Construction QA & Plan Check Glossary

A quick reference for the construction QA/QC and plan check terms that show up in drawing review and permitting. Each term links to a full explainer.

AI Plan Checking

Using AI to automatically review construction drawings, specs, and submittals for errors, coordination conflicts, and code violations before permit or the field.

Construction QA/QC

Quality assurance and quality control for construction documents and work. QA is the process that prevents defects; QC is the checking that catches them.

QA vs QC

QA (quality assurance) is the proactive process built to prevent defects; QC (quality control) is the inspection that detects them. You need both.

Plan Review

Reviewing construction drawings against building codes and standards — by a jurisdiction or internally — before a permit is issued or the set is released.

Plan Check vs Plan Review

Often used interchangeably. 'Plan check' usually refers to a jurisdiction's code review for permit; 'plan review' can be internal or external QA of the documents.

Plan Check Comment

An issue a plan reviewer flags on submitted drawings that must be resolved and resubmitted before a permit is issued. Also called a correction or redline.

Drawing Coordination

Ensuring drawings across disciplines and sheets agree with one another, so details, dimensions, schedules, and callouts stay consistent.

MEP Coordination

Reviewing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings against each other and against architecture and structure to catch clashes and coordination gaps.

Constructability Review

A review that assesses whether a design can actually be built efficiently and safely, catching conflicts and gaps before construction begins.

Shop Drawing

A detailed drawing from a contractor, fabricator, or supplier showing how a component will be fabricated and installed, submitted for review against design intent.

RFI (Request for Information)

A formal question from the contractor to the design team to clarify or resolve an issue in the construction documents during bidding or construction.

Change Order

A formal modification to the construction contract — often triggered by errors, omissions, or field conditions — that changes cost or schedule.

Value Engineering

A systematic method to improve value by analyzing function versus cost, often substituting materials or methods without sacrificing required performance.

BIM (Building Information Modeling)

A 3D, model-based process for designing, coordinating, and managing building information across disciplines and the project lifecycle.

Put the terms to work

These concepts come together in a single review: InspectMind checks your drawings, specs, and codes and returns every issue with evidence. See the most common plan check issues, the benchmarks for issues found per project, or browse the checkers by discipline.