Boston Commercial Plan Review: 97 Issues Found

Summary: The Code Sheet Section 3.10.3 states the LULA elevator cabin size 'is minimally required to be 26 inches wide by 60 inches deep' per 521 CMR 28.12.3. However, Section 3.10.2 of the same sheet confirms the project is required to comply with the 2010 ADA. ADA Section 408.4.1 requires limited-use/limited-application elevator cars to provide a...

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Summary: Demolition Key Note 1 instructs: 'ALL EXISTING POWER, LIGHTING, AND FIRE ALARM AND ASSOCIATED WIRING AND CONDUITS OUTSIDE OF THE CORE AREAS SHALL BE DEMOLISHED BACK TO SOURCE.' General Demolition Note 4 specifies what to maintain during construction: 'MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS SERVICE ON REMAINING FEEDERS, CIRCUITS OR PARTIAL CIRCUITS AND OUTLETS...

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Summary: Detail 6 on this sheet is titled 'CONNECTION OF W18 TO UNDERSIDE OF (E)BEAM,' establishing that the connection is intended for a W18 beam. However, within the same detail, the new beam is explicitly labeled 'NEW W10 BEAM.' A W18 beam has an approximate depth of 17.7–18.5 inches while a W10 beam has an approximate depth of 10–11.1 inches. The...

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Summary: Detail 3 (Fan Equipment Hanging Detail) depicts the complete hanging assembly for suspended fan equipment, consisting of beam clamps or concrete inserts, hanger rods, and vibration isolators connecting to the equipment frame. No seismic bracing, lateral restraints, or snubbers are shown or referenced in the detail. IBC Section 1613.1 explicitly...

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Summary: Emergency Lighting Note 3 allows exit signs to be circuited to the closest standard 120/277V lighting circuit if an emergency circuit is unavailable. However, Emergency Lighting Note 1 explicitly states that integral batteries are only provided within fixtures indicated by 'EM' and Emergency Battery Units (EBU). Because exit signs are not...

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Summary: Detail 6 is titled 'CONNECTION OF W18 TO UNDERSIDE OF (E)BEAM,' yet the beam shown within the detail is explicitly labeled 'NEW W10 BEAM.' A W18 section is approximately 18 inches deep while a W10 is approximately 10 inches deep, meaning the connection components depicted, PL6x6x1/2 plate, (2) 3/4' threaded rods, and 3/8' stiffener plates, ...

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Summary: The specifications for electric strip heater assemblies direct that they be sized to the 'FULL DUCT SIZE (LESS ANY INTERIOR LINING)'. This instruction indicates that the interior duct lining will remain continuous through the heater location to fit the reduced heater size. This directly violates IMC Section 604.8, which mandates that all...

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Summary: The structural framing plan on S1.02 annotates the raised platform slab thickness as '6 1/4' (LW)', and Detail 1/S2.01 (TYPICAL SECTION AT INFILL) confirms this with 'NEW 6 1/4' SLAB ON DECK'. However, Detail 2/S2.01 (TYPICAL SECTION AT RAISED PLATFORM WALL), which is directly referenced from the same platform area on S1.02 via callout...

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Summary: The Partial Fire Alarm Riser Diagram labels the notification appliance circuits as 'CLASS A APPLIANCE CIRCUITS - LEVEL 1 SURVIVABILITY.' However, the Fire Alarm Specification requires notification appliance circuits to be provided as 2-hour rated cable or cable system, which corresponds to NFPA 72 Level 2 pathway survivability. Level 1...

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Summary: The stair detail on the drawing explicitly specifies 'QTR WHITE OAK WOOD TREADS AND RISERS. M. BOHLKE VENEER CORP. ULTRA MATTE CLR. FINISH' over metal pan stairs. However, the specification Section 055100 scope of work states the work included is 'Steel stairs with checkered plate treads.' Furthermore, Section 055100, 2.6.C.2 describes the...

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Summary: Drawing Notes 5 and 29 explicitly define the Finish Floor Elevation (F.F.E.) datum as the 'TOP OF CONCRETE OR UNFINISHED FLOOR' and 'TOP OF STRUCTURAL SLAB'. However, Specification 035400 requires a concrete floor topping with a minimum depth of 1/4' and a maximum depth of 2'. Establishing the F.F.E. at the structural slab means the actual...

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Summary: The fire alarm testing protocol (item 5) on the drawing states that the sprinkler system valve tamper switch will be tested for 'TROUBLE INDICATION' on the building's fire alarm system. However, IBC Section 903.4.1 requires that alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals shall be distinctly different. A sprinkler control valve tamper switch is a...

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Summary: General Demolition Note 5 instructs the contractor to 'FIRE STOP ALL FIRE WALL PENETRATIONS.' However, IBC Section 714.4 requires that penetrations into or through fire walls, fire barriers, smoke barrier walls, AND fire partitions shall all comply with fire stopping requirements. The note's language explicitly limits fire stopping to 'fire...

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Summary: The Level 1 Lighting Plan shows only one fixture designated with an 'EM' (emergency) marking on the entire ground floor, located near the exterior wall at approximately grids 1/1.1 and A/B. Emergency Lighting Note 1 explicitly states that emergency lighting is 'SERVED VIA INTEGRAL BATTERIES WITHIN FIXTURES INDICATED BY 'EM' AND EMERGENCY...

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Summary: The Code Sheet (Section 3.9.12) explicitly lists the rooms and spaces required to have emergency illumination in the event of a power supply failure, but it completely omits Fire Command Centers, Fire Pump Rooms, and Generator Rooms. Section 3.2 of the drawing confirms the existing building contains a fire command center, an electrically...

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