What goes in a fabrication ITP (AS/NZS 5131 projects)
Plain-English guide to inspection and test plans for structural steel fabrication on AS/NZS 5131 jobs: hold and witness points, typical activities and the records builders ask for.
On structural steel jobs specified to AS/NZS 5131 (Structural steelwork – Fabrication and erection), the builder or engineer will usually ask the fabricator for an Inspection and Test Plan (ITP) and a set of quality records before they accept the steel. This page explains the idea in plain English. It doesn't reproduce the standard, so buy AS/NZS 5131 and read the job specification for the actual requirements.
What an ITP is
An ITP is a table of every inspection or test activity on the job, in order. For each activity it shows what is checked, against which document or criteria, who checks it, what record is produced, and what kind of point it is:
- Hold point (H): work stops until the nominated person checks and releases it.
- Witness point (W): the client or engineer is notified and can attend, but work can go on if they don't.
- Review (R) or surveillance (S): records are reviewed, or there are spot checks.
Activities that typically appear
The Australian Steel Institute's standard steelwork drawing notes list an ITP as required for each of these items:
- Materials and components
- Preparation and assembly
- Welding
- Mechanical fastening
- Surface treatment
- Paint coatings
- Galvanized coatings
- Erection
Construction category drives the effort
AS/NZS 5131 uses construction categories CC1 to CC4. The designer works them out from the importance level, service category and fabrication category, and they can differ for different parts of a structure. Higher categories mean more inspection. Check the drawings or specification for the CC before you build the ITP.
Records builders commonly ask for
ASI's steelwork compliance management plan template lists checks and records such as:
- Mill test certificates, reviewed when material is delivered
- Approval of the welding procedure specification (WPS), and welder qualifications
- Fit-up checks and visual weld inspection, plus NDT where specified
- Coating checks, including dry film thickness (DFT) measurements
- Non-conformance reports (NCRs) and how each was closed out
- Pre-delivery inspection
Want more detail?
The ASI publishes a guidance note on building an ITP that satisfies AS/NZS 5131 §13. It's sold through its book shop and is free to member companies.
Sources
- Australian Steel Institute – Structural steelwork standard drawing notes v1.0
- Australian Steel Institute – Steelwork compliance management plan v1.0
- Australian Steel Institute – Building an ITP that satisfies AS/NZS 5131 §13 (guidance note)
Related guides
- Structural steel cut list basics: steel weight per metre formulas
- Welding tickets in Australia: what builders actually ask for
General information only, summarised from the official sources above as at the review date. It isn't legal, tax, WHS or engineering advice. Rules change and your situation may differ, so check the source or ask a professional.