CHK-100Compliance Review
Building Code Compliance Review
Review the Drawings Before the Building Department Does
A code compliance review is a focused review of project drawings against applicable requirements identified for the project.
The purpose is to catch avoidable issues before or during the permit process.
Quick Answer · CHK-100.QA
A code compliance review checks project drawings against the applicable requirements identified for the project, including egress, accessibility, life safety and MEP documentation, along with sheet-to-sheet coordination. It is useful before a first submission, before resubmitting corrected plans, or when working with an inherited or incomplete set. FirstPass reviews the drawings and identifies issues so they can be addressed early. A review does not guarantee approval by any reviewing authority.
For
Owners, contractors and design teams preparing or inheriting plan sets
You receive
A drawing review with identified issues to address
Depending on scope, review areas may include:
- Building-code information
- Occupancy and use information
- Construction type
- Egress
- Accessibility
- Fire and life-safety information
- Room and fixture requirements
- Electrical documentation
- Plumbing documentation
- Mechanical documentation
- Project notes
- Drawing coordination
- Required details
- Permit-set completeness
NoteReview areas are defined per project. Not every area applies to every set.
CHK-101Limits
Code Review Is Not a Guarantee of Approval
Only the applicable reviewing authority determines whether a submittal is accepted or approved.
Codes can also require professional judgment, engineering analysis or project-specific interpretation.
FirstPass therefore uses the more accurate promise:
Prepared and reviewed around applicable adopted codes and known jurisdiction requirements.
Not:
Guaranteed code compliant.
CHK-102Timing
When a Code Review Is Useful
If a reviewing authority has already issued comments, see Plan Check Corrections. To identify which codes and requirements apply in the first place, see Code & Jurisdiction Research. Complete drawing packages are prepared under Permit Plan Sets.
CHK-103Consistency
Coordination Review
Some apparent “code problems” are actually documentation problems.
For example:
- A door width differs between sheets
- Fixture counts do not match
- Equipment appears on MEP sheets but not architecture
- Room uses are inconsistent
- Notes reference the wrong project condition
General Note
A good review therefore considers both regulations and drawing consistency.
RFIClarifications
Code Compliance Review FAQs
Response
No.
Response
Potentially, after evaluating the set and defining the review scope.
Response
Where applicable local amendments are identified and relevant to the scope, they should be considered.
Response
No. Code Compliance Review is proactive or diagnostic. Plan Check Corrections responds to comments already issued by a reviewing authority.
SUB-001Submittal
Start With the Project, Not a Package
- –Send the address and a description of the work.
- –We help define the drafting scope before work begins.