181 Issues Found in Fire Station Construction Documents
Cross-discipline code violations, structural conflicts, MEP coordination gaps, and accessibility issues—surfaced before permitting on an essential public safety facility.
"Fire stations are essential facilities—code compliance isn't optional. InspectMind caught issues across every discipline that would have caused permit delays or field rework."
— Project Team
Overview
A new municipal fire station project in California required comprehensive review across structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and accessibility disciplines—all under 2022 California Building Code requirements for essential facilities.
InspectMind analyzed the full document set and generated a prioritized issue list—highlighting 181 total issues including structural code violations, MEP coordination conflicts, placeholder data that would halt construction, and critical accessibility gaps.
The Challenge
- Essential facility classification → stricter seismic and structural requirements
- Multi-discipline coordination → structural, MEP, plumbing, electrical, fire alarm, accessibility
- Apparatus bay + sleeping quarters → specialized ventilation and fire separation requirements
- Public facility accessibility → full CBC Chapter 11B compliance required
What Was Found
InspectMind surfaced 181 issues across five key categories:
1. Structural Code Violations
Dangerous Steel Deck Cantilever
Details indicated a 6'-0" maximum steel deck cantilever—far exceeding the 2-3 foot limits permitted by SDI standards for construction loads.
Reinforcement Spacing Violations
CMU wall schedules specified horizontal reinforcement at 32" o.c., exceeding the CBC seismic requirement of 24" maximum for special reinforced masonry.
Incorrect Anchor Bolt Formula
Schedule note permitted single anchor bolts for short wall segments, contradicting CBC requirement for minimum two bolts per sill plate piece.
2. MEP Coordination Conflicts
Zero Airflow in Schedules
Fan and rooftop unit schedules listed 0 CFM for all units, contradicting required ventilation rates shown in T24 tables on the same sheet.
Equipment Capacity Mismatch
300kW generator connected to 100A transfer switch—a 1,040A source connected to a 100A switch creates a gross capacity mismatch.
Missing Apparatus Bay Ventilation
No exhaust capture system shown for vehicle exhaust in the apparatus bay—required for motor-vehicle-related occupancies.
3. Accessibility Violations (CBC 11B)
- Missing accessible route to mezzanine—training areas require elevator or ramp access
- Insufficient accessible toilet rooms—only 1 of 3 clustered rooms compliant (50% required)
- Drinking fountain configuration—single unit cannot meet both wheelchair and standing height requirements
4. Plumbing & Fire Protection Gaps
- Oil separator undersized—352 gal calculated requirement vs 125 gal specified capacity
- Contradictory roof drainage—notes specify scuppers, drawings show internal roof drains
- Vapor barrier placement error—specified under base material instead of between base and slab
5. Documentation & Coordination Errors
- Placeholder elevations—critical vertical datums shown as "(XXX'-XX")" throughout
- Outdated code references—lap schedules based on ACI 318-14 instead of CBC-required ACI 318-19
- Corrupted specification text—incoherent notes for gas piping that fail to provide installation criteria
- Equipment operating weights as 0 lbf—prevents accurate structural load calculations
Outcome
InspectMind enabled the team to identify and resolve critical issues before permit submission—avoiding delays, inspection failures, and costly field rework on an essential public safety facility.
Key Benefits
- 181 issues prioritized by severity for rapid triage
- Structural code violations caught before fabrication
- Accessibility gaps identified before ADA inspector review
- MEP equipment conflicts resolved before procurement
- Placeholder data flagged before construction documents issued
"On an essential facility like a fire station, every code violation matters. InspectMind gave us confidence that critical issues were identified before they became expensive problems."
Project Team
Municipal Fire Station Project