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epos159

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Feb 6, 2024
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3
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PA
Hi, my name is Eric and totally new here!
I work in pre construction for my company and file permit applications regularly. I'm running into an issue where we're missing details in drawings, or things aren't to code.
I would like to be able to review them myself, and know what I'm looking for (I know some). My question is: Are there courses online that teach how to do plan review? Teach code?

I look forward to the replies!

Eric
 
I don't know of any courses, but IMHO a good place to start would be to purchase the IBC and IRC Commentary books. Each reproduces the code language, supplemented with explanatory text to help you understand what the code says.
 
mtlogcabin said:
What type of construction does your company do? Knowing what your company does might help us direct you to specific sites.
Click to expand...
We are a GC, and do anything from ground up to remodels and service/maintenance (commercial and residential)
 
You might contact your local building department and see if they can recommend something.

You can start now by making a checklist of things you’ve run into in the past and develop that list through time. I did a search for “IBC plan review checklist,” there are a number of building departments that have prepared plan review checklists, here are a few I found:

Philadelphia - this is a page with an impressive list of different plan review checklists.
www.phila.gov

L&I plan review checklists | Department of Licenses and Inspections

L&I permitting staff use these checklists when reviewing permit applications.
www.phila.gov www.phila.gov

Phoenix

Austin

Maybe you can use these as inspiration to create your own checklist for a project you have, then when a new project type comes along you add points that apply to the new building type.
 
epos159 said:
My question is: Are there courses online that teach how to do plan review? Teach code?
Click to expand...
I was looking more closely at the list of topics on the forum home page and realized there is a Code Training section, if you’re still interesting in learning more about codes you might find something helpful there:

Code Training

Threads concering upcoming training opportunities, training ideas and other educational collaborations.
www.thebuildingcodeforum.com
 
epos159 said:
Hi, my name is Eric and totally new here!
I work in pre construction for my company and file permit applications regularly. I'm running into an issue where we're missing details in drawings, or things aren't to code.
I would like to be able to review them myself, and know what I'm looking for (I know some). My question is: Are there courses online that teach how to do plan review? Teach code?
Click to expand...

What are you going to do if you think you have found errors or omissions in a design professional's construction documents? Does your company bid for work for owners/clients, or is your company a developer that only builds your own projects? If the design team is working for the owner and your company is only the general contractor, you are not party to the owner-architect agreement and, quite candidly, you should probably keep your nose out of it. Let the building department review the plans and point out the problems to the owner.

Yes, your company may be applying for the permits, but when you do that you are doing it as an agent of the owner. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that the construction documents meet code; it is not the general contractor's responsibility. The GC's responsibility is to construct what's shown on the construction documents as approved by the building department. If the permit is denied because of problems with the construction documents, transmit the comments to the owner and let the owner thrash it out with the design team.
 
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