Childcare Facility: 234 Issues Found in Pre-Permit Review

The project

A childcare and educational facility project requiring comprehensive coordination across architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and civil disciplines. The project included multiple classroom spaces (Infant, Toddler, Preschool, Preppers), kitchen facilities, mechanical rooms, and playground areas with strict compliance requirements for Group E occupancy including life safety, accessibility, and building code standards.

Project type

Childcare · educational facility · multi-discipline

Codes referenced: 2024 International Building Code · ICC A117.1 · NFPA 13 · NFPA 72

Critical findings (11)

1. Mixing valve temperature setting conflict: EWH-2 fixtures set to 140°F vs mixing valves set to 110°F

   Plumbing

   Critical

   P-600 states fixtures connected to EWH-2 must have mixing valves set to 140°F, but P-600 also requires mixing valves at lavatories/sinks/hand sinks to be set at 110°F. P-101 likewise schedules a mixing valve outlet temperature of 110°F. These are direct conflicts for the required delivered (tempered) water temperature.

2. RTU-6 Cooling Capacity Mismatch: 7-Ton on Roof Plan vs 4-Ton in Schedule

   Mechanical

   Critical

   The HVAC Roof Plan (M-300) shows RTU-6 with a cooling capacity of 7 TON, while the Rooftop Air Handling Unit Schedule on M-400 lists RTU-6 as a 4 TON unit. This represents a 75% discrepancy in the specified cooling capacity for the same equipment.

3. Conflicting Timer Model Number Specified for HWRP-1 Circulator Pump Controller

   Electrical

   Critical

   Sheet E-200 Power Plan Key Note 18 specifies the controller and disconnect for HWRP-1 (circulator pump for EWH-1) shall be Bell & Gosset Timer Model# 'NBF-8S/LW'. However, Sheet E-220 Mechanical Power Plan Sheet Note 3 specifies the same controller and disconnect for HWRP-1 shall be Bell & Gosset Timer Model# 'TC-1'. Two different model numbers are specified for the identical piece of equipment.

4. Inspector's Test Connection orifice size mismatch (1/4" vs 1/2")

   Fire Protection

   Critical

   The Wet Sprinkler Valve Assembly (Detail 6 on FP-300) specifies a 1/4" removable seat for the inspector's test connection. However, the Fire Protection Legend (FP-100) specifies sprinkler heads with a 1/2" nominal orifice, and Detail 3 (FP-300) requires the test outlet to give flow "equivalent to one sprinkler".

5. Missing Room 'PREPPERS' on Dimension Plan

   Architectural

   Critical

   The Door Schedule on A-121 lists a room named "PREPPERS" with four associated doors (PEP-1, PEP-2, PEP-3, PEP-4), including one marked as "EXTERIOR". However, the Dimension Plan on A-012 does not show any room labeled "PREPPERS". While a room "PREP 105" exists, it appears to be an interior service room (Kitchen/Prep) distinct from the classroom areas.

6. Contradictory Window Sill Manufacturer and Material Assignment

   Architectural

   Critical

   Detail 2 on sheet A-081 explicitly specifies a "MASONRY SILL CAP" to be provided "BY WINDOW MANUFACTURER". However, the Exterior Material Schedule on sheet A-051 lists the window manufacturer as "PLY GEM" (a vinyl window manufacturer). Vinyl window manufacturers do not fabricate masonry products. Furthermore, the schedule assigns the precast sill ("SILL-1") to "MODERN PRECAST". The detail incorrectly places masonry scope on the vinyl window supplier.

7. Exterior Door Frame Depth Incompatible with Wall Construction

   Architectural

   Critical

   Drawing A-121 Door Schedule assigns Frame Type "C" to exterior hollow metal doors (e.g., CO-1, MEC-1). The detail for Frame Type C on A-121 specifies a fixed frame depth of "4 3/4"". However, the referenced exterior door header detail on A-081 (Detail 4) calls for "R-21 BATT INSULATION" in the exterior wall, which necessitates a nominal 2x6 stud framing (5.5" actual depth). A 4 3/4" deep frame cannot be installed on a 2x6 wall assembly (min. 6.5" thickness with finishes).

8. Contradictory Pantry Hand Sink Connection Details

   Plumbing

   Critical

   There is a direct contradiction regarding the plumbing connection for the Pantry Hand Sink on sheet A-134. Keynote 7A specifies an 'INDIRECT DRAIN CONNECTION', while General Note 19 and the Elevation 2 label both explicitly specify a 'DIRECT CONNECTION'.

9. Conflicting Foundation Types for Playground Awning

   Architectural

   Critical

   Drawing A-051 designates the playground awning and refers to A-152 for details. However, A-152 contains conflicting foundation designs for this single element. Section 1 references Detail 6/A-152, which specifies a surface-mounted connection to an 'EXISTING CONCRETE PAD'. In direct contradiction, Elevation 2 references Detail 3/A-152, which details a 'TYPICAL POST FOUNDATION' utilizing a reinforced concrete pier '4'-0" MIN. BELOW GRADE'.

10. Parapet Elevation Discrepancy

    Architectural

    Critical

    The Roof Plan (A-031) indicates a top of parapet elevation of 22'-0" in the bottom center area where Wall Section 2/A-073 is referenced. However, Wall Section 2/A-073 details the parapet with a top of coping elevation of 19'-0", creating a 3-foot vertical conflict.

Sample high priority findings (4 total)

1. Page 2 has two different sheet numbers (P-102 vs SP-102) for "SITE DETAILS"

   Document Coordination

   High

   On the same PDF page, the title information identifies the sheet as both "P-102 / SITE DETAILS" and "SP-102 / SITE DETAILS," which are conflicting sheet numbers for the same content.

2. Sheet identification conflict: I-101 vs M-101 and "BOL LIST" vs "SYMBOL LIST"

   Document Coordination

   High

   Within the same page, the sheet number and sheet title appear differently in two title block/title references, indicating conflicting sheet identification.

3. Knox box tamper switch connection specified to different systems

   Fire Protection

   High

   FA-200 Key Note 4 specifies the Knox box tamper switch 'CONNECTED TO THE SECURITY SYSTEM' but the FA-100 riser diagram shows the Knox box connected to the fire alarm control panel sending a supervisory signal. The fire alarm system matrix on FA-200 also lists Knox box tamper switch as a fire alarm system input.

4. Riser indicates 10 RTUs but only shows HS shutdown switches for 5 units

   Fire Protection

   High

   The fire alarm riser diagram on FA-100 notes 'RTU-1 THROUGH 10' indicating 10 rooftop units for control module coordination, but only shows HVAC Unit Emergency Shut-Off Switch (HS) devices connected to RTU-1 through RTU-5. No HS devices are shown for RTU-6 through RTU-10.

Issue categories

Fire Protection

Fire sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide detection, and fire code compliance

Architectural

Room assignments, door schedules, floor plans, elevations, wall sections, and building code compliance

Mechanical

HVAC systems, RTU schedules, cooling capacity, gas loads, ventilation, and mechanical code compliance

Plumbing

Water supply, mixing valves, backflow preventers, fixture counts, recirculating pumps, and plumbing code compliance

Electrical

Panel schedules, equipment controllers, fire alarm systems, and electrical code compliance

Structural

Foundation types, truss elevations, roof geometry, beam elevations, and structural coordination

Code Compliance

IBC compliance, accessibility requirements, building code violations, and code reference accuracy

Document Coordination

Drawing conflicts, schedule mismatches, sheet numbering errors, cross-reference issues, and document coordination

Value delivered

• 234 issues surfaced before permit submission
• 11 critical permit-blocking issues identified
• Equipment capacity mismatches caught (75% discrepancy in RTU-6)
• Code violations identified including accessibility non-compliance
• Cross-document coordination conflicts resolved pre-construction
• Temperature setting conflicts preventing safety hazards