Field Playbooks | TinnerFlow

Field rule: These playbooks help apprentices route the problem. They do not approve field changes. Plans, specs, code, manufacturer instructions, approved submittals, shop drawings, and foreman/journeyman direction win.

Workflow cards

What to check before you make the mistake.

Each playbook gives the first move, field steps, what not to do, when to ask, and what photos/info to collect.

30 playbooks shown

No playbook matched. Try cut, drill, reroute, damper, leakage, insulation, grease, flex, print, or foreman.

Playbook cards are included directly in the HTML so apprentices and crawlers can read the first move.

Browse all 27 field playbooks as text

Before You Cut

First move: Stop and confirm what you are cutting, why it needs to be cut, and who approved the cut.

Use when: You are about to cut something and the cut affects duct size, route, access, rated assemblies, roof/wall penetrations, insulation, or a finished/exposed surface.

Ask when: Ask before cutting if the print does not match field, another trade blocks the route, the cut touches a rated assembly, the duct is grease/exhaust/industrial, or the cut changes the intended fitting.

Before You Drill

First move: Confirm the drill point, approved anchor/hardware, depth, and what could be hidden behind the surface.

Use when: You are about to drill for hangers, anchors, penetrations, access, controls, or support hardware.

Ask when: Ask when the drill point is near steel, edge of slab, embeds, roof membrane, seismic bracing, fire-rated assemblies, or when the anchor is not shown/approved.

Before You Reroute

First move: Do not reroute first. Document the conflict and ask for direction.

Use when: A duct route is blocked by structure, sprinkler, pipe, cable tray, framing, ceiling, access requirement, or another trade.

Ask when: Always ask when a reroute changes size, elevation, fitting, damper location, access, support, pressure class, or coordination with another trade.

Before You Cover a Damper

First move: Treat the damper like future access is required until proven otherwise.

Use when: You see a damper, actuator, handle, access door, sleeve, breakaway connection, rated wall/floor, or damper label.

Ask when: Ask when the access side is unclear, actuator is blocked, access door is missing, damper sits in rated construction, or insulation will cover the access path.

Before Leakage Test

First move: Walk the system and check mechanical joints before throwing sealant at everything.

Use when: The system is near pressure/leakage test, inspection, TAB, startup, or punchlist.

Ask when: Ask when a leak is caused by bad fit-up, wrong material, missing gasket, damaged flange, access door issue, or when the test requirement is unclear.

Before Insulation

First move: Check what needs to remain visible, accessible, sealed, and dry before insulation covers it.

Use when: Duct is about to be wrapped, lined, closed up, or hidden above ceiling/walls.

Ask when: Ask when insulation conflicts with access, fire/smoke dampers, grease duct, sensors, or when the vapor barrier detail is unclear.

When the Route Is Blocked

First move: Name the obstruction and measure the conflict before asking for help.

Use when: Sprinkler, pipe, cable tray, beam, wall, ceiling, light, access panel, or equipment blocks the duct route.

Ask when: Ask when any route option changes duct shape, size, elevation, access, support, fire/smoke damper location, or coordination with another trade.

When the Print Doesn’t Match Field

First move: Confirm you are looking at the latest drawing before calling it a mismatch.

Use when: Dimensions, duct route, equipment location, ceiling height, wall location, or another trade does not match the drawing you are using.

Ask when: Ask whenever the mismatch changes duct size, location, support, access, coordination, ceiling, damper, equipment connection, or inspection requirement.

When You Don’t Know the Fitting Name

First move: Describe function, shape, connection type, size, and where it goes.

Use when: You need to ask for a fitting/tool/material but do not know the correct trade name.

Ask when: Ask when the part affects airflow, access, connection type, damper operation, grease/rated duct, or equipment connection.

When Foreman Asks: “What’s the Problem?”

First move: Lead with the exact system/location/problem, then show the measurement/photo.

Use when: You need to bring a field issue to a journeyman, foreman, detailer, or PM.

Ask when: Use this anytime the next move changes route, size, access, schedule, support, coordination, or inspection.

Before Moving a Hanger or Brace

First move: Treat supports and seismic bracing as engineered/approved until told otherwise.

Use when: A hanger/brace is in the way, missing, too short, misaligned, or conflicts with another trade.

Ask when: Ask whenever support spacing, anchor type, seismic brace, structural attachment, load path, or trapeze arrangement changes.

Before Touching Grease Duct

First move: Treat grease duct as red-zone work. Identify, document, and ask before modifying.

Use when: You are working on kitchen exhaust, grease duct, hood exhaust, welded duct, fire wrap, cleanouts, or access doors.

Ask when: Always ask when grease duct work involves access, welds, wrap, slope, penetrations, offsets, clearances, or coordination conflicts.

Before Sealing a Flange Leak

First move: Check mechanical fit-up first. Sealant is not a substitute for a bad joint.

Use when: A rectangular flanged joint leaks, looks open, is misaligned, has gasket trouble, or fails prep for test.

Ask when: Ask when the joint is physically wrong, damaged, missing parts, wrong system, or when sealing method/spec is unclear.

Before Installing Flex

First move: Plan the route so the flex is short, supported, not kinked, and mechanically connected.

Use when: You are installing flex to diffusers, boots, collars, boxes, or branch connections.

Ask when: Ask when flex route is too long, collar is blocked, ceiling conflicts exist, connection is inaccessible, or support method is unclear.

Before Treating Industrial Duct Like Normal HVAC

First move: Identify the system and approved construction method before assuming normal duct rules apply.

Use when: The duct is industrial, heavy gauge, welded, stainless/aluminum, dust/fume exhaust, high pressure, or not normal comfort-air duct.

Ask when: Ask anytime industrial/specialty duct has material, support, access, weld, slope, pressure, or safety requirements you are not sure about.

Before You Send a Field Photo

First move: Take one wide photo, one close photo, and one measurement photo.

Use when: You need to text/send a field condition, conflict, missing part, wrong fitting, access issue, or damage.

Ask when: Use anytime the answer depends on field condition and someone not standing next to you needs to understand it.

Lift Day Checklist

First move: Know who is in charge of the lift and where apprentices are allowed to stand before the pick starts.

Use when: A crane pick, RTU set, curb adapter, large duct lift, or other equipment pick is coming and apprentices need to know where to stand and what not to touch.

Ask when: Ask before lift day starts if your role, standing area, signal person, or exclusion zone is unclear.

Pre-Cover Walk Checklist

First move: Walk the run like someone else will inspect it after it is hidden.

Use when: You are doing a ceiling-close, insulation, hard-lid, or pre-cover walk and need to catch hidden-work problems before they disappear.

Ask when: Ask when any item affects access, seal, support, rating, TAB, inspection, or owner service.

Leakage Test Failed: Find the Leak

First move: Ask what section failed, what pressure/limit applied, and where the test setup was connected.

Use when: A duct section failed leakage or pressure test and the crew needs to find likely leak paths before retest.

Ask when: Ask when the leak is caused by bad fit-up, missing parts, damaged metal, unclear test limits, or wrong seal method.

Field Photo Checklist

First move: Take a wide photo, a close photo, and a measurement/reference photo.

Use when: You need to send a field condition, damage, mismatch, material problem, access issue, or measurement to someone who is not standing there.

Ask when: Use this whenever the answer depends on field condition and the decision maker is remote.

Wrong Material or Fitting Delivered

First move: Stop the install and prove the mismatch with photos, measurements, and drawing/spec reference.

Use when: The shop/supplier/staging area has the wrong fitting, wrong size, wrong material, wrong tape, or wrong spec item.

Ask when: Ask when the material/fitting/spec does not match, or when the fix changes route, size, material, access, inspection, or cost.

The move before the move.

Lift day, RTUs, VAVs, penetrations, and coordination

Pre-TAB Walk Checklist

System Airflow Investigation

Individual checklist pages

Before You Cut

Before You Drill

Before You Reroute

Before You Cover a Damper

Print Does Not Match Field

Before Installing Flex

Lift Day Checklist

Pre-Cover Walk Checklist

Leakage Test Failed: Find the Leak

Field Photo Checklist

Wrong Material or Fitting Delivered

Pre-Inspection Checklists Hub

Pre-Seismic Inspection Walk

Pre-Fire-Damper Inspection Walk

Life-Safety Renovation Check

Delivery Damage Check

Closeout Photo Checklist

Floor QA Walk Guide

What to check before you make the mistake.

Before You Cut

Before You Drill

Before You Reroute

Before You Cover a Damper

Before Leakage Test

Before Insulation

When the Route Is Blocked

When the Print Doesn’t Match Field

When You Don’t Know the Fitting Name

When Foreman Asks: “What’s the Problem?”

Before Moving a Hanger or Brace

Before Touching Grease Duct

Before Sealing a Flange Leak

Before Installing Flex

Before Treating Industrial Duct Like Normal HVAC

Before You Send a Field Photo

Lift Day Checklist

Pre-Cover Walk Checklist

Leakage Test Failed: Find the Leak

Field Photo Checklist

Wrong Material or Fitting Delivered

Get the TinnerFlow Apprentice Starter Pack