Fill Cell Inspection Guide
Your inspector needs to see which masonry cells are being reinforced, what steel is installed, and how the reinforcement connects at the top and bottom where required by the approved structural plans.
Show Us the Steel Before the Cells Are Filled.
Start with wide views so the inspector knows which wall and cells are being shown, then get close enough to clearly see the reinforcement and required connections.
Some cells are structural and require specific reinforcement and connections. Other cells may be infill and may not require the same ties. Follow the approved structural plans and make sure the inspector can identify each condition.
Whenever a dimension needs to be verified, include a clear photo with the measuring tape visible next to the reinforcement or connection.
Show us the whole masonry wall.
Start with a slow video showing the wall and the cells that will be filled.
Make sure we can see:
- The full wall or wall section
- Openings and corners
- Bond beams and lintels
- The locations of reinforced cells
- Enough context to identify where each cell is located
Show us the reinforcement in each required cell.
Show the vertical reinforcing steel in the cells required by the approved structural plans.
Make sure we can see:
- The vertical reinforcing bar
- Which cell the bar is installed in
- Enough surrounding wall to identify the location
- Different reinforcement conditions, if more than one type is used
Do not send only one close-up of one bar. Show enough cells for the inspector to verify that the required reinforcement pattern is being followed.
Show us the top connection.
Where required by the structural design, take photos from the top so the inspector can see how the vertical reinforcement connects into the structural element above.
This may include:
- Bond beam reinforcement
- Lintel reinforcement
- Horizontal reinforcing steel
- Required ties, bends or connections
- Continuity between the vertical bar and the element above
Show the full connection first, then take a closer photo so the inspector can clearly see how the reinforcing steel is tied together.
Show us the bottom connection.
Where required, show how the vertical reinforcing steel connects to the footing, slab, dowel or other structural anchorage below.
Make sure we can see:
- Bottom of the reinforced cell, where visible
- Dowels or starter bars
- Lap or connection to the vertical reinforcement
- Anchorage into the foundation or supporting element
- Any special bottom connection shown on the plans
If the required connection was photographed earlier in construction, include those photos with the inspection if the connection is no longer visible.
Show us laps, splices and reinforcement spacing.
Show any reinforcing steel laps, splices or other dimensional conditions that need to be compared with the structural plans.
Use a measuring tape in the photo whenever lap length, bar spacing or another dimension needs to be verified.
Make sure we can see:
- The complete lap or splice
- The measuring tape and reinforcing steel together
- Representative spacing between reinforced cells, where applicable
- Any different reinforcement spacing shown on the plans
Show us cleanouts and cells before grout.
Where cleanouts or inspection openings are required, make sure they remain visible and show the condition of the cells before grout is placed.
Make sure we can see:
- Cleanouts or inspection openings, where applicable
- Interior condition of the reinforced cell where visible
- Reinforcement inside the cell
- Anything that may interfere with grout placement
Show us any different or special fill cells.
If some cells have different reinforcement or connection requirements, show those conditions separately.
This may include:
- Structural reinforced cells
- Infill cells
- Cells at corners
- Cells next to openings
- Cells tying into lintels or bond beams
- Any special condition shown on the structural plans
Do not assume every filled cell requires the same reinforcement. Follow the approved structural design for each condition.
Before You Submit
Take 30 seconds and make sure your inspector can clearly identify the reinforced cells and follow the steel from bottom to top where required.
- Can we identify the wall and the cells being filled?
- Did you show the reinforcement in each required type of cell?
- Can we see the top connection into the bond beam, lintel or other structural element where required?
- Can we see the bottom connection or earlier evidence of that connection where required?
- Did you show laps and splices clearly?
- Where dimensions need to be verified, did you include measuring-tape photos?
- Did you show cleanouts or inspection openings, where applicable?
- Did you separately show cells with different structural requirements?
- Is everything still visible before grout is placed?
That's It.
Submit your photos, videos and measurement photos through Permit Rockstar. Your inspector will compare the fill-cell reinforcement and required connections with the approved structural plans.
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