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Inspections - ITP's, ITR's and ITC's - Whats the difference?
Inspections - ITP's, ITR's and ITC's - Whats the difference?

Clearing up the differences between these commonly used terms

Damien Quinn avatar
Written by Damien Quinn
Updated over a week ago

There are a lot of acronyms thrown around in Construction, and there is certainly no shortage in the Quality Assurance field.

We often get asked;

  • "Whats the difference between an ITP and an ITR or ITC?"

  • "I'm being asked to submit an ITP for all works, generally we only submit an ITC for our site works"

At Visibuild we keep our naming convention simple - everything is an Inspection, whether its an ITP, ITC, ITR, Quality walk, etc. How you name these inspections is up to you.

So are you creating an ITP, an ITC or an ITR?

Hopefully the summarised definition below will provide some clarity.

Inspection Test Plan (ITP)

  1. Purpose: An ITP outlines the overall strategy and approach for inspecting and testing a specific project, process, or system. It provides a systematic plan for conducting inspections and tests to ensure compliance with established standards, specifications, or regulations.

  2. Content: An ITP typically includes the scope of the inspection, the inspection methods and techniques to be used, the acceptance criteria, the responsibilities of individuals involved, and the schedule of inspections and tests.

  3. Preparatory Document: The ITP is developed before the inspection or testing activities begin. It serves as a roadmap to guide the inspectors or testers throughout the process, ensuring that all necessary steps are followed.

  4. Dynamic: The ITP can be updated or modified during the course of the project or process, based on feedback, changes in requirements, or other factors that may impact the inspection and testing procedures.

Inspection Test Record (ITR) or Inspection Test Checklist (ITC)

  1. Purpose: An ITR or ITC is used to record the results of inspections and tests conducted during a project, process, or system evaluation. It serves as a formal record of the actual inspections or tests performed, their outcomes, and any deviations or non-conformities identified.

  2. Content: An ITR or ITC typically includes details such as the date and location of the inspection or test, the items or components inspected, the test methods used, the results obtained (pass/fail), any defects or non-conformities found, and signatures of the individuals involved.

  3. Post-Inspection Document: The ITR or ITC is created after the inspection or testing activities have been completed. It provides evidence of the quality of the inspected or tested items and serves as a reference for future audits or reviews.

  4. Static: The ITR or ITC is generally not subject to modifications once it has been completed, as it represents a historical record of the specific inspection or test activity and its outcomes.

In summary, an Inspection Test Plan (ITP) is a preparatory document that outlines the strategy and approach for inspections and tests, while an Inspection Test Record (ITR) or Inspection Test Checklist (ITC) is a record of the actual inspections or tests conducted, documenting the results and findings. The ITP guides the overall inspection and testing process, while the ITR or ITC provides a formal record of the specific activities and their outcomes.

Do you have any thoughts or comments on the above? We would love to hear from you!

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