Quick Summary
- Upload internal QA checklists, corporate standards, industry guidelines (NRCA, Qualified Allocation Plans) as PDFs
- AI checks drawings against your custom requirements in addition to standard building codes
- Account-level standards can be configured to apply automatically to every project
- Perfect for developers with global specs, firms with internal QA documents, and projects with special requirements
Every construction firm has unique standards, guidelines, and quality requirements that go beyond standard building codes. Whether it's a developer's global specification, an internal QA checklist, or industry-specific guidelines like NRCA roofing standards, these custom requirements need to be verified just as thoroughly as code compliance.
Why Custom Guidelines Matter
Building codes are the minimum—but your projects often have additional requirements:
Real-World Examples
- Large Developers: Global specifications that every building must follow, regardless of local code
- Affordable Housing: Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) with state-specific design requirements beyond building codes
- Roofing Contractors: NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) guidelines and best practices
- Engineering Firms: Internal 300-point QA checklists and lessons learned documents
How It Works
1. Upload Your Guidelines
When creating a new project, upload your custom guidelines, checklists, or standards as PDFs alongside your drawings and specifications. The AI will check your project against both standard building codes and your custom requirements.
2. Comprehensive Checking
The AI performs the same thorough cross-checking against your custom guidelines as it does for building codes. It identifies where drawings, specs, or details don't comply with your requirements.
3. Account-Level Standards (Optional)
For firms with standards that apply to every project, we can configure account-level guidelines that automatically apply to all your projects. No need to upload them each time—just email us your standard documents and we'll set it up in minutes.
Common Use Cases
Developer Global Specs
Large developers often have global specifications that every project must follow. Upload your global spec, and the AI will verify every project against these requirements automatically.
Example: "All buildings must use X brand windows, Y type of insulation, and Z roofing system regardless of local code."
Internal QA Checklists
Engineering and architecture firms with formalized QA processes can upload their checklists and scorecards. The AI checks each requirement systematically.
Example: "300-point internal QA checklist covering everything from sheet numbering to detail references."
Industry Guidelines
Projects often need to comply with industry-specific guidelines that aren't part of building codes—NRCA for roofing, AASHTO for bridges, Qualified Allocation Plans for affordable housing.
Example: "NRCA guidelines for proper flashing details and drainage requirements."
Lessons Learned
Upload your firm's lessons learned documents to ensure past mistakes don't repeat. The AI will flag any design elements that match previously identified problem patterns.
Example: "Documented issues from past projects that should be avoided in future designs."
Best Practices
Formatting Your Guidelines
- PDF Format: Upload guidelines as PDFs—no special formatting required. The AI can read text, tables, and structured documents.
- Clear Requirements: The clearer your guidelines are written, the better the AI can check against them. Specific requirements work better than vague statements.
- Multiple Documents: You can upload multiple guideline documents—global specs, checklists, industry standards, all in one project check.
- Account-Level Setup: For standards that apply to every project, contact us to set up account-level guidelines that automatically apply to all your projects.
Real-World Example
Affordable Housing Developer
A developer working on Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects needed to verify compliance with each state's Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP). These QAPs contain design requirements beyond standard building codes—specific unit layouts, accessibility features, energy efficiency standards, and more.
Solution: They uploaded the relevant state's QAP document along with their construction drawings. The AI checked the project against both the building codes and the QAP requirements, catching issues like:
- Unit layouts that didn't meet QAP minimum square footage requirements
- Missing accessibility features required by the QAP but not by code
- Energy efficiency measures that didn't meet QAP standards
- Material specifications that didn't align with QAP requirements
Result: Issues were caught before submission to the state finance agency, preventing delays and ensuring compliance with both codes and QAP requirements.
Getting Started
For Project-Specific Guidelines
- Create a new project in your dashboard
- Upload your drawings and specifications as usual
- Also upload your custom guidelines, checklists, or standards as PDFs
- Click "AI Check" and the system will check against both codes and your custom requirements
For Account-Level Standards
- Email us your standard documents (global specs, internal checklists, etc.)
- We'll configure them to apply automatically to all your projects
- Going forward, just upload your project files—your standards are already included
- If you need to update standards, just send us the new documents
Note: Account-level standards setup typically takes just a few minutes and is available for firms using the tool regularly.
Ready to Use Custom Guidelines?
Whether you have global specs, internal QA checklists, or industry-specific guidelines, AI plan checking can verify compliance automatically. Upload your documents and see how it works.