Passing a Quality Insulation Installation (QII) inspection on the first attempt saves builders time, money, and scheduling headaches. Failed inspections mean corrections, re-inspections, and potential delays to drywall and subsequent trades. The good news is that most QII failures are entirely preventable with proper planning, clear communication, and attention to a handful of critical details. This checklist covers everything builders need to address before calling their HERS Rater for a QII rough-in inspection.

Before Insulation Begins

Verify the CF-1R Compliance Documents

Before any insulation goes into the walls, confirm that you have current CF-1R compliance documents for the home and that the insulation specifications match what your contractor plans to install. The HERS Rater will compare the installed insulation against these documents, and any discrepancy — wrong R-value, wrong insulation type, or wrong installation method — will result in an automatic failure. If material substitutions are necessary, coordinate with your energy consultant to update the CF-1R before installation begins.

Communicate QII Requirements to Your Insulation Contractor

Not every insulation contractor is familiar with QII standards. Before the project starts, have a direct conversation with your insulation contractor about QII expectations. The key message is simple: every cavity must be completely filled, insulation must contact the air barrier on all six sides, and there can be no gaps, voids, or compressions anywhere in the building envelope. Contractors who understand these expectations from the beginning produce dramatically better results.

Ensure Framing Is Ready for Insulation

Insulation quality depends heavily on framing quality. Before insulation begins, walk the house and verify that all framing is complete, that blocking is installed where needed for air barrier continuity, and that no open cavities exist that would prevent the insulation from being enclosed on all sides. Pay special attention to areas like kneewalls, cantilevers, tub/shower surrounds on exterior walls, and dropped soffits — these are areas where air barrier blocking is often missing and where QII failures frequently occur.

Coordinate with Other Trades

Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-ins should be complete before insulation begins. If trades are still working in the walls after insulation is installed, they will inevitably displace or compress insulation, creating deficiencies that will fail QII inspection. Build your schedule to ensure all mechanical rough-ins are complete and inspected before the insulation contractor arrives.

During Insulation Installation

Full Cavity Fill — No Exceptions

Every framing cavity within the thermal envelope must be completely filled with insulation. This includes obvious areas like exterior wall cavities and attic spaces, but also commonly missed locations such as:

Above windows and doors (header cavities)
Behind tubs and showers on exterior walls
Rim joists and band joists at floor transitions
Cavities around garage-to-living-space walls
Floor cavities over unconditioned crawl spaces or garages
Kneewalls in bonus rooms and attic spaces
Dropped ceiling soffits that intersect exterior walls

A single missed cavity can fail the inspection. Walk the house after insulation is installed and check every area on this list before calling for the QII inspection.

Proper Fitting Around Penetrations

Every pipe, wire, duct, and electrical box that penetrates an insulated cavity must have insulation carefully fitted around it. Batt insulation should be split — not compressed — around wires and pipes, with half the thickness on each side of the penetration. Electrical boxes should have insulation cut to fit snugly around them without compression behind the box. This is the single most common area where insulation crews take shortcuts, and it is one of the first things HERS Raters check.

No Compression of Batts

Batt insulation must fill the cavity to its full intended thickness without being compressed. An R-21 batt designed for a 2x6 wall cavity should fill the full 5.5-inch depth. If a batt is too thick for the cavity, it must be replaced with the correct size — not compressed to fit. Similarly, batts should not be doubled over, folded, or bunched to fill oversized cavities. Each batt should be cut to the exact dimensions of the cavity it occupies.

Insulation in Full Contact With Air Barriers

On every side of every insulated cavity, the insulation must be in direct contact with the air barrier. In a typical wall, this means the insulation touches the exterior sheathing on one side and will be in contact with the drywall on the other side once it is installed. There should be no air space between the insulation and the sheathing, and the insulation should be flush with the face of the studs so it will contact the drywall.

In attic spaces, insulation must extend to the full depth over the top plates of exterior walls. Insulation baffles should be installed at the eaves to maintain ventilation channels while ensuring insulation extends to the outer edge of the wall below. In floor assemblies over unconditioned spaces, insulation must be in contact with the subfloor above and supported from below to prevent sagging.

Correct Depth and Density for Blown-In Insulation

If blown-in insulation is used in attics, walls, or floors, the installer must achieve the correct depth and density to deliver the rated R-value. Attic insulation depth should be verified with depth markers (rulers) installed throughout the attic at regular intervals. For dense-pack wall insulation, the correct density — typically 3.5 pounds per cubic foot for cellulose — must be achieved to prevent settling and ensure consistent thermal performance.

Before Calling for Inspection

Conduct Your Own Walk-Through

Before scheduling the QII inspection, conduct your own thorough walk-through of the house. Use a flashlight and check every wall cavity, floor cavity, ceiling space, and attic area. Look for gaps, voids, compressions, and missing insulation. Check behind tubs, above doors and windows, at rim joists, and in any area where trades may have disturbed the insulation. Fix any deficiencies you find before the HERS Rater arrives.

Verify Access to All Areas

The HERS Rater needs to be able to see and access every insulated area. Make sure attic hatches are accessible, crawl space entries are clear, and no stored materials are blocking insulated walls or ceilings. If the rater cannot access an area, they cannot certify it, and the inspection will be incomplete.

Ensure Proper Labeling and Documentation

Insulation products should have manufacturer labels visible that confirm the R-value and material type. For blown-in insulation, the installer should provide a certificate or card indicating the product used, the coverage area, the thickness, and the number of bags installed. This documentation helps the HERS Rater verify that the installation matches the CF-1R specifications.

After the Inspection

Address Corrections Promptly

If the HERS Rater identifies deficiencies, address them as quickly as possible. Most corrections are straightforward — filling a gap, replacing a compressed batt, or adding insulation to a missed cavity. The sooner corrections are made, the sooner the re-inspection can occur and the sooner drywall can proceed.

Learn From Each Inspection

Track the types of deficiencies found on each project and share the information with your insulation contractor. Over time, you will identify patterns — certain areas that are consistently problematic, certain crews that produce better results, or certain building designs that require extra attention. Use this data to continuously improve your QII pass rates.

Partner With Poppy Energy

At Poppy Energy, we want every builder we work with to pass QII on the first try. Our certified HERS Raters provide pre-inspection guidance, clear communication about expectations, and detailed correction reports when issues are found. We work as partners in your quality assurance process, not just as inspectors. Contact Poppy Energy today to schedule your next QII inspection and experience the difference that a collaborative approach makes.

A Builder's Checklist for Passing QII Inspection on the First Try