Frame & Pre-Plaster Inspection

An independent check of the structure against AS 1684.2 — bracing, tie-down and trusses — while the frame is still open.

Book before plaster covers the structure

$550Same-day report · QBCC 1318443

Call 07 3180 8041 — same-week availability

Why the Frame Stage Matters

The frame stage is the last chance to see the structure. Once plasterboard, cladding and insulation go on, the bracing, tie-down straps, truss anchors and stud framing are permanently hidden. A defect not found now is a defect you live with, or pay to expose later.

Timber framing in South East Queensland is built to AS 1684.2 Residential timber-framed construction — non-cyclonic areas, sized to a wind classification set under AS 4055 Wind loads for housing. The bracing, the tie-down from roof to slab, and the truss connections are what hold the house together under wind load, so the frame inspection concentrates on those load paths.

Structural framing defects are the most expensive class of new-build defect to fix after handover, because rectification means removing finished linings to reach the frame. Catching them at frame stage keeps the fix to timber and fixings.

What's Included

Wall frames plumb, straight and no cracked timber
Bracing pattern and nailing (AS 1684.2 cl 8.3)
Tie-down straps and hold-downs at bracing panels
Truss anchors and top-plate connection nailing
Truss layout matches the engineered design
Bearer and joist spans for suspended floors
Lintel and door-head sizing per engineering
Wind classification (N2/N3/N4) matches the spec
Termite continuity at the frame-to-slab junction
Same-day PDF report with photos

From $550

Includes GST

Critical Elements We Verify

Wall Frames

Plumb, straight, sound timber

Bracing

Pattern and nailing per AS 1684.2

Tie-Down

Load path from roof to slab

Trusses

Layout matches engineering

What we check at frame stage

The frame inspection follows the load path from the roof down to the slab, checking each connection against AS 1684.2 and the truss and bracing engineering. NCC Volume Two Part 3.4 (framing) and Part 3.5 (roof and wall cladding) set the acceptable-construction baseline.

Wall frames plumb and straight — walls checked for plumb, line and level, with studs sound and free of splits or excessive bow.
Bracing sheets — pattern and nail spacing — bracing units and their fixing checked against AS 1684.2 clause 8.3, which sets the nailing that lets a brace actually carry racking load.
Tie-down straps and hold-downs — connections at bracing panels and wall junctions checked so the uplift load path is continuous, per the tie-down provisions of AS 1684.2 Section 9.
Truss anchor connections and top-plate nailing — every truss-to-plate connection checked for the specified anchor and nail pattern, including at gable ends and girder trusses.
Truss layout against engineering — spacing, bracing, girder trusses and hangers checked against the truss manufacturer's stamped layout.
Roof pitch, hip and valley construction — assembled to the roof design, with valley and hip members supported as detailed.
Bearer and joist spans — for suspended floors, member sizes and spans checked against AS 1684.2 span tables and the engineering.
Lintel and door-head sizing — openings checked against the engineered lintel schedule for the span and load over them.
Wind classification match — the framing specification confirmed against the site wind classification (commonly N2, N3 or N4 in SEQ under AS 4055), which is critical on exposed, coastal or elevated sites.
Termite continuity at the frame-to-slab junction — the termite management system checked for continuity where the frame meets the slab.

Common frame defects and the standards they fail

The defects below are standards-based patterns rather than site-specific claims. Any inspector working to AS 1684.2 and the QBCC guide checks for the same items.

Non-compliant bracing nailing — a bracing sheet fixed with too few nails, or spacing wider than specified, cannot develop its rated racking capacity. AS 1684.2 clause 8.3 sets the nailing; under-nailed bracing is reported against it.
Missing truss anchor at a gable end — the tie-down connections in AS 1684.2 Section 9 have to be present at every truss, including the gable, to maintain the uplift load path. A missing or wrong anchor breaks that path.
Bowed or out-of-tolerance studs — the QBCC Standards and Tolerances Guide (clause 12.5) sets limits on wall straightness. Studs bowed beyond the allowed deviation over a set length telegraph through the finished wall and are reported against the guide.

Why bracing and tie-down are checked so closely

Bracing resists the horizontal racking force of wind on the walls; tie-down resists the uplift that wind creates on the roof. AS 1684.2 sizes both to the wind classification the house was designed for, and each depends on a continuous chain of connections — a brace is only as good as its nailing, a tie-down only as good as its weakest strap. That is why the frame inspection checks the fixings themselves against the clause, not just that the members are present: a connection that looks finished but is under-nailed still fails under load.

When to book: frame up, before the trades cut in

The frame inspection window opens once the frame is stood, braced and the trusses are fixed, and closes when the pre-plaster trades start or linings go on. Book too early and the bracing and tie-down are incomplete; book too late and plasterboard already hides the connections.

The workable point is with the frame complete and open, before electrical and plumbing rough-in begin. Booking there means every connection is visible and correctable, and it also sets a clean baseline for the pre-plaster inspection that follows — so if a trade later notches a stud or a brace, the change is obvious. We turn the report around the same day for most inspections with photographs and clause references.

Frame inspection and pre-plaster inspection

Frame and pre-plaster are adjacent stages that check different things. The frame inspection assesses the structure while it is clean and open. The pre-plaster inspection comes after the electrician, plumber and insulator have worked in the frame, and checks both that the rough-in is correct and that those trades have not compromised the structure. Before the frame there is the slab inspection; after the linings and fit-out there is the practical completion inspection at handover.

Frequently asked questions

When should I book a frame inspection?

Book the frame inspection once the frame is stood, braced and the roof trusses are up and fixed, but before the pre-plaster trades (electrical, plumbing, insulation) start cutting into it and before any linings go on. That is the point where every structural connection is visible and anything flagged can still be corrected without pulling linings off.

How long does a frame inspection take?

A single-storey frame takes roughly an hour and a half to two hours; a two-storey or complex roof takes longer. We work through the wall frames, bracing, tie-down and the truss layout against the engineering, photograph each item, and issue the report the same day for most inspections.

What happens if the frame inspection finds a defect?

Each item is recorded with a photo, a location and the clause it fails — most commonly AS 1684.2 for the framing and tie-down, or the truss manufacturer's layout. You forward the report to your site supervisor. Framing corrections are straightforward while the frame is open; the same items are expensive or impossible to fix once plasterboard is fixed over them.

Do I attend the frame inspection?

No. We arrange access with the site supervisor and attend in hi-vis and safety boots. You receive the same-day PDF report with photographs and clause references and a follow-up call to walk through anything flagged.

How does your frame report differ from the certifier's frame-stage Form 16?

The certifier's frame-stage Form 16 certifies that the frame complies with the approved documents for the building approval. It is a statutory sign-off, not an itemised defect list. Our inspection is an independent quality check against AS 1684.2 and the truss and bracing engineering, written for you, and it records workmanship items the compliance sign-off does not enumerate.

How is a frame inspection different from a pre-plaster inspection?

The frame inspection assesses the structure — wall frames, bracing, tie-down and trusses — before the pre-plaster trades work on it. The pre-plaster inspection happens later, after electrical and plumbing rough-in and insulation, and checks that those trades have not compromised the frame and that the rough-in is correct before plasterboard. Some builders combine the two hold points; where they are separate, both are worth attending because they check different things.

How much does a frame inspection cost?

A standard residential frame inspection is $550 including GST across Brisbane and the Moreton Bay corridor. That covers the site attendance, the same-day photo-tagged report with AS 1684.2 and engineering references, and a follow-up call. Two-storey and complex-roof frames are quoted individually — call with the plan and we will confirm before you book.

What we check at a steel frame inspection

This is our steel frame checklist — it applies to cold-formed and structural steel residential framing. If your home is timber-framed, the AS 1684.2 checks described above apply instead.

Every item below is checked against the governing Australian Standards and the project's engineering drawings and fixing schedules. The list is general in nature — each inspection is conducted to the specific approved documents for that build.

1. Materials(8)

Hot-rolled plates comply with AS/NZS 3678, grade as specified in the engineering documents
UB / UC / PFC / EA / UA sections, flats and rounds comply with AS/NZS 3679.1
WB / WC sections comply with AS/NZS 3679.2
CHS sections comply with AS 1163, grade as specified
RHS / SHS sections comply with AS 1163, grade as specified
Cold-formed framing members comply with AS 4600 except where varied by the contract documents
Material test certificates available on site (AS 4600 Cl. 1.5)
All materials new unless specified otherwise

2. Corrosion Protection(9)

Internal (enclosed) steelwork cleaned to AS 1627 Class 1 and primed to the specified system and DFT
Finish coat applied to internal steelwork as specified
External / exposed steelwork and all lintels hot-dip galvanised after fabrication to AS/NZS 4680
Where an alternative to galvanising is used, the coating system and DFT comply with the specification (surface preparation to the specified AS 1627 class)
Galvanised coating repaired after welding — weld scale removed and surface power-tool cleaned to AS 1627.2 Class 3 before the repair coating
Severe corrosion environments: two-pack epoxy zinc system applied to AS 3750.9 at the specified total DFT
Moderate corrosion environments: zinc-rich primer system applied at the specified DFT
All bolts, nuts and washers hot-dip galvanised
Corrosion protection verified against the project's wind classification and exposure category

3. Bolts & Fixings(14)

Bolt diameters as specified (structural connections typically M20 unless noted otherwise)
High-strength structural bolts category 8.8/S comply with AS/NZS 1252 and AS/NZS 4291.1
Holding-down bolts category 4.6/S unless noted otherwise
Commercial bolts (4.6/S) grade 4.6 to AS 1111, snug tightened
High-strength structural bolts (8.8/S) fully tensioned where specified
Thread inclusion in shear planes consistent with the design assumptions
All bolts, nuts and washers hot-dip galvanised
No connection has fewer than 2 bolts
Anchor bolts minimum 12 mm diameter at maximum 1200 mm centres, or as specified
Anchor bolts located within 300 mm of wall corners and ends
Bottom plate fixed to slab with the specified screw bolts and washers at the specified centres
Tie-downs located within 50 mm of the last jamb stud at openings and of K-brace studs
Wide wall openings: additional hold-down fixings each side per the fixing schedule
SHS columns fixed to the adjacent wall frame at top and nogging row as detailed

4. Welding(7)

All welding complies with AS/NZS 1554.1
Welding consumables as specified (typically E48XX / W50X unless noted otherwise)
Fillet welds minimum 6 mm CFW, SP category, unless noted otherwise
Butt welds SP category with non-destructive examination in accordance with AS/NZS 1554.1
Weld visual examination completed at the rates required by AS/NZS 1554.1 and the specification
Butt welds are complete-penetration welds to AS/NZS 1554.1 unless noted otherwise
Site welds cleaned of spatter and slag, and surfaces prepared and treated before coating repair

5. Bottom Plates & Hold-Downs(8)

Bottom plates fixed to the slab with the specified fasteners at the specified centres
Tie-down at each end of wall bracing panels
Tie-down both sides of all window and door openings
Tie-down both sides of all K-braces
Tie-downs within 50 mm of the last jamb stud at openings and K-brace studs
Wide openings: additional hold-down fixings each side as specified
Waterproof isolation material installed under steel column base plates
Column-to-foundation anchors installed as detailed (chemical anchors of the specified size where applicable)

6. Frame Screw Connections(4)

Corner and intersection stud fixings at maximum 600 mm centres, or as specified
Jamb stud screw fixings comply with the project fixing schedule for each opening width band (fixing count increases with opening width)
K-brace end fixings per the fixing schedule
Strap-brace end fixings per the fixing schedule

7. Wall Junctions & Studs(9)

External and internal wall junctions fixed top, middle and bottom with the specified screws
Back-to-back wall studs stitched at maximum 900 mm centres, or as specified
Internal non-loadbearing walls: K-braces secured to roof framing with approved internal wall brackets
Bracket quantity and spacing above braced areas per the detail (typically one per K-brace; multiples at maximum 1200 mm centres)
Brackets fixed to the top plate with the specified screws
Bracket fixings to perpendicular truss / noggin trimmer located in slots only
Slotted connections allow the specified deflection and uplift movement — not fixed firm
Where a wall cannot be directly connected: angle or plate connectors at the specified spacing
Wall panel junction connectors installed per the typical details

8. Wall Bracing(10)

Ground floor bracing layout matches the approved bracing plan — brace types and locations confirmed
Upper floor bracing layout matches the approved bracing plan — brace types and locations confirmed
Both bottom ends of K-braces and strap braces fixed with the specified hold-down screws
T and L shear wall junctions fixed to joists / blocking per the detail
Strap bracing continuous down the wall frame, of the specified minimum section, with the specified end and per-truss fixings
Strap bracing tensioned and fixed in accordance with the approved detail
Strap brace tensioners installed and functional
End stiffener studs and hold-down brackets installed at strap brace terminations
Bottom plates installed at brace base connections
Junction connectors installed with the specified screw counts per the typical junction detail

9. Roof Framing & Tie-Down(17)

Truss-to-wall tie-down straps installed with the specified screws to truss and top plate
Truss bottom chord to wall connections (angle / proprietary bracket) installed per the detail
Notched joist hitch brackets installed at the specified centres
Braced walls perpendicular to trusses connected per the detail
Rafter connections and eave overhang fixings per the detail
Cyclone straps to rafters at the specified frequency with the specified screws per leg
Rafter-to-truss stitch fixings and end-rafter straps installed as detailed
Roof panels stitched together at the specified centres
Truss-to-girder-truss hanger brackets installed per the detail
Panels fixed to side of wall framing at maximum 600 mm centres on all sides
Saddle truss brackets installed per the detail
Truss-on-truss / truss-on-wall fixings at the specified centres and end distances
Roof truss top chords temporarily restrained until battens are installed
Roof batten fixing centres comply with the span requirements (end spans tighter than intermediate spans)
Roof truss layouts match the approved truss plans for each level
Heavy-gauge (Series 500 or equivalent) screws used when fixing into members 4 mm thick or greater
Truss support / propping during erection per span rules (longer spans require intermediate support at the specified intervals)

10. Floor Framing(10)

Floor framing layout matches the approved plan — beams and columns confirmed in place
Floor joists fixed to all external and internal loadbearing walls with the specified screws
Joists running along loadbearing walls fixed at ends and at the specified maximum centres
Floor truss to floor truss connections via joist hangers or paired angles per the detail
Floor truss to steel beam fixings per the detail
Multi-ply floor trusses: tie-down applied to every ply
Floor trusses adjacent to perimeter joists / wall frames stitched at the specified maximum centres
End trusses fixed to each stud of parapet external walls per the detail
Parapets fixed to walls at each stud location
Long-span floor trusses: bottom-chord binder installed through the centre and fixed as specified

11. Structural Steelwork & Lintels(10)

Structural steelwork complies with AS 4100; fabrication and erection comply with AS/NZS 5131
Material grades verified against the engineering specification
Lintels hot-dip galvanised after fabrication
Lintel sizes comply with the project lintel schedule for each span band, with the specified end bearing / extension past the opening
Spans beyond the schedule: lintel per specific engineering design
All hollow sections sealed with end plates; drain holes provided to all members
Concrete-encased steelwork wrapped with steel mesh fabric with minimum 50 mm concrete cover
Vent holes drilled to all hollow members
Fire rating of steel members confirmed against NCC/BCA requirements where applicable
Fabrication drawings submitted to the engineer within the required lead time before fabrication

12. Cold-Formed Steel(10)

All cold-formed workmanship and material complies with AS 4600 except where varied by the contract
Steel complies with AS 1163 (CHS/SHS/RHS) or AS/NZS 1594 / AS/NZS 1397 as applicable
Bolts minimum M12 category 4.6/S — bolts, nuts and washers galvanised
All connections have a minimum of 2 bolts unless noted otherwise
Girts / purlins installed with bridging and connectors per the manufacturer's specifications
Suspension of ceilings and services from purlins in accordance with approved methods
Roof diagonal bracing anchored at the specified maximum spacing per the design
Stud walls strapped top and bottom plate at the specified stud frequency
Top plates fixed to masonry with anchors at the specified maximum spacing
Continuous vertical bracing provided per the design details

13. Site & Design Criteria(9)

Wind classification confirmed and applied to all connection and bracing design
Imposed load assumptions verified against the structural design criteria (floor, balcony, roof and stair loads)
Slab setout confirmed against the working drawings before frame erection
Footings and slab constructed to the engineer's details and the site soil classification
Termite barrier installed in accordance with AS 3660.1 prior to frame installation
Slab vapour membrane (0.2 mm polythene) lapped minimum 200 mm and sealed at all joints and penetrations with approved tape
Minimum 50 mm sand bed installed under the slab membrane
Attached slabs (patio / pad / alfresco) poured in accordance with the engineering detail
Physical termite barrier installed to all new work per AS 3660

14. Documentation & Sign-Off(7)

Current engineering drawings on site
Current approved working drawings on site
Most recent revision confirmed with the relevant consultant before work commenced
All discrepancies reported to the proprietor's representative before proceeding
Inspection hold points observed — builder gave the required notice for engineering inspections
Completed checklist signed by the responsible supervisor / inspector
Date of inspection recorded and checklist retained

Frame is the structural stage. See the slab inspection before it, the pre-plaster inspection after it, or the full construction stage inspections sequence through to handover.