Inspection and test plan (ITP): what it is, what goes in it, and a free template
Direct answer: An inspection and test plan (ITP) is a line-by-line schedule of every inspection and test the contract requires. Each line names the feature of work, the spec paragraph that requires it, the standard, the frequency, the acceptance criteria and who is responsible. The US federal guide spec UFGS 01 45 00 calls this a "Testing Plan and Log" and requires each test to be "referenced by the specification paragraph number requiring the test" (UFGS 01 45 00). Build it by reading each spec section's inspection and testing requirements into lines, then add the code-required special inspections from the Statement of Special Inspections.
What is an ITP in construction?
There's no single code definition of "ITP." The closest widely published requirement is the US Department of Defense's Unified Facilities Guide Specification UFGS 01 45 00 Quality Control. It asks the contractor's QC plan to include (UFGS 01 45 00):
- A Testing Plan and Log: "includes the tests required, associated feature of work required, referenced by the specification paragraph number requiring the test, the frequency, and the person responsible for each test."
- A list of Definable Features of Work (DFOW): "a task that is separate and distinct from other tasks and has control requirements and work crews unique to that task." The spec notes that "there are frequently more than one definable features under a particular section."
- Procedures for the three phases of control: preparatory and initial phase checklists for each DFOW.
- Coordination with special inspections: scheduled work is coordinated with the special inspections in Section 01 45 35 and the Statement of Special Inspections.
An ITP is that testing plan expanded to include inspections, hold/witness points, and the evidence for each line.
ITP vs. quality control plan vs. Statement of Special Inspections
| Document | Who writes it | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality control plan | Contractor | Organization, procedures, three phases of control, testing plan, DFOW list | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Inspection and test plan / testing plan and log | Contractor (QC manager) | Every required inspection and test, by spec paragraph, frequency and responsible party | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Statement of Special Inspections | Registered design professional | The special inspections and tests the building code requires (IBC §1704.3) | IBC 2024 §1704.3; see our SSI guide and city forms |
What should an inspection and test plan include?
| Column | Why it's there | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Spec section and paragraph | Each test is "referenced by the specification paragraph number requiring the test" | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Feature of work (DFOW) | Tests tie to the "associated feature of work" | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Inspection / test | What is checked or tested | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Referenced standard | E.g., ASTM C39/C39M for compressive strength | SpecProven sample line |
| Frequency | E.g., one set of cylinders per 50 cubic yards (sample) | UFGS; SpecProven sample line |
| Acceptance criteria | E.g., strength at least f'c at 28 days (sample) | SpecProven sample line |
| Hold / witness / review point | Where work stops, or who must be present or must review the record | Template convention |
| Responsible party | "the person responsible for each test" | UFGS 01 45 00 |
| Special inspection reference | Whether the line is also a code special inspection (IBC §1705), and continuous or periodic | IBC 2024 §1705 |
| Record, date and result | UFGS has the QC manager record the date each test was performed and the date results were forwarded | UFGS 01 45 00 §1.12.6 |
How this template uses hold, witness and review (adjust to your contract): Hold: work doesn't proceed past this point until the line is accepted. Witness: the named party is notified and may attend. Review: a document or report is reviewed and accepted.
How to create an ITP from specifications (step by step)
- Collect the project manual. Include Division 01 (quality requirements and any special-inspection section) and every technical section in scope.
- List definable features of work. Start with one feature per spec section, then split sections that cover more than one crew or control requirement (UFGS 01 45 00).
- Read each section for inspection and testing requirements. Capture each test as its own line with the section and paragraph number. In the SpecProven sample, the concrete strength requirement sits in 03 30 00, 3.6 Field Quality Control (SpecProven).
- Fill in standard, frequency and acceptance criteria exactly as the spec states them. Don't round or paraphrase the frequency.
- Cross-check against the Statement of Special Inspections and IBC §1705. Add or flag code-required inspections, e.g., concrete placement and specimen sampling (continuous) or reinforcement placement (periodic) under Table 1705.3 (IBC 2024).
- Mark hold, witness and review points, and name the responsible party and lab or agency for each line.
- Tie to the three phases of control. Review the testing plan at each DFOW's preparatory meeting. Verify that testing is done by the approved lab at the initial phase. Keep checking during daily follow-up until the DFOW is complete (UFGS 01 45 00 §1.8).
- Run it as a log. Record test dates, results and when results were forwarded. UFGS attaches the updated log to the last daily QC report of each month (UFGS 01 45 00 §1.12.6). Keep failed results on the line next to the passing retest.
ITP template (free)
Download: itp-template.csv
Inspection and test plan example (excerpt)
| # | Spec section ¶ | Feature of work | Inspection / test | Standard | Frequency | Acceptance | H/W/R | IBC 1705 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 03 30 00 ¶3.6 | Structural concrete | Compressive strength (cylinders) | ASTM C39/C39M | 1 set per 50 cu yd | ≥ f'c at 28 days | Review | Table 1705.3 item 6 |
| 2 | 03 20 00 ¶[spec] | Reinforcement | Reinforcement placement | ACI 318 Ch. 20; 25.2; 25.3; 26.6.1–26.6.3 | Periodic | Per approved documents | Hold | Table 1705.3 item 1 |
| 3 | 03 30 00 ¶[spec] | Structural concrete | Slump, air, temperature; cast specimens | ASTM C172, C31 | At placement (continuous) | [per spec] | Witness | Table 1705.3 item 6 |
| 4 | 31 23 00 ¶[spec] | Structural fill | Materials, densities, lift thickness | [per spec] | Continuous | [per spec] | Witness | Table 1705.6 item 4 |
| 5 | 05 12 00 ¶[spec] | Structural steel | QA inspection | AISC 360 QA requirements | Per AISC 360 | Per approved documents | Witness | §1705.2.1 |
Row 1 is the sample line shown on SpecProven's homepage. Rows 2–5 use IBC 2024 Tables 1705.3 and 1705.6 and §1705.2.1 (IBC 2024). Replace the bracketed values with your spec's own text.
Common ITP mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Lines with no spec paragraph | Every test references the paragraph that requires it (UFGS) |
| One line per section when the section has several crews or features | Split into separate DFOWs (UFGS) |
| ITP and SSI kept separately | Cross-reference each special inspection line to IBC §1705 and the SSI (UFGS item o; IBC §1704.3) |
| Failed tests overwritten by the retest | Keep both results on the line |
FAQ
What is an inspection and test plan?
A schedule of every inspection and test the contract requires. Each line gives the feature of work, the spec paragraph, the standard, the frequency, the acceptance criteria and the responsible party. UFGS 01 45 00 calls the testing portion a "Testing Plan and Log" (UFGS 01 45 00).
What is an ITP in construction?
The contractor's plan for proving the work meets the specifications. It sits inside the quality control plan, alongside the definable features of work and the three phases of control (UFGS 01 45 00).
What should a test plan include?
At minimum: the tests required, the associated feature of work, the spec paragraph requiring each test, the frequency, and the person responsible (UFGS 01 45 00). Most teams add the standard, acceptance criteria, hold/witness points and the record that proves each line.
Can you provide an example of an inspection test plan?
Yes. See the excerpt above. Its first line is concrete compressive strength per ASTM C39/C39M, one set of cylinders per 50 cubic yards, accepted at f'c or higher at 28 days, from spec section 03 30 00 ¶3.6. The full template is in the CSV.
How do you create an ITP from specifications?
Break the project manual into definable features of work, then read each section's testing and inspection requirements into lines with paragraph references. Add frequency and acceptance criteria as written, cross-check against the Statement of Special Inspections, and mark hold and witness points (steps above).
Is an ITP the same as a Statement of Special Inspections?
No. The SSI is prepared by the registered design professional for the building official (IBC §1704.3). The ITP is the contractor's working plan, which should include those special inspections plus every other spec-required test (IBC 2024; UFGS).
Skip the spreadsheet retyping
Upload your specifications and SpecProven splits them by CSI section, then drafts each field test as a line with its standard, frequency, acceptance criteria and source paragraph. It flags sections that are silent on a usual IBC Chapter 17 special inspection (SpecProven). After the plan is built, it matches incoming inspection reports to the plan lines they prove. Export to CSV, Excel, and PDF. A paid pilot is $2,900 to start and covers four projects, then $500 per project per month after the four included. Pricing.
Sources
- UFGS 01 45 00 Quality Control (PDF): https://legacy.wbdg.org/FFC/DOD/UFGS/UFGS%2001%2045%2000.pdf (landing: https://www.wbdg.org/dod/ufgs/ufgs-01-45-00)
- UFGS 01 45 35 Special Inspections (landing): https://www.wbdg.org/dod/ufgs/ufgs-01-45-35
- IBC 2024 Ch. 17 (UpCodes): https://up.codes/viewer/general-services-administration/ibc-2024/chapter/17/special-inspections-and-tests
- SpecProven homepage (sample line, workflow): https://specproven.com/
- SpecProven compare page: https://specproven.com/compare