Construction uses a lot of acronyms, and quality assurance has more than its share. If you're new to the industry, or you've moved from a company that used different words for the same thing, this guide explains the terms you're most likely to come across.
We often get asked questions like "What's the difference between an ITP and an ITC?" or "I've been asked for an ITP, but we normally just submit ITCs. Is that the same thing?" The short answer is no. They're related, but they do different jobs.
Inspection and Test Plan (ITP)
An ITP is the plan. It's written before the work starts and sets out what needs to be checked, how it'll be checked, what counts as a pass, who's responsible, and when each check happens. Think of it as the roadmap for quality on a particular scope of work, like concrete pours or waterproofing.
Because it's a plan, an ITP can be updated during the project if requirements change.
Inspection and Test Checklist (ITC) or Inspection and Test Record (ITR)
ITC and ITR are two names for the same thing. Different companies just prefer different terms.
An ITC or ITR is the record. It's filled out on site as the work is checked, and captures what was inspected, where and when, whether it passed or failed, any problems found, and who signed off.
Once it's complete, an ITC or ITR doesn't change. It's the evidence that the work was checked, and it's what you'll refer back to during audits or at handover.
In short: the ITP says what you plan to check, and the ITC or ITR proves you checked it.
Other terms you might hear
Hold point: a step in an ITP where work must stop until someone (often the client or engineer) inspects and approves it.
Witness point: a step where someone should be notified and given the chance to attend, but work can continue if they don't.
Defect: work that is incomplete or doesn't meet the required standard, usually picked up during inspections or at handover.
Non-conformance (NCR): a formal record that something doesn't meet the specification, contract or standard, and needs to be investigated and fixed.
How these terms show up in Visibuild
In Visibuild, ITPs and ITCs are created as Inspections, with the ITP or ITC subtype applied. Subtypes let you categorise your work the way your team actually talks about it, then filter and report on it.
Visibuild comes with a set of built-in subtypes, and your Company Admin can create custom ones too, for example if your team uses "ITR" rather than "ITC".
To learn what subtypes are and which ones come built in, see Understanding Visi subtypes.
To create your own, see How to set up custom Visi subtypes as a Company Admin.