I'm going to do something unusual for a building inspector.
I'm giving you my complete Steel Frame checklist — the same category-by-category framework I run through on every steel-frame home I inspect. The exact list I use on my iPad on site when I'm walking your framed home before the sheeting goes on.
Why? Because a steel frame is a load-path system. Every screw, every bracket, every tie-down bolt is doing a specific job — either holding the frame together or transferring wind loads from the roof to the slab. Miss one connection and the load path breaks. You won't feel it in fine weather. You will feel it in a storm.
This is a long guide. Bookmark it. Take it to site before your builder sends the frame-stage progress claim. If you spot 3+ items on this list wrong or missing — book an independent inspection before you sign anything.
📋 Free printable checklist: Download the Steel Frame Inspection checklist (PDF) — every red flag from this guide on a single page you can print and take on site. No email required.
What "Steel Frame Stage" Actually Means
Frame stage is the inspection window after the wall frames and roof trusses are installed and braced, but BEFORE:
- Wall sheeting goes on
- Cladding is installed
- Sarking is wrapped
- Roof battens and sheets are laid
- Insulation is installed
At this window you can see every stud, every plate connection, every brace, every tie-down, every truss connector. This is your one chance to catch defects that will otherwise be hidden by cladding for the life of your home.
Which Steel Standards Apply?
Most residential steel frames in South East Queensland are cold-formed light-gauge steel — thin, high-strength steel sections roll-formed to shape. Not the heavy hot-rolled I-beams you see in commercial buildings.
The standards that apply:
- NASH Standard: Residential and Low-rise Steel Framing, Part 1: Design Criteria — sets the performance requirements
- NASH Standard, Part 2: Design Solutions — the deemed-to-satisfy pathway recognised by the NCC
- AS/NZS 4600:2018 Cold-formed steel structures — the underlying engineering standard
- AS 3566.2 — corrosion-resistant self-drilling screws (Class 3 or higher required for structural steel framing)
- AS/NZS 1397 — coated steel sheet base material (governs coating class Z275, Z450, AM150 etc.)
- AS/NZS 4680 — hot-dip galvanising for any heavier steel components (portal frames, lintels)
- QBCC Standards & Tolerances Guide — governs the finished-frame tolerances
If your build ALSO has heavy structural steel (portal frames at wide openings, upper-floor steel beams, SHS columns), those are designed to AS 4100 (Steel structures) and welded to AS/NZS 1554.1. Different rules apply — noted in the sections below where relevant.
Important: many residential steel frames are proprietary systems (TrueCore-based frames, Tag Steel, Stratco, Australian Steel Framing and others). Each system has its own installation manual with specific screw counts, connector types, and bracket references. The checklist below points to universal principles and the standards behind them. For system-specific screw counts, your builder's frame supplier install manual is the ultimate reference — insist it's on site.
Wind Classification — The Foundation Fact
Everything about your steel frame — stud gauge, screw counts, brace type and count, tie-down connectors, roof anchor spec — depends on your wind classification.
Wind classes per AS 4055: - N1, N2 — light suburban - N3 — typical outer suburban Queensland - N4 — higher wind non-cyclonic - N5, N6 — very high wind non-cyclonic - C1–C4 — cyclonic (north Queensland)
Most SEQ new home builds are N2 or N3. The NASH Standard Part 2 provides design solutions for N1–N4 and C1–C2. Your engineer's frame plans state the classification on the title block. Confirm this matches your wind zone.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionThe 17-Category Framework I Use on Every Steel Frame Inspection
1. What Type of Steel Frame Is It?
Before anything else, identify the system. Different systems have different rules.
What to look for: - Frame manufacturer identifiable (label on studs, delivery docket, or install manual on site) - Design certified to NASH Standard Part 2 OR to a specific engineer's cold-formed design per AS/NZS 4600 - If the frame includes any heavy structural steel (portal frames, steel beams, SHS columns): AS 4100 design certificate and AS/NZS 1554.1 welding compliance - Wind classification stamped on drawings matches your site
Red flag: No manufacturer install manual on site, no engineering drawings on site, no visible brand/system identification. Without these, no one on site can verify the correct connectors, screws, or tie-down capacities are being used.
2. Steel Coating + Corrosion Protection
Steel rusts. In SEQ's humid coastal climate, the coating spec is the difference between a 50-year frame and a 10-year frame.
Base material coatings per AS/NZS 1397: - Z275 — 275 g/m² zinc coating, general residential inland - Z350 — heavier zinc, closer to coast (typically 100-500m from surf) - Z450 — very severe coastal (C4–C5 corrosion category per AS/NZS ISO 9223) - AM125 / AM150 — aluminium-zinc alloy coating (Zincalume, TrueCore family) - G550 — high-tensile grade (this is the steel grade, coated separately)
What to look for: - Coating class matches your site's corrosion category (check engineer's spec) - No visible rust bloom on any steel member - No bare metal at cut ends (should have cold galv touch-up applied per manufacturer) - No damaged coating from handling (scratches, hammer marks penetrating to bare steel) - Any welded areas cold-galvanised or re-coated
Red flag: A frame within 500m of the coast built with Z275 or lighter coating — will corrode inside cladding within years. Also: bare-steel cut ends anywhere in the frame.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an Inspection3. Bottom Plate to Slab Connection (Tie-Down)
The bottom plate connection carries all the vertical and uplift loads from the whole frame down into the slab.
Common methods: - M12 chemical anchors (Ramset ChemSet or similar) into cured slab - Cast-in M12 threaded rods cast into the wet slab - Proprietary hold-down brackets — bolted or screwed to slab and fixed to bottom plate/stud - Powder-actuated fasteners — used on some proprietary systems for lighter tie-down
What to look for: - Every tie-down location on the engineer's tie-down schedule has an anchor installed - Anchor type matches engineer's spec (not substituted on site) - Chemical anchors: cured minimum time per manufacturer's data sheet before load applied - Cast-in rods: rod protrudes correctly, no chemical damage during casting - Anchor position accurate — typically maximum 300mm from any wall corner or end (verify against schedule) - Spacing between anchors matches the schedule (varies by wind class and wall load — there is no universal spacing) - Correct washers and nuts (per connector manufacturer's data sheet) - Nuts tensioned per engineer's spec (finger tight is NOT tight enough)
Red flag: ANY missing anchor at a location marked on the engineer's tie-down schedule. Uplift loads concentrate at these points — a missing anchor puts unsafe load on adjacent connections.
4. Stud Sizes + Grade
Steel stud sections come in standard sizes but the grade and gauge must match the engineer's spec.
Common cold-formed sections: - C-sections (channels) — most common wall studs - Top-hat sections — used as noggings and top plates in some systems - Z-sections — used as purlins in some systems - Section depth typically 63-90mm for residential wall studs - Gauge typically 0.55-1.0mm BMT (base metal thickness) for residential
What to look for: - Section depth matches engineer's frame plan - BMT (base metal thickness) matches spec (thicker = higher wind class or higher load) - G550 high-tensile grade if specified (the manufacturer's stamp on the stud confirms) - No damaged studs (kinks, dents, holes drilled on site that reduce section capacity) - No cracks at flanges or web - Studs straight (no bow visible)
Red flag: Studs with holes drilled on site through the flanges. Cold-formed sections lose capacity rapidly when structurally holed. Only manufacturer-approved service holes are acceptable.
5. Stud Spacing
Stud spacing is set by the frame designer per NASH Standard Part 2 (or the engineer's calculations per AS/NZS 4600) based on wall height, wind class, and cladding weight.
What to look for: - Stud centres consistent and match engineer's frame plan (commonly 450 or 600mm, sometimes 300 for heavy loads) - Extra studs at load points (under lintels, at portal frame legs, at wall corners) - Jamb studs on both sides of every opening (some systems require box studs — two studs back-to-back) - Double studs at all external corners - No missing studs at intended positions (a common defect after service penetrations)
Red flag: Stud spacing wider than engineer's plan specifies. Common shortcut — cheap to catch, expensive to rectify after cladding.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an Inspection6. Top Plate + Head Plate
The top plate carries roof load down into the studs. In steel frames, it's typically a matching C-section or top-hat section screwed to every stud head.
What to look for: - Top plate section matches engineer's frame plan - Screws through top plate to every stud (typically 2 screws minimum per stud — verify per manufacturer) - Top plate splices per manufacturer's detail (splice plates and screws, not just butt-joined) - Top plate level (QBCC S&T: max 4mm within any 2m height for out-of-plumb; max 4mm in any 2m length for out-of-straight) - No cuts or notches at load points
Red flag: Top plate butt-joined without a splice plate — the joint has zero moment capacity. Common shortcut on longer wall runs.
7. Screw Fixings (AS 3566 Class 3 Minimum)
Every screw in a residential steel frame must resist corrosion for the life of the home. The wrong screw is a corrosion time bomb.
AS 3566.2 corrosion classes: - Class 3 — MINIMUM for structural steel framing (per NASH Standard) - Class 4 — required in more severe coastal and tropical environments
What to look for: - Screws are visibly self-drilling type (Tek screws) with formed hex heads - Screws show a full-thread engagement — not just gripping the surface - No "stripped" screws where the drive was ruined by the impact driver (screw head chewed out) - Screws driven to full depth — head flush with the surface, not spinning - Correct screw size and gauge per manufacturer's install manual - Screw count per connection matches the manufacturer's specified count (varies by connector and system — check the install manual on site) - No mild-steel or non-Class-3 screws used anywhere
Red flag: Stripped screws left in place. A stripped screw carries almost no load. Look for shiny scarring around the head, or a head that spins freely when tested.
8. Bracing — Types + Placement
Bracing stops your walls from folding in a wind event. Steel frames typically use one or a combination of:
- K-bracing — diagonal stud sections in a K pattern within a wall panel
- X-bracing — steel strap in an X pattern across a wall panel (tensioned)
- Sheet bracing — structural sheeting acting as the brace
- Portal frames — heavy-section frames at large openings
What to look for: - Bracing type and quantity matches the engineer's bracing plan (bracing units are calculated per NASH Standard Part 2, not by simple "brace every X metres") - K-brace: full-depth studs at each end, connectors per manufacturer's install manual - X-strap: continuous strap (typically 30-50mm wide GI strap), tensioners installed and functional, no kinks or damage - Sheet bracing: sheet edges aligned with framing members, screws at required centres per install manual - Bracing continuous top to bottom — not broken by openings - Portal frames engineer-designed per AS 4100 if used
Red flag: X-strap bracing with no tensioner installed OR tensioner not tightened. A loose strap does nothing.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an Inspection9. Openings — Lintels + Jamb Studs
Every door and window opening needs an appropriately sized lintel and jamb configuration.
What to look for: - Lintel above every opening — size per engineer's schedule - Cold-formed steel lintels (C-section or box section — most common in residential): correct depth and gauge per schedule - Heavier steel lintels (SHS, RHS, or angle) for wider openings: hot-dip galvanised after fabrication per AS/NZS 4680 - Lintel bearing on jamb studs at both ends - Jamb studs sized and doubled per engineer's spec (box studs — two studs back-to-back — common at wider openings) - Jamb-to-lintel connectors per manufacturer's install manual - No site-cut lintels — factory-cut only unless engineer approves in writing
Red flag: An opening wider than 900mm with no engineered lintel visible, OR a heavy steel lintel that isn't hot-dip galvanised (visible bare steel or shop primer only).
10. Portal Frames at Wide Openings
Garage door openings, wide sliding door openings, and other spans wider than typical residential frames often use portal frames — heavier steel columns and beam welded into a rigid frame.
What to look for (if present): - Portal frame designed to AS 4100 by an engineer (design certificate on site) - Portal frame welded per AS/NZS 1554.1 (SP category for structural welds typical) - Hot-dip galvanised per AS/NZS 4680 after fabrication (all welds cold-galv touched up) - Column base plates: waterproof pad or bearing pad under base plate (typically 3mm minimum) - Base plate fixed to slab with M12 or M16 chemical anchors per engineer's spec - Full nail/bolt count at every connection
Red flag: A garage door opening wider than 3m with no portal frame OR with a portal frame that's been repaired/welded on site without engineer's sign-off. Garage door openings are the #1 source of catastrophic wind damage in QLD homes.
11. Roof Trusses (Steel or Timber)
Steel-framed homes may have steel roof trusses OR timber roof trusses sitting on the steel top plate.
What to look for: - Trusses at correct centres per truss designer's layout (commonly 600mm or 900mm) - Each truss identifiable by number, matches layout drawing - Girder trusses at specified load-transfer positions - Truss bearing on top plate as per truss designer's spec - Trusses straight and plumb — no leaning or twisting - No damage to truss members - Truss layout drawing on site
Red flag: Trusses at wider centres than the layout specifies, OR a truss cut on site to fit a service run. Site-cut trusses require truss designer sign-off before you accept the frame.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an Inspection12. Roof Truss Tie-Downs
Trusses lift in wind. Tie-downs stop that.
What to look for: - Every truss has a tie-down connector to the top plate — cyclone strap, proprietary bracket, or bolted connection - Connector type matches the engineer's tie-down schedule for the wind class - Every screw/nail hole on the connector's data sheet filled — not just some - Screws driven to full depth (not stripped) - Cyclone straps looped over the truss and secured both sides - Both flanges connected (not just one) - No gap between connector and steel
Red flag: ANY truss without a visible tie-down connector at either bearing point. Roof uplift concentrates at unrestrained trusses first in a windstorm.
13. Frame Level + Plumb (QBCC Tolerances)
The frame must be built within tolerance. The QBCC S&T Guide applies the same tolerances to steel frames as to timber frames.
QBCC Standards & Tolerances Guide (walls and frames): - Wall out-of-plumb: posts and wall frames are defective if they deviate from vertical by more than 4mm within any 2m height AND that deviation compromises structural adequacy, allows water penetration, or compromises health and safety - Wall out-of-straight (bow): frames are defective if they deviate from plane by more than 4mm in any 2m length (within 12 months of completion) - Pre-plasterboard substrate: where the frame will receive plasterboard, when a 1.8m straight-edge is placed over the wall frame the deviation must not exceed 4mm over 90% of the area and must not exceed 5mm over the remaining 10%
What to look for: - Every external wall spot-checked with a spirit level or 2m straight-edge (height AND length) - Wet area walls that will be tiled: extra rigorous — waterproofing membrane cracks on hard bow points - Walls that will be plasterboarded: 1.8m straight-edge test — 4mm max over 90% of the area - Corners plumb — plumb bob or laser - Top plate level — dumpy or laser
Red flag: Any of the three QBCC tests failed. The pre-plasterboard 1.8m test is the strictest and most commonly failed.
14. Frame Straightness (Individual Studs)
Cold-formed steel studs are straight when they leave the factory. If they're bent on site, something has gone wrong.
What to look for: - Frame overall passes the QBCC 4mm/2m bow test - Frame overall passes the 1.8m straight-edge pre-plasterboard test - Individual studs bowed more than surrounding studs = flag as potentially damaged - No dented or kinked studs (dents reduce cold-formed section capacity dramatically) - No twisted studs at corners or jambs - Studs plumb — a leaning stud indicates a bottom plate that isn't secured properly
Red flag: Dented or kinked steel studs left in place. Once a cold-formed section is dented, it's structurally compromised and must be replaced.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an Inspection15. Interface Connections (Wall Junctions + Back-to-Back Studs)
Where two walls meet, or where two studs sit back-to-back, the load-transfer connections are often skipped.
What to look for: - All wall junctions (external and internal) screw-fixed per manufacturer's install manual — full screw count top, middle, and bottom (varies by system) - Back-to-back wall studs (box studs) fixed to each other per manufacturer's spec (typically screws at 600-900mm centres — verify) - Internal non-loadbearing wall K-braces secured to roof framing with proprietary bracket per manufacturer - Wall panel junctions with the correct connector count from the install manual
Deflection slots — CRITICAL: Some brackets that fix perpendicular to trusses or noggings use slotted screws that allow minimum deflection and uplift movement per the manufacturer's design. These must NOT be tightened firm. If they're tight, the roof can't move under wind load and something else fails.
Red flag: Slot screws that are fully tightened. Very common mistake. Also: back-to-back studs that aren't connected to each other — they act as two independent studs, not one composite section.
16. Termite Management + Structural Timber Interfaces
Steel doesn't rot. But almost every steel-framed home has SOME structural timber that does need termite protection.
What to look for: - Physical or chemical termite barrier installed per AS 3660.1:2014 (should already be complete from pre-pour stage — verify still intact) - 75mm minimum inspection zone around slab perimeter, clear and visible - Any timber components (soffit lining structural framing, timber deck framing, feature timber beams) protected per AS 3660 - Timber bottom plates (some proprietary systems use them under steel frames) inspected for termite treatment - No timber in ground contact anywhere
Red flag: Damaged termite barrier at pipe penetrations, OR any timber component sitting on the slab without physical termite barrier underneath.
17. Documentation On Site
If the paperwork isn't there, nothing else is right.
Must be on site: 1. Engineer's structural drawings — current revision, all sheets 2. Frame manufacturer's install manual — for the specific system used (this is THE reference for screw counts and connectors) 3. Truss layout drawing from truss manufacturer 4. Wind classification certificate confirming the design wind class 5. Material test certificates / mill certificates for the steel (coating class + grade + AS/NZS 1397 compliance) 6. Design certificate to NASH Standard Part 2 or AS/NZS 4600 for the frame system 7. AS 4100 design certificate and AS/NZS 1554.1 welding compliance for any heavy steel components (portal frames, beams) 8. Termite management certificate (post-pour) 9. Working drawings — architectural, electrical and plumbing
Red flag: Any missing document. Especially the install manual — without it, you have no way to verify screw counts and connector requirements are being met.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionThe 30 Red Flags — If You See ANY of These, Call an Inspector Immediately
If any of these are present at frame stage, book an independent inspection before signing the progress claim:
1. No frame manufacturer install manual on site 2. No engineering drawings on site 3. Coating class less than Z275, or Z275 within 500m of coast 4. Any visible rust bloom on new steel 5. Bare steel at cut ends or damaged coating not touched up 6. Missing tie-down anchor at engineer's specified position 7. Chemical anchors loaded before manufacturer's cure time 8. Nuts finger-tight (not tensioned to engineer's spec) 9. Studs with holes drilled on site through flanges (structural section damaged) 10. Dented or kinked steel studs left in place 11. Stud spacing wider than engineer's plan 12. Non-Class-3 (or lower) screws used anywhere structural 13. Stripped screws left in place (shiny head, spins when tested) 14. Screws driven only partway (not to full depth) 15. Top plate butt-joined without a splice plate 16. Bracing type or quantity doesn't match engineer's bracing plan 17. X-strap bracing with no tensioner OR loose tensioner 18. Sheet bracing screws at wider spacing than install manual 19. No lintel above opening over 900mm wide 20. Heavy steel lintel not hot-dip galvanised (bare steel visible) 21. Garage door opening wider than 3m with no portal frame 22. Portal frame welded on site without engineer sign-off 23. Trusses at wider centres than truss layout specifies 24. Truss missing tie-down at either bearing 25. Any connector with fewer screws/nails than manufacturer data sheet 26. Wall out-of-plumb greater than 4mm/2m height AND compromises structure/water/safety (QBCC) 27. Frame bow greater than 4mm in any 2m length (QBCC) 28. Pre-plasterboard substrate failing 1.8m straight-edge test 29. Slot screws fully tightened (should allow deflection movement) 30. Back-to-back studs not connected to each other
Any 3+ = call an inspector. Any 10+ = don't sign the frame-stage progress claim until fixed.
When to Book a Professional Inspection
I've just given you my complete checklist. You could try to do this yourself. Some homeowners can.
But here's the reality of what a professional inspector brings to a steel frame inspection:
- Ability to identify the proprietary frame system and cross-reference against its install manual — every system is different, and knowing which screw count applies to which connector takes experience
- Verification of tie-down connectors against the engineer's schedule and the NASH Standard — cross-checking every connector type and count against the specified schedule
- Screw stripping detection — a subtle defect that homeowners consistently miss and that carries almost zero load
- Independence — I'm not your builder's mate. I won't wave through stripped screws or missing connectors because "it's mostly OK"
- Independent report with photos — printed evidence you can use to withhold progress payment lawfully or lodge a QBCC dispute
- QBCC-licensed authority — my report carries weight
- Same-day delivery — you get the written report before you leave site
- Free 15-minute post-report call — I walk your builder or engineer through the report to resolve issues fast
When to book: as soon as the frame and roof trusses are up and braced (permanent bracing installed), but BEFORE sheeting or cladding starts. Usually 3-7 days after roof trusses are craned on.
VG Inspect Steel Frame Stage Pricing
- Standard home up to 220m²: $550 inc GST — same-day report
- Larger homes: custom quote — call 07 3180 8041
- Available: Monday–Friday across South East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands, Scenic Rim)
Book your steel frame inspection: Call 07 3180 8041 or book online.
Ready to book your inspection? A VG Inspect QBCC-licensed inspector attends every job.
Book an InspectionWhere This Inspection Sits in Your Build
Independent stage inspections work best as a sequence — each one checks work that the next stage covers up for good. Here's the full pathway for a typical Queensland new-home build, and where the steel frame inspection fits:
1. Pre-Pour Slab Inspection — before the concrete truck arrives 2. Post-Pour Slab Inspection — after the slab is poured and stripped 3. Frame Inspection — Timber Frame or Steel Frame (you're reading this now), depending on how your home is built 4. Pre-Plaster (Lockup) Inspection — before the plasterboard hides the services 5. Practical Completion (PCI) Inspection — before you release your final payment
Building with timber instead? Read the Timber Frame Inspection checklist — same stage of the build, different standards (AS 1684 rather than the NASH Standard / AS/NZS 4600).
Previous: ← Post-Pour Slab Inspection — Next: Pre-Plaster (Lockup) Inspection →
Booking the whole sequence with one independent inspector means every stage is checked against the last. Book your inspection or call 07 3180 8041.
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This checklist is general educational information based on the NASH Standard, AS/NZS 4600, AS 3566.2, AS/NZS 1397, AS/NZS 4680, AS 4100, AS/NZS 1554.1, AS 4055, AS 3660.1, and the QBCC Standards & Tolerances Guide. Different proprietary steel framing systems have their own install manuals with system-specific screw counts, connectors, and bracket references. Your engineer's structural drawings and your frame supplier's install manual are the primary references for your build. This guide is not a substitute for a licensed inspection or engineering advice.