen as checkpoints that need to be passed before work can continue.
They are, but in practice, they play a much more important role.
They are opportunities to identify issues early, while they are still manageable.
Across a residential project, inspections typically occur at three key stages:
Pre-Slab /Slab Steel / Footings.
Each stage focuses on a different aspect of the build, but together they provide a structured approach to ensuring compliance from start to finish.
At Deemed to Perform, we see these stages not just as requirements, but as key points where projects either stay on track or begin to drift.
SLAB STAGE: GETTING THE FOUNDATIONS RIGHT
The slab stage is the first major inspection point.
At this stage, the focus is on set-out, footings and preparation. Ensuring that the building is positioned correctly and that the structural base aligns with approved documentation.
Typical checks include founding depths, edge dimensions, reinforcement, slab preparation and compliance with engineering drawings.
The issues we see most often are small misalignments.
- Incorrect founding depths
- Set outs that do not match approved plans.
- Reinforcement that is not installed exactly as detailed.
- Work completed before inspection has been called.
Once the slab is poured, these issues become significantly harder to resolve.
This is why getting this stage right is so important.
It’s important to note that these inspections are not just for slab projects, but relate to all types of foundations and footings, including retaining wall footings, pad footings and strip footings.
FRAME STAGE: WHERE STRUCTURE BECOMES VISIBLE
The frame stage is one of the most critical inspections in the process.
It focuses on the structural framework of the building before it is enclosed.
At this point, bracing, tie-down systems and structural connections are reviewed to ensure they align with engineering requirements.
What we often see here is not a design issue, but an execution issue.
Bracing installed incorrectly.
Connections missing or incomplete.
Variations from approved documentation.
If not addressed at this stage, these issues can delay progress and require rework before the project can move forward.
COMPLETION STAGE: EVERYTHING COMES TOGETHER
The completion stage is the final inspection before occupancy.
At this point, the expectation is that the building is complete and fully compliant.
Checks include overall alignment with approved documentation, safety elements, finishes and final installations.
The issues we see here are rarely new.
They are usually the result of earlier gaps.
Incomplete items.
Minor misalignments.
Assumptions that something is compliant without verification.
Even small issues can delay final sign-off and occupancy.
WHAT WE SEE ACROSS ALL STAGES
Looking across the above stages, a consistent pattern emerges.
It is rarely major failures that cause problems –
It is small gaps.
Individually, they may not seem significant.
But as the project progresses, they compound.
What could have been addressed early becomes more difficult to fix later.
A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO APPROACH INSPECTIONS
At Deemed to Perform, the focus is not just on passing inspections.
It is on being prepared for them.
That means ensuring documentation is clear, construction aligns with approved plans, and each stage is ready before inspection is called. Any variations to the approved design should be discussed and approved prior to calling for an inspection.
Because inspections are not just a requirement.
They are an opportunity to keep the project on track.
📞 hello@deemedtoperform.com.au | 0404 300 268
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