What do I do before core drilling, sleeving, or cutting a deck/wall opening?
Stop until the opening is approved, located, and cleared. Verify the drawing, layout mark, slab/deck clearance process, structure, embeds, utilities, and foreman approval before any drill or saw starts.
High-risk starter answer - stop before cutting, drilling, coring, sleeving, enlarging, patching, or relocating any opening. Structural members and decks are a hard stop until the foreman/GC verifies the approved structural path.
I'm ready to core/sleeve this opening, but I don't see a clear approval mark or clearance confirmation. Can you verify it is approved and clear before I drill?
Watch out
Do not cut because the duct does not fit. Do not drill, core, notch, torch, or cut structural members without written/approved direction.
Check
Confirm the exact location from approved drawings and field marks.
Check what is above, below, behind, or inside the cut.
Verify whether the wall/deck/roof/shaft/beam is structural, rated, waterproofed, post-tensioned, or shared with other trades.
Look for structural notes, embeds, inserts, PT warnings, beams, rebar/PT concerns, and GC/safety approval.
Steps
Confirm the latest drawing/detail and exact location.
Check whether structural approval, layout mark, scan, permit, hot work, dust control, water control, or GC approval is required.
Look for conflicts with rebar, post-tension cables, embeds, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, or rated assemblies.
Confirm sleeve size, elevation, firestopping path, and who owns the penetration.
Ask before drilling if the approval mark is missing or unclear.
Say this to your foreman
I'm ready to core/sleeve this opening, but I don't see a clear approval mark or clearance confirmation. Can you verify it is approved and clear before I drill?