Pre-Installation Meeting
A meeting held before a specific trade begins a critical or complex installation, such as a roofing membrane, curtain wall, or waterproofing system, bringing together the installer, the manufacturer's technical representative, the general contractor, and relevant inspectors to review substrate conditions, sequencing, and manufacturer requirements before work starts. Distinct from the project-wide [[concept-oac-meeting-minutes|OAC meeting]], which covers overall project status rather than one trade's installation.
Why it matters
Manufacturers often make attending and documenting this meeting a condition of their own product warranty, so skipping it doesn't just risk a bad installation, it can void the warranty coverage the owner is counting on regardless of how well the work actually turns out.
On a real project
Before a roof installation begins, the roofing subcontractor, the membrane manufacturer's technical rep, and the general contractor's superintendent walk the roof deck together, confirming the deck's moisture content is within the manufacturer's specified range before any membrane goes down.
Who this matters most to
A Superintendent coordinates and documents the meeting. A QA/QC Inspector verifies the substrate conditions discussed actually match what the manufacturer requires before installation proceeds.
Where this goes wrong
A general contractor skips the required pre-installation meeting for a waterproofing system to keep the schedule moving. When a leak develops after occupancy, the manufacturer denies the warranty claim, citing the missing documented meeting as grounds that its installation requirements were never confirmed as met.