CWI-Grid provides AWS CWI and ICC S1-certified structural steel and high-strength bolting inspection for data center projects — the credentials your AHJ requires, the documentation your schedule depends on.
Starting at $120/hr for standard single-inspector engagements. Multi-phase and travel scopes quoted separately — response within one business day.
Four reasons data center GCs and developers engage a dedicated inspector before the first piece of steel goes up.
Data center projects operate under strict inspection hold points enforced by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction. A missed credential, incomplete weld report, or undocumented bolt-up sequence stops your pour, delays steel erection, and pushes your energization date. A dedicated ICC S1-certified inspector eliminates that risk before it reaches the field.
Structural connections in data center builds — column base plates, moment frames, and roof support for heavy MEP and rooftop cooling equipment — require bolt-up inspection under AISC 360 and RCSC specifications. An AWS CWI alone is not sufficient. ICC S1 certification is the credential your spec requires.
By the time a structural weld defect becomes visible, steel is enclosed and finishes are complete. Third-party visual weld inspection and NDE coordination during erection — not after — is the only way to protect the structural envelope of a facility designed to run 24/7/365.
Hyperscale and colo data center projects run in phases. A failed inspection in Phase 1 doesn’t just delay Phase 1 — it cascades into generator pad placement, electrical infrastructure, and mechanical fit-out. Independent inspection on the front end is schedule insurance.
Three scopes. One credentialed inspector. One less coordination problem for your PM.
Code-based visual inspection of structural steel connections, welds, and fabrication quality during erection. We document all hold points and deliver clear reports your AHJ and GC can rely on.
Bolt-up inspection performed by ICC S1-certified Special Inspectors — the specific credential required for high-strength bolted connection verification under IBC and AISC 360.
AWS CWI-performed visual weld inspection at each hold point, with NDE coordination for ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and radiographic testing where specified by your SIP.
No onboarding delays. No credential gaps. No surprises at the hold point.
Share your project specs, IBC Special Inspection Program (SIP), and schedule. We review the scope, confirm credential alignment with your AHJ requirements, and return a project quote within one business day. Most data center GCs engage us at steel erection kick-off — earlier is better, but we work with your timeline.
Most projects mobilize within 24–48 hours of contract execution. We review your structural drawings, identify hold and witness points, coordinate with your site superintendent, and arrive inspection-ready. AWS CWI and ICC S1 credentials confirmed before day one. No onboarding lag.
Every inspection generates a clear, dated report with findings, photo documentation, weld IDs, and bolt-up records — formatted to satisfy AHJ submittals and owner QA requirements. Delivered same day or next morning. Your PM always knows exactly where the project stands.
Our Special Inspection Program requires both AWS CWI and ICC S1 credentials. Can one inspector cover both scopes?
Yes. CWI-Grid inspectors hold both AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) and ICC Structural Steel & Bolting Special Inspector (S1) credentials. Both scopes — weld inspection and bolt-up inspection — can be covered under a single inspector engagement, simplifying your SIP documentation and eliminating the coordination overhead of managing two separate inspection firms.
How far in advance do we need to engage you to make our steel erection start date?
Most projects are confirmed and mobilized within 24–48 hours. That said, engaging us at the time of your steel erection subcontract award gives us time to review drawings, identify hold points, and coordinate with your AHJ before the first piece of steel goes up. Early engagement costs nothing. Late engagement costs schedule.
What does our AHJ actually require for structural steel and bolt-up inspection on a data center build?
Most jurisdictions enforcing IBC require a Special Inspection program that includes both structural steel fabrication and erection inspection, and high-strength bolted connection inspection performed by a qualified Special Inspector. ICC S1 certification satisfies the bolting scope in most AHJ programs. We review your SIP and confirm alignment before mobilization — if there’s a credential gap, you’ll know before the inspector shows up, not after.
Your AHJ inspection hold points aren’t flexible. Your structural drawings are finalized. The only variable left is whether your inspector is credentialed, ready, and on-site when the first connection goes up.
Most projects confirmed within 24–48 hours • Starting at $120/hr for standard single-inspector engagements • Multi-phase and travel scopes quoted separately
