Childcare Facility: 234 Issues Found in Pre-Permit Review
AI plan checking uncovered 234 issues including critical temperature conflicts, equipment capacity mismatches, code violations, and extensive drawing coordination problems before permit submission.
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.
Critical Findings (11)
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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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).
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'.
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'.
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)
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.
Within the same page, the sheet number and sheet title appear differently in two title block/title references, indicating conflicting sheet identification.
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.
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
"Finding 234 issues—including 24 critical permit blockers—before submission saved us from weeks of delays, permit rejections, and costly field corrections. The equipment capacity mismatches alone would have caused major system performance failures."
— Project Team, Childcare Facility