Plan Submittal, Review and Processing

Below is a description of an information technology model functionality, which could significantly reduce time delays and costs associated with regulatory reviews. While many jurisdictions in the US are making the transition into e-permitting systems, the technology that would allow local building departments to accept plans on-line, to distribute such plans automatically to different review agencies, and review plans online is currently not adequately developed. Creation of a national technology model that includes the features described below, would help local building departments adopt this technology to meet their needs in a cost-effective manner while considerably improving permitting processes.

• Plan submission can be accomplished from the permit applicants’ desktops, regardless of what software had been used to generate the electronic plans.

• Designers and plan reviewers are able to simultaneously view and mark-up the plans online. This feature would also allow plan reviewers and designers to maintain an on-going communication during the design stage, prior to formal submission to local building departments, resulting in plan approvals occurring very rapidly.

• Using workflow management tools, plans are automatically distributed to all review agencies including, but not limited to, structural review, plumbing review, electrical review, mechanical review, the fire marshal, and the local health department.

• Plans can be simultaneously reviewed and marked-up by all review agencies involved.

• The review comments, are available online in real time.

• Revisions submitted to any of the involved review agencies automatically update the files of all review agencies.

• Approved plans are maintained on individual project web sites that are made accessible to project managers, field inspectors, and other authorized individuals throughout the life of the project, including the construction phase.

• A set of the approved plans for critical structures are automatically updated throughout the construction phase to create as built plans upon completion.

PHASE II

• Model Codes are embedded into plan-producing software allowing for easy access and review, as well as providing capabilities for automatic code checks of many code requirements. This feature will further reduce the time required for governmental reviews.