Opening protection
Compare the door schedule with the location, wall separation, and referenced opening requirements. Check the actual condition and applicable exceptions before deciding a rating is missing.
AI building code review
Trace the requirement to the drawing
Find potential mismatches between the design documents and the building codes that apply. Groundbook reads the codes and amendments governments publish online, the way a human reviewer does, uses licensed codes only where a license allows it, and shows the affected drawing beside the cited section. Then verify the application with the responsible reviewer.
Where to focus
What to bring into the review
Design criteria
Follow requirements such as guard and handrail design loads from notes to the details that rely on them. Ask the responsible engineer to confirm the governing criteria.
Mechanical installation conditions
Review the relationship between equipment locations, support details, exhaust classification, and the requirements that apply to the project.
Incomplete reference chains
Investigate details that point to general notes without carrying the needed requirement through the set. Keep the source edition and local amendments visible in the review record.
Inside Groundbook
Read the finding with its sources
This hotel example places a door-rating finding beside the affected plan and linked drawing and code references. The reviewer can examine the location and the cited requirement before deciding what needs to change.
A practical workflow
From the first pass to a decision
Confirm the governing references
Identify the jurisdiction, adopted editions, local amendments, occupancy, and relevant project conditions. Groundbook reads government-published codes online; upload a licensed code only where your license allows it.
Check the document relationship
Open the schedule, plan, detail, and cited requirement. Confirm that they describe the same condition and that the cited section applies.
Document the design decision
Have the responsible professional accept, reject, or refine the finding. Coordinate any correction across every affected drawing and specification.
From a published project review
Door schedule and separation requirements disagree
Sleeping-unit entry doors opening into an interior lobby were marked unrated, while the surrounding separation called for protected openings.
Read the findingDefine the scope with your team
Groundbook flags potential issues; it does not certify compliance or issue permits. Model codes, adopted editions, and local amendments can differ. The project’s qualified reviewers must verify applicability, exceptions, and the final design decision.
Questions, answered
FAQs
Can Groundbook check my local building codes and amendments?
Yes. Groundbook reads the building codes and amendments that states, counties, and cities publish online, in a web browser, the way a human reviewer does, and detects the codes the drawings cite. Model codes and standards that publishers own, such as the International Codes, NFPA, and ASME, are licensed; Groundbook uses them only where a license allows it, and you can upload a copy you’re licensed to use. Each finding cites the section. We never copy or distribute code text.
Does Groundbook certify that a design complies with code?
No. It provides potential findings with supporting document references for a reviewer to investigate. Compliance determinations and required approvals remain with the responsible professionals and authorities.
Which code edition should we use?
Use the edition and amendments applicable to the project and jurisdiction, confirmed by the project team or relevant authority. A model code’s publication date alone does not establish which requirements govern a project.
Can a cited code section still be wrong for the project?
Yes. A reference may be real but inapplicable because of occupancy, construction type, scope, an exception, or a local amendment. Review the complete context before accepting a code-related finding.
Can Groundbook review fire protection or fire life safety drawings?
Groundbook can compare fire protection and fire life safety drawings, such as sprinkler, alarm, and egress information, against the building codes, specifications, and other discipline drawings that apply, and surface potential cross-document inconsistencies for a reviewer to confirm. It does not perform fire protection engineering such as hydraulic design or device coverage adequacy; see the dedicated fire sprinkler plan review checklist for a discipline-specific walkthrough.
Can Groundbook check an accessible route on my drawings?
Groundbook can compare the accessible-route information shown on your drawings, including routes, doors, and level changes, against the accessibility code that applies, and flag places where the documents disagree or a requirement does not carry through. It does not certify ADA or accessibility compliance; the accessibility plan review checklist walks through the same items in more detail for a professional review.
Keep exploring
Continue your review
Yes, it can check your local building codes
Yes. Groundbook reads the codes and amendments governments publish online and uses licensed model codes only where a license allows it.
ExplorePre-permit review
Review your permit set for missing information, conflicting requirements, and coordination gaps before submission. Explore a practical pre-permit checklist.
ExploreFor plans examiners
Use source-linked findings in a professional review.
ExploreBring your next set into focus
Set up a review or talk through your project with our team.