Hold, Witness and Review Points in an ITP, Explained

Published 9 November 2026

An inspection and test plan (ITP) lists every inspection activity on an order, who performs it, the acceptance criteria and the level of involvement of each party. The involvement is usually coded with letters. The most common are H, W and R.

H: hold point

Work stops until the buyer’s inspector has attended the activity and accepted the result, or has waived attendance in writing. Typical hold points are pressure tests, factory acceptance tests and final release. If the vendor continues past a hold point without release, the item can be rejected even if it is good.

W: witness point

The inspector is entitled to attend. The vendor must notify the inspection in time, usually three to five working days ahead for equipment in China. If the inspector does not attend at the notified time, the vendor may proceed and the record is reviewed later.

R: review

The inspector checks documents rather than activities: material certificates, welding qualifications, NDE reports, heat treatment charts. Review points are often done in batches at the next visit.

How many hold points should an order have?

Fewer than most first drafts. Every hold point can stop production, so use them where a defect would be hidden or costly after the step: before closing a vessel, the hydrotest, the FAT, and final release. Make the rest witness or review points. A clear ITP with a few well-placed hold points gets better attendance and fewer disputes than one where everything is a hold.

Notification and travel in China

Many vendors are in smaller industrial towns, so plan notice periods with travel time in mind. Ask the vendor to notify the inspection agency and the buyer at the same time, with the test procedure attached, so the inspector can check the procedure before travelling.