There are two important inspection action codes in the Inspection and Test Plan they are called witness point and hold point. Few or many had been a little confused about these inspection action codes.
The Witness point and Hold point are always found and indicated in the Inspection and Test Plan. They are the construction stages that may need supplementary inspection or verification.
The purpose is to make sure construction specification requirements have complied accordingly and to proceed for the following activities. So the Verification process is outlined and documented in the Inspection and Test Plan as Witness Point and Hold Point.
Here is the best definition of Witness Point and Hold Point:
Hold Point is a mandatory verification point beyond which work cannot proceed without approval by the Engineer or Consultant or Municipality Inspector. The work cannot proceed until the Engineer or Consultant is able to verify the quality of the completed work and releases the Hold by means of Inspection Request approval.
Witness Point is an identified point in the process where the Engineer or Consultant may review, witness, inspect method, or process of work. The activities, however, may proceed.
Here is a sample of Hold Point:
Example no. 1
Hold Point: The first floor of our project is to be cast but it must be inspected by the Municipality Inspector before it will be poured with concrete. The Hold Point there is the inspection or verification of the Municipality Inspector; once the Inspection is approved it will release the Hold.
So in the short statement “The activity of pouring the concrete cannot start without the approval of the Engineer or Municipality Inspector.”
Example no. 2
Waterproofing membrane to be applied on foundations. The material must be approved first by the engineer before the construction team can use the material.
So, the waterproofing works cannot proceed without prior approval of the material submittal for waterproofing. The hold here is the approval of the consultant for the waterproofing Material Submittal.
Example no. 3
The municipality approval for the submitted structural drawing for the slab. If there is no approval from the municipality you cannot start the work meaning the hold is from the municipality building official.
Example no. 4
The floor tile color and dimensions, you cannot start installing or procuring without the client approval. The color and dimension must be approved by the client, so once the color and dimension of tile are approved then the material submittal will then be in status A or B. So, the hold there is the approval of the client.
Here is a sample of Witness Point:
Example no. 1
Witness Point: We were on painting activities for a second coat, the Inspector just witnessed the applications of coatings.
“There is a chance to attend an activity but does not involve obligation, the activity can proceed without approval.”
Example no. 2
The blockwork or block wall installation inspection. The consultant may not attend the inspection but the work on site can proceed and continue.
Example no. 3
The surface preparation prior to the application of waterproofing on wet areas. Let say in one floor there are 30 wet areas. So the consultant may either go to the site to see to it if the floors are cleaned or just ask from the quality engineer to check and provide documentary photos for the consultant.
Example no. 4
The inspection for plastering. The engineer or consultant sometimes will just conduct the surveillance or rely on a qaqc engineer to check and provide documentary photos.
We can visualize now the difference between Witness Point and Hold Point.
These two inspection action codes are the most important items in the inspection and test plan. The inability to distinguish the two codes might create a huge impact in the procedure of your inspection.
If you have clarification or you would like to supplement the above explanations you may write it down in the comment box below.
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Did you use the above samples of witness point and hold point in your project?Â
What is Witness Point?
Witness Point is an identified point in the process where the Engineer or Consultant may review, witness, inspect method or process of work. The activities, however, may proceed.
What is Hold Point?
Hold Point is a mandatory verification point beyond which work cannot proceed without approval by the Engineer or Consultant or Municipality Inspector. The work cannot proceed until the Engineer or Consultant is able to verify the quality of the completed work and releases the Hold by means of Inspection Request approval.
In the nuclear world, the Hold and Witness Point Interpretations are a little tighter. I call the Hold Point a “hard” stop. Whoever is performing the work MUST stop until the QC inspector has come and inspected the job, signing it off. There is never any reason for anyone to continue any work until the QC inspector has come, inspected and personally signed off the work inspection requirement.
A Witness Point is a little less restrictive. At a witness point, the work performer MUST notify QC that they are at a Witness Point and the work is ready to be inspected for acceptance, whatever that is. Again, the QC inspector MUST be notified that the work is available to inspect. Now, however, in contrast with the HOLD POINT, the QC Inspector may optionally allow the work performer continue the work, without hard inspection, verbally without being present. Should this occur, and in any event, the responsible work performer MUST identify the QC inspector who authorized work continuation, the date and time, and then sign personally for the allowance to continue work. ONLY after this may the work continue.
Hi Sir,
Please let me know how the hold point is released.. I mean the procedure associated with the release of hold point ?
Hello Balvinder,
In order to release the hold point is that let us say Pouring of Slab, before pouring the reinforcement, MEP, Formwork must be checked first by an engineer and municipality engineer once you received the approval via inspection request then it is time to release the HOLD and then you can pour the slab then.
I hope this helps.
There is no procedure. It is just very simple. Let’s say you have an inspection for the concrete pouring of the slab you cannot pour that without the actual inspection and approval of the engineer. Once you get the approval via inspection request then the hold for pouring the concrete will release eventually you start the pour.
Very good article , how ever I have received this comments on the design submissions . this reply came for consultant at 60% design submissions …
(((Please identify construction inspection and test Plan (ITP) witness hold points.))
Very Useful article Noel. Thanks
Welcome and thanks for stopping by.
What are typical electrical hold points
Thank you in advance
For Witness Point the contractor issue inspection request or not
Hi Mohamed,
You should issue it.
Good content.Thanks
Good article with nice info which is worth reading it. Thanks
Good article with nice info which is worth reading it. Thanks
Nice article with good content which is worth reading it. Thanks for the info.
Nice article with good content. Thanks for info.
Nice content.Thanks
Thanks for the article and the followup comments to questions. I have one.. Is you separated design and construction into 2 separate contracts (due to timing), and the design has been executed by an engineering firm who will not do the construction, which party is best to do the CQA work? the designers verifying the work has been built to his design, or the contractor to prove they have built it to the design? this is driven largely in relation to warranties so the principal cannot get caught in the middle…
Welcome, thanks for being here.
In your case, there should be QC on both parties. From the designer side, they should countercheck the work of the contractor if they are doing the work as per the design, right!
From the contractor, they should have their internal QA/QC in order to assure and control the project as per the designer or engineer’s requirement or client requirement. They don’t have to prove because that’s already a standard. This is already an international standard or SOP and Code of Practice that a contractor should have their Quality System built-in in their company and this should be handled by the Quality Department, if there isn’t, I don’t think so the project will be executed correctly.
It is best also to have a consultant or third-party inspector; this should be a client representative.
What is the difference between witness and observation?
Hi Alex,
Witness point is an identified point in the process where the engineer or consultant may review, witness, inspect method or process of work. The activities, however, may proceed. Which I explained already in this article https://www.qualityengineersguide.com/what-is-witness-point-hold-point.
You may want to say “Site Observation“, this is any activity and or material on site that does not comply with the method statement or inspection and test plan or project quality plan. But some engineers consider this as similar to nonconformance report.
Hoping that the above answers satisfy your questions.
Thanks
Hi there
Can you tell me what will be the hold points in the height work activity?
Engineer Noel, I need more clarification between Hold and witness & inspection point as follows
1. Is there any definition for Hold and witness point in any of the International standards in order to justify to consultant that we can proceed in case if it is not inspected by consultant. (As most of us think that the work cannot proceed without approval even for witness point)
2. Is it mandatory to get approval for the inspection from consultant with inspection point.
Please advice. Thank you for the reply and for all the efforts you have taken to make a blog which is beneficiary for all civil engineers. May GOD bless you.
Hello Manoj Sam,
Here is my answer to your questions.
1. There is no international standard specifically mention the definition of Hold and witness point but because it is the verification processes under Inspection and Test Plan which ITP is used as a way to fulfill the ISO 9001:2015 requirements in “Clause 9.1.1 General
Though it is general we then identified two verification processes which clearly explained in this article that a hold point is you cannot proceed the succeeding work without the actual inspection or presence of the engineer. In layman’s terms he “must” see the completed work before succeeding work proceeds. While witness point is that you can check the work under inspector or engineer advice (without his presence) but still there is document submitted such as IR.
2. Yes, it is, like Inspection Point for the proctor test of in-situ soil at every 700 cu. meter of backfilling. You raise the Inspection and then the inspector or engineer will witness where the sample is to be taken and then he may comment as “Approved as per satisfactory test report.”
I hope the above satisfies your questions. Thanks for your comment.
In short, in hold point, we cannot proceed the work without inspection of the client
and in witness point, we may proceed the work with out inspection of the client.
If it is under Client. Yes, just make sure that inspection action code (Hold/Witness) is under Client in the approved ITP. Please find and see sample ITP on this website. Please note that inspection action codes such as Hold, Witness, Record, Execution, Surveillance are assigned to inspectorate bodies which are Subcon/contractor, Engineer/Consultant, and Client depending on the severity of the work.
Legend: Key for Inspection Levels
H = Hold Point : Contractor must not proceed without Approval.
W = Witness point: Attendance at site is expected, signature is not required on check sheet, follow on work may proceed.
R = Review point: Responsible for reviewing documentation
I = Inspection: Responsible for carrying out inspection or test
S = Surveillance point: Responsible for carrying out random surveillance of inspection or test
(*)= (*) : To be specified case by case. E.g. Independent Laboratory
Surveillance (S) : qa/qc organization monitor work without notice from construction organization
Witness (W): notified in advance however inspection is done on schedule if qa/qc organization is not present
Hold (H): notified in advance however inspection is done on schedule if qa/qc organization is present
Sir, are these definations are correct?
The Witness point, should be in the presence also of the inspector.
sir, that is hold point.. the any part of the inspection shall not be carried out if the without presence of inspector.
but here, W means witness. we can go ahead the inspection, but we have to notify the period and all the details to the inspector. he may contact an inspection. it is up to him.
I concur with your explanation.
Dear Sir, I need waterproofing activity on Pilecap. How to make ITP?
Kindly give me some example for inspectable and non-inspectable materials
All materials that are physically used in construction are required to be inspected such as steel, cement, concrete blocks etc. There is no non-inspectable material otherwise, it is wood and plywood for forms.
I need Hold point and wittness point template.
Hi Syed, there is no templates for hold and witness point. It can only be seen on the Inspection and Test Plan as you categorize the the inspection whether it is hold or witness. It can be identified from your specification, drawing or contract or scope of work.
You may type in on the search box here to learn further about ITP.
Do Inspector/consultant should release the hold point to start the particular work?
Actually, the consultant should approve the inspection to release the “HOLD” and so that succeeding activity may proceed.
Sir kindly tell me some expected interview questions for the post of QC Inspector.
Just search here, I wrote about 4 possible questions. And read all my blog posts here, one of the posts here might be one of the questions.
Sir Noel… good day… I am a graduate of Civil Engineering course but my first work here in UAE from 2006 was in Facilities Management Services Co. till present. So, I would like to ask that do I have a chance to apply for a QA/QC Engineer/Inspector?… Thank you..
Good day too Prince. Ya why not as long as you have the guts or willingness to shift from your current position now to QA/QC Engineering field. If you are willing to start all over again because you’re about to start a new career. You have to experience the learning curve again, if you are willing to face that then you’re good to go.
Sir Noel ….. Thank you… And if possible can you give me an idea or website where I can get to start or to review some procedure or guidelines or standards for I am planning to apply QA/QC Inspector… Again thank you…
You can research online or check newspaper ads, you can find companies that are hiring QA/QC Inspectors and then try to apply. You can read my blog posts here to learn very quickly.
Sir I want to know about Hold point used in ITP.
Just head over to the Categories and go to the drop down menu and then click ITP, I have written some more blog posts about ITP.
Thanks for sharing good knowledge.
You are welcome…
Can any body tell me about the Surveillance (Control Point) of ITP?
Surveillance, it is usually refer to the Client or Employer. Let say for example, a ceramic tile material arrived on site. The Client or Employer has the chance to see it but that does not require approval from them.
ITP — we do not use this acronym in our nuclear work. Does it mean Independent Task Performer?
Otherwise, the way we use a surveillance procedure, a Control Point is the same as in any other procedure, with one stipulation. For most surveillances, the performer of the Control Point will be a qualified work performer at the same qualification and certification level as the work performer. They are a peer.
Thanks for this information, i was searching over the internet but this smart detail made my day.
Welcome.. Thanks too for coming… 🙂
Thank you for sharing this.
Welcome! Thanks too for visiting the site. 🙂
Thank you Mauro Zolin for the compliment.
GOOD