Department of Building Inspection: 10 Most Common Errors During Plan Check

You'll be one step closer to finishing your project if you avoid these common pitfalls during the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection plan review:

• Incomplete information regarding existing conditions. Such information should include current legal use and occupancy of all related building areas, building construction type, property line setbacks, and abutting property conditions.
  
• Confusion due to too much information overlaid. Separate plans should be provided for existing conditions, partial demolition, and proposed work. On more complicated projects, provide separate architectural and structural drawings.
  
• Plans are not coordinated among architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and other designs. Also, lack of coordination between views such as plans and elevations.
  
• Inadequate dimensioning of plans.
• Fire-resistant assemblies are not detailed and do not conform to approved designs.
  
• Incorrect story count. Detailed substantiation must be provided, including spot elevations of floors and adjacent grade around perimeter and profiles, to allow plan reviewers to confirm story or basement determination.
  
• Lack of clarity and consistency of plans, including symbols and designations, such as existing vs. new walls.
• Sloppy, illegible, incorrect and incomplete permit application forms and submittal documents such as plans.
• Lack of adequate accessibility documentation and accessibility checklist.
• Failure to provide adequate cover-sheet information, including correct codes being used for design, contact information, design professional's signature, index of drawings, etc.