Site controls
Quality assurance
Use inspection and test plans, hold points, trade checklists, samples, product verification, evidence, and defect closure throughout the build.
How to execute this stage
Micro-stage control plan
Work through each applicable step in order. A hold point means pause the dependent decision or work until the stated evidence and authorised review are complete.
01Set quality requirements from consented documents, contract, specifications, consultant requirements, warranties, and manufacturer instructionsLevel 3 · Site controls
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Set quality requirements from consented documents, contract, specifications, consultant requirements, warranties, and manufacturer instructions.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Consented drawings, Project specification, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Defect repeated. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Consented drawings is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Project specification and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the trade self-checks sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Consented drawings and Project specification.
- Check specifically for: Defect repeated.
- Avoid this known mistake: Starting quality assurance without confirming the current documents and responsibility.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed quality assurance work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Consented drawings or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Trade self-checks result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Trade self-checks and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Defect repeated
- Starting quality assurance without confirming the current documents and responsibility
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Consented drawings
- Project specification
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of quality assurance. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Assign hold/witness points and require trades to self-check before the construction manager or inspector reviews work.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
02Assign hold/witness points and require trades to self-check before the construction manager or inspector reviews workLevel 3 · Site controls
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Assign hold/witness points and require trades to self-check before the construction manager or inspector reviews work.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Shop drawings, Manufacturer requirements, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Evidence missing. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Shop drawings is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Manufacturer requirements and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the construction manager checks sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Shop drawings and Manufacturer requirements.
- Check specifically for: Evidence missing.
- Avoid this known mistake: Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed quality assurance work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Shop drawings or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Construction manager checks result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Construction manager checks and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Evidence missing
- Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Shop drawings
- Manufacturer requirements
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of quality assurance. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Track non-conformance, cause, approved remedy, reinspection, closeout evidence, recurring trends, and protection of accepted work.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
03Track non-conformance, cause, approved remedy, reinspection, closeout evidence, recurring trends, and protection of accepted workLevel 3 · Site controls
TaskCheckHold pointEvidenceRecordNext actionSimple explanation
Track non-conformance, cause, approved remedy, reinspection, closeout evidence, recurring trends, and protection of accepted work.
Technical context
Coordinate this work against Approved details, Contract quality requirements, the current consent status, and the actual site condition. Confirm interfaces before releasing dependent work.
Why it matters: The main recorded risk is: Substitution not approved. A missed check can create rework, delay, hidden defects, an inspection failure, or a departure from approved project documents.
Prerequisites
- Approved details is current, approved for the intended use, and available to the people doing the work.
- Contract quality requirements and relevant product information have been checked.
- Access, responsibility, safety controls, preceding work and the consultant/council hold points sequence are confirmed.
Checks
- Check the completed work against Approved details and Contract quality requirements.
- Check specifically for: Substitution not approved.
- Avoid this known mistake: Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence.
Evidence to save
- Wide, location-identifying and close-up photographs of the completed quality assurance work before it is concealed.
- Marked-up Approved details or a precise drawing/detail reference.
- Consultant/council hold points result, consultant record, trade QA record or written not-applicable reason.
Hold point
Do not cover, backfill, load, connect, certify or release the next activity until Consultant/council hold points and the required project evidence are complete or the authorised reviewer confirms what may proceed.
Stop or escalate when
- Substitution not approved
- Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence
- The current drawing, approval, competent reviewer or required evidence cannot be confirmed.
Documents and records
- Approved details
- Contract quality requirements
- Current RFI/site-instruction/change record
- Inspection and evidence register
- Cost effect
- Rectification, reinspection, delay, damaged follow-on work, access loss and changed scope can increase the cost of quality assurance. Record the cause and obtain written pricing before approving a commercial change.
- Programme effect
- This activity controls the release of dependent work. Update the lookahead programme and notify affected trades if the hold point, information, inspection or evidence is not ready.
Next action
Close the quality assurance stage, link its evidence, resolve outstanding defects and release only the next applicable stage.
Applicability: Apply when this work package is included in the current project scope. Confirm project-specific consent, contract, design, site and authority requirements.
Use the current consented/issued project documents and competent site review. BuildPath does not approve work.
Trade-to-trade control
Interfaces and release gates
Use the actual consented design, specification and authorised reviewers. These controls help expose gaps; they do not approve work.
Trade completion, inspection and handover evidence
Prerequisites
- • Trade defects and outstanding tests are visible in the registers
- • Consent/contract/authority deliverables have named owners
- • The current drawing, variation and product records are reconciled
Interface checks
- • A reported completion is not treated as verified without evidence
- • Failed inspections and defects link to corrective work and re-check
- • Handover/CCC files identify missing, submitted, accepted and not-applicable items separately
Evidence before release
- • Closed inspection and defect records
- • As-builts, certificates, warranties and Records of Work
- • Dated handover/CCC index with source and review status
Next team: Owner, facilities/maintenance contact or defects team
Open the related Workspace control →What happens in this stage
- Set quality requirements from consented documents, contract, specifications, consultant requirements, warranties, and manufacturer instructions.
- Assign hold/witness points and require trades to self-check before the construction manager or inspector reviews work.
- Track non-conformance, cause, approved remedy, reinspection, closeout evidence, recurring trends, and protection of accepted work.
Before work starts
- Confirm the latest issued-for-construction and consented documents for quality assurance are on site, including Consented drawings.
- Check Project specification, approved product data, RFIs, minor variations, and amendment status before work starts.
- Confirm the subcontractor understands the scope, hold points, access, protection requirements, H&S controls, and quality evidence required.
- Check the programme sequence so this stage does not start before earlier work, inspections, testing, or concealed-work photos are complete.
- Confirm materials delivered to site match the specification, are dry/undamaged, and are stored according to manufacturer instructions.
During the work
- Walk the work face early, mid-shift, and before close-up. Compare actual work with the consented drawings, specification, and manufacturer details.
- Check set-out, levels, falls, clearances, penetrations, fixings, bracing, waterproofing, or protection points that will be difficult to see later.
- Ask trades to show their own quality checks rather than only saying the work is complete.
- Keep weather, site condition, delivery, delay, inspection, RFI, variation, and safety notes in the daily report.
- Photograph any work before it is covered, backfilled, lined, clad, tiled, painted, or otherwise hidden.
After the work
- Complete a close-out walk with the subcontractor and mark defects immediately while access is still available.
- Confirm required inspection bookings, council results, producer statements, LBP Records of Work, warranties, test certificates, or installer declarations are obtained.
- Update as-built notes where service routes, drainage, fixings, penetrations, or dimensions differ from the design.
- Confirm the area is protected from weather, other trades, impact damage, contamination, or premature loading.
- Update the lookahead programme and tell affected trades what is ready, what is blocked, and what must not be covered.
Common problems and step-by-step solutions
Quality assurance information is incomplete or conflicting
- 1Stop the affected quality assurance activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Quality assurance is not ready when the programme requires it
- 1Stop the affected quality assurance activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Quality assurance evidence or approval cannot be located
- 1Stop the affected quality assurance activity if continuing could hide defective work, create unsafe work, or move away from the consented design.
- 2Photograph the condition from wide, medium, and close-up angles. Include a tape, level, datum mark, gridline, or drawing reference where useful.
- 3Check the latest consented architectural, structural, civil, services, and specification documents before giving an instruction.
- 4Ask the subcontractor to explain the cause, proposed fix, timing impact, and whether the fix changes consented work.
- 5Escalate to the builder/project manager, designer, engineer, council inspector, or client when the fix affects structure, weathertightness, drainage, H1, fire/safety, cost, programme, or consent.
- 6Record the decision, responsible person, drawing/RFI/variation reference, photos, and follow-up inspection in the daily report.
Verification
Source / where to check
Use current official information and the controlled documents for the actual project.
The issued consent drawings, stamped specifications, engineering drawings, RFIs, minor variations, and amendments control the specific project.
Use the exact current installation manual, warranty requirements, BRANZ/Appraisal information where applicable, and product data sheet for the product on site.
MBIE guidance explains that work should be built to the issued building consent, inspections must be managed, and records/certificates should be kept for CCC.
The issued consent drawings, stamped specifications, engineering drawings, RFIs, minor variations, and amendments control the specific project.
Use the exact current installation manual, warranty requirements, BRANZ/Appraisal information where applicable, and product data sheet for the product on site.
Insufficient data to verify — confirm against the current consented drawings, specifications, Auckland Council requirements, Auckland Unitary Plan, NZ Building Code, relevant NZ Standard, consultant advice, manufacturer instructions, insurance broker, insurer, lender, lawyer, accountant or project contract.
Project-specific consented documents and professional advice override generic guidance.
Common inspections required
- Trade self-checks
- Construction manager checks
- Consultant/council hold points
Common risks
- Defect repeated
- Evidence missing
- Substitution not approved
- Accepted work damaged by later trade
Common mistakes
- Starting quality assurance without confirming the current documents and responsibility
- Relying on a verbal answer without recording the source, decision, owner, and due date
- Allowing the next activity to hide incomplete checks or missing evidence
Required documentation
- Latest consented drawings and specifications
- Relevant RFIs, site instructions, amendments, minor variations, and variation approvals
- Subcontractor scope, QA checklist, delivery dockets, product data, and installation records
- Inspection booking/result records and photos before cover-up
- Daily site report notes covering labour, weather, progress, delays, risks, and decisions
Photos or diagrams needed
- Wide photo showing where quality assurance is happening on the site
- Close-up photos of critical details, fixings, laps, seals, penetrations, clearances, levels, or falls
- Photo of product labels, batch numbers, delivery dockets, and installer marks where relevant
- Marked-up drawing or simple diagram showing any changed location, clash, defect, or agreed remedial detail
Construction manager checklist
- 1Scope, drawings, specification, product data, and latest revision confirmed
- 2Trade briefed on hold points, tolerances to verify, evidence required, and inspection sequence
- 3Access, storage, protection, temporary works, and safety controls in place
- 4Work checked against drawings during installation, not only at completion
- 5Photos and records captured before work is concealed
- 6Defects, RFIs, delays, and variations recorded with owner and due date
- 7Inspection/producer statement/warranty/Record of Work requirements tracked for CCC
Questions to ask the subcontractor
- Which drawing, detail, or manufacturer instruction are you working from?
- What needs to be checked before this is covered or handed to the next trade?
- What could stop you today: weather, access, materials, information, inspections, or other trades?
- Does anything on site differ from the drawings or specification?
- What evidence will you provide for the quality file and CCC file?
Red flags to stop work
- Work differs from consented drawings or specification and no approved variation/RFI exists
- A structural, weathertightness, waterproofing, drainage, fire/safety, or H1 detail is unclear
- The trade wants to cover work before inspection, testing, or photos are complete
- Specified materials are missing, substituted, damaged, wet, expired, or installed outside manufacturer instructions
- A safety control is missing for excavation, heights, plant movement, electrical work, asbestos, silica, or public protection
What to record in the daily report
- Exact location and quantity of work completed
- Trade headcount, company names, plant used, deliveries, and material batch/product details
- Weather, site conditions, delays, instructions received, RFIs raised, and inspections booked/passed/failed
- Photos taken before cover-up and any defects or non-conformances found
- Next-day lookahead, blockers, and who is responsible for each action
Use this in my project
Turn quality assurance into controlled action
Open the relevant workspace register, create the project-specific record, link the controlling documents and preserve evidence. The guide does not automatically approve or verify the action.