What is your accuracy rate during plans review?

[Yikes]

On another thread we were talking about DPOR's doing self-certification of plans in lieu of a conventional, formal plan check. One of the thresholds would be the anticipated accuracy of self-certified plans - - if a DPOR misses more than a couple of minor issues, then they lose their ability to self-certify.

Just curious, looking t it another way: if you had to make a guess regarding the minimum performance of the plan checkers and inspectors you know:

1. What % of corrections issued during initial plan check turned out to be already successfully addressed (compliant) on the plans, and were just missed/overlooked by the initial plan checker?
2. During construction, what % of written corrections by the field inspector turned out to be already addressed (compliant) on the plans?

 

[steveray]

1. Few...and nothing makes it through the first time....
2. A bunch would be solved by people actually following the plans....

Sample plan review for a guy that "builds a ton of houses"....Not done by a licensed designer

NOTE: The code items listed in this report are not intended to be a complete listing of all possible code requirements in the State Building Code It is a guide to selected sections of the code.

To Whom It May Concern,
Your permit is denied at this time due to unclear or a lack of required information on the submitted plans. Please clarify the following questions or notes and we will continue our review as soon as possible.


1. Hip roof framing needs bracing for hips, and how is thrust being controlled? CR802

2. You show a 2x6 ledger, 2x8 minimum.

3. Ledger fastening incorrect.

4. Braced wall plan Line3-1 shows the wrong fasteners.

5. NOTE: Roof venting not shown at shed roof. not shown. N1102.2.3

6. NOTE: deck may require additional lateral bracing!

7. Radon prep required! AF101.2

8. Architects seal or Please provide LVL specs/ beam sheets to verify compliance.

9. CO detector missing at upper level. R315.1

10. Smoke missing outside bedrooms first level.

11. NOTE: bathroom without window will require mechanical ventilation.

12. How are you handling whole house ventilation? R303.4

13. Please detail number of jack and king studs at all openings. R602.7 and R602.7.5 (doubles everywhere should suffice.)

14. NOTE: Any future basement fixtures will require a backwater valve.

15. NOTE: Foundation and building steel will need to be part of the grounding system. Electrician will need his permit prior to encasing rebar in concrete! 250.50NEC

 

[arwat23]

1. Depends on the project and the reviewer. Most of the time, the comments are valid. There are a few 3rd party reviewers (not naming names) that come up with some wild comments, stuff that isn't required or are addressed in some way on the plans. Outside of those agencies, maybe 5% or 10% are addressed on the plans or aren't required for the type of project. If we include those agencies, it's probably split about 50/50 (not a joke).

I recently got about 15 comments on a plan check. 8 of those were thrown out by the CBO because they disagreed with them.

2. Most of the time the inspector comments are a result of the contractor not following the plans, but there have been a few times where we missed something and no one noticed until the inspector showed up. Probably around 98% of the field inspection comments are a result of the contractor not following the plans, the remaining 2% because we missed something on our plans.

Edit: This is coming from a designer. I don't know what happens behind the scenes with a plan checker.

 

[SCBO1]

Please provide species of lumber, grade and o/c spacing!
Please note we are on the 2021I-codes not the 2012 I-codes
Missing SD outside bedroom
Is there an attic access, if trusses are being used, verify a 22x30-inch opening will be provided.
Water heater disconnect required, panel is not in sight!
Roof venting is missing 80% of the time
Long headers missing cripples is real common issue

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

1. What % of corrections issued during initial plan check turned out to be already successfully addressed (compliant) on the plans, and were just missed/overlooked by the initial plan checker?

This makes no sense. If it was already compliant, I wouldn't be writing it up. Misunderstood by the plan checker (me)? Less than 1 percent.

1. During construction, what % of written corrections by the field inspector turned out to be already addressed (compliant) on the plans?

Most.

 

[Yikes]

Thanks for the responses. I also wanted to clarify that my intent is not to criticize plan checkers or inspectors. My goal is to establish a baseline of expectations as to what could be considered a reasonable standard of care when plan checking.
Of course it is impossible for a plan checker to answer the question: "how many code compliance problems did you miss on first plan check?", because how could you possibly know? Maybe if you discovered on the backcheck something that had been hiding in plain sight on the initial check; or maybe if, during construction, the inspector gives you feedback on something you missed.

So I'm trying to ask it from the opposite direction: what % did you initially think think was wrong or missing, but later turned out to be there?

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Here's a suggestion: The ICC publishes their Plan Review Record forms for all their codes. If we want design professionals to self-certify, why not require than to submit an ICC Plan Review Record (IBC or IRC, as applicable) with each set of plans, and require that they indicate where on the plans each item of required information is shown or called out?

 

[Yikes]

Here's a suggestion: The ICC publishes their Plan Review Record forms for all their codes. If we want design professionals to self-certify, why not require than to submit an ICC Plan Review Record (IBC or IRC, as applicable) with each set of plans, and require that they indicate where on the plans each item of required information is shown or called out?

That is perfect! That's what I actually already do on multifamily projects prior to submittal. We use the LA Building and Safety Standard correction lists. I give it to the plan checker along with the initial submittal package.