Performance
of construction project is much
impacted by design changes.
These changes are any additions, omissions or adjustments made to the original
scope of work after a contract is awarded. It may cause an adjustment to the
contract price or contract time, and it occurs regularly on construction projects.
A code analysis is a systematic review and compilation of the specific provisions of the locally adopted building code that will
affect the design and construction of a building or facility. It is one of the most important tasks during the course of
any architectural project. An incomplete analysis can have serious implications on the degree to which a project
meets the obligation to protect the public at the same time it achieves the designer's design intent.
The real danger is that a code error will affect your design in a way that is detrimental to both your in-house
budget and the client's construction budget. Your in-house budget may be exhausted, resulting in the
redesign being done at a financial loss to your firm. Or, the cost of redesign to bring the project
into code compliance may exceed the project budget, causing the project to be delayed or even cancelled. Either
effect can be devastating.
When designing a project, it is important to remember that the contents of the building code are the minimum standards the
project must comply with. Designing to these minimum standards is not only the ethical thing to do, it is required by law.
Every member of the project team, from designer to project manager to drafter, must understand these minimum standards in
order to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.
OptaSoft belives that a design begins with "code analysis" not with sketch
paper or software simulation. This eliminates the unnecessary design modifications
of which exponentially increases the cost of plans preparations. It is a good
idea to engage in more than one code analysis and review during the course
of a project. This can be done before the design leaves the sketch paper
and becomes an idea to be developed.
As a project design develops beyond the sketch paper stage, a more detailed understanding of the code is
required to ensure protection of those who occupy the building. The design team often develops a code analysis
to be used at the transition between phases of a project and in discussions with building officials. Through a
continual reference to code analysis, unexpected surprises for the project design can be avoided.