Electrical Underground Inspection Guide
Show the underground electrical work included in your project before trenches, conduits, crossings and entry points are covered by backfill or concrete.
Show Us the Underground Electrical Before It Gets Covered.
Start with wide views so the inspector can understand the complete route, then get closer to conduit, depth, bends, crossings, stub-ups and entry points.
Not every underground electrical installation includes the same service conduits, feeders, branch circuits, grounding components or utility crossings. Show the work that is actually included in your permitted scope.
Keep the conduit route, depth, bends, crossings, stub-ups and other underground conditions visible until the required inspection evidence is complete.
Use a measuring tape for trench depth, conduit cover, spacing, separation, clearances and other dimensions. Make sure the tape and the condition being measured are both clearly visible.
Show us the entire underground route.
Start with a slow video showing the complete underground electrical installation included in the inspection.
Make sure we can see:
- The complete trench or conduit route
- Where the run starts
- Where the run ends
- Changes in direction
- Stub-ups and entry points
- Crossings with other utilities, where applicable
- Enough context to identify where the route is located
Show us the conduit.
Take clear photos of representative conduit and connections before the installation is covered.
Make sure we can see:
- Conduit type
- Conduit size or markings, where visible
- Connections and couplings
- Different conduit types or transitions, if any
- Representative conditions along the route
Show us the trench depth or conduit cover.
Where depth or cover needs to be verified, show a clear measurement before the trench is backfilled.
Place the measuring tape so the inspector can clearly see the depth from the applicable reference point to the conduit.
Make sure we can see:
- The conduit being measured
- The surrounding trench
- The measuring tape
- The measurement clearly enough to read
Show representative measurements where the route or depth changes.
Show us bends, sweeps and changes in direction.
Show areas where the conduit changes direction or transitions vertically into equipment or the building.
Make sure we can see:
- Bends and sweeps
- Changes in direction
- Vertical transitions
- Connections at the transition
- Any condition that is different from the typical conduit run
Show us the stub-ups and entry points.
Show where the underground conduit enters the building, equipment, panel area or other destination.
This may include:
- Service stub-ups
- Feeder stub-ups
- Branch-circuit stub-ups
- Equipment locations
- Building entry points
- Slab or foundation penetrations
Show enough surrounding area so the inspector can identify where each stub-up or entry point is located.
Show us crossings and separation.
If the electrical route is near or crosses other underground utilities or systems, show those conditions clearly.
This may include:
- Plumbing piping
- Gas piping
- Communications or low-voltage conduit
- Other underground systems
- Crossings or parallel runs
If separation or clearance needs to be verified, place a measuring tape between the systems and take a clear photo.
Show us grounding or bonding components.
If grounding or bonding components are part of this underground installation, show them before they are concealed.
This may include:
- Grounding conductors
- Grounding electrodes or connections
- Bonding components
- Connections that will become concealed
- Other grounding details included in the permitted scope
Show the overall location first, then take close-up photos of the actual connection.
Show us anything different or unusual.
If part of the underground electrical installation is different from the typical route, make sure your inspector can clearly see it before the work is covered.
This may include:
- Different conduit types
- Material transitions
- Multiple conduits in the same trench
- Unusual crossings
- Special equipment feeds
- Changes in depth
- Field modifications
- Anything else your inspector should see
Show the full area first so the inspector knows where it is, then take close-up photos of the condition.
Before You Submit
Only check the items that apply to your permitted electrical scope.
- Can we see the complete underground electrical route?
- Can we identify the conduit and representative connections?
- Where depth or cover needs to be verified, did you include clear measuring-tape photos?
- Did you show bends, sweeps and changes in direction?
- Did you show the stub-ups and entry points?
- If other underground systems are nearby, did you show the crossings or separation?
- Where spacing or separation needs to be verified, did you include measuring-tape photos?
- If grounding or bonding is part of the underground scope, did you show it?
- Did you show any different or unusual conditions?
- Is everything still exposed before backfill, concrete or other covering is placed?
That's It.
Submit the photos, videos and measurement evidence for the underground electrical work that applies to your project through Permit Rockstar. Your inspector will compare the installation with the approved plans and applicable project requirements.
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