The Importance of Third-Party Reviews in Ensuring Building Code Compliance

Introduction

Building code compliance is a fundamental requirement in the construction industry, ensuring that structures meet safety, functionality, and legal standards. However, as building codes continue to evolve in complexity, achieving compliance is becoming increasingly challenging for design and construction teams. Non-compliance can lead to costly rework, project delays, fines, and even legal liabilities.

Third-party reviews provide an essential layer of oversight that helps project teams mitigate compliance risks before they escalate into significant issues. By leveraging independent expertise, these reviews enhance the quality and accuracy of construction documents, reducing errors and improving coordination. This article explores the role of third-party reviews in ensuring code compliance, highlighting their value, integration into project workflows, and real-world benefits.

‍

The Growing Complexity of Building Codes

Building regulations have become more detailed and demanding, varying widely between jurisdictions and often undergoing frequent updates. As new sustainability initiatives, accessibility requirements, and life-safety regulations emerge, project teams must navigate an increasingly complex compliance landscape. Challenges include:

• Jurisdictional Variations: Each city, county, and state may have unique amendments to standard codes, creating inconsistencies across projects.
• Frequent Updates: Building codes evolve regularly to reflect new safety, environmental, and technological advancements, requiring teams to stay constantly informed.
• Interdisciplinary Overlaps: Structural, mechanical, electrical, and life-safety requirements often intersect, necessitating meticulous coordination among design disciplines.

Without a structured approach to ensuring compliance, even experienced teams can overlook critical details that may result in costly project disruptions.

‍

Common Causes of Code Non-Compliance

Code violations can arise from various factors, many of which stem from internal project pressures and coordination challenges. Some of the most common causes include:

• Design Oversights: Misinterpretation of code requirements or missing compliance details in drawings and specifications.
• Discipline Coordination Failures: Inconsistencies between architectural, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems that lead to code conflicts.
• Tight Project Timelines: Fast-track schedules may result in insufficient QA/QC efforts, leading to undetected errors.
• Over-Reliance on Automated Tools: While software-based code-checking tools can flag inconsistencies, they cannot interpret nuanced regulatory requirements the way human experts can.

By addressing these issues early, third-party reviews help prevent compliance errors from becoming expensive obstacles down the line.

‍

The Value of Third-Party Reviews

Unbiased, Independent Assessments

A third-party review provides an objective evaluation of construction documents, offering an impartial perspective free from internal project biases. This independent assessment ensures that critical compliance issues are identified and addressed before permitting and construction begin.

Specialized Expertise

CHECKSET selects review experts based on their knowledge of the project’s specific jurisdiction, ensuring that the team conducting the review is well-versed in the local building codes, zoning laws, and permitting requirements. This targeted expertise helps:

• Minimize the risk of jurisdictional misinterpretations.
• Expedite approval processes by aligning designs with local regulatory expectations.
• Reduce the likelihood of costly revisions resulting from compliance oversights.

Risk Reduction

By catching potential compliance issues early, third-party reviews reduce the risk of:

• Change orders caused by last-minute corrections.
• Permit rejections that delay project schedules.
• Safety violations that could result in legal or financial repercussions.

Improved Collaboration

A third-party review fosters enhanced communication between project teams and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). By proactively addressing compliance concerns, project teams can present more complete and code-compliant documents, resulting in smoother permitting approvals and fewer RFIs from regulatory agencies.

‍

Real-World Benefits of Third-Party Code Compliance Reviews
‍

Case Study 1: Preventing Costly Fire Safety Violations

A national developer was in the final stages of preparing construction documents for a mixed-use high-rise when a third-party review identified a major issue: the fire-rated assemblies between residential and commercial occupancies did not meet code requirements. Had this issue gone unnoticed, it could have led to permit rejection, last-minute redesigns, and costly rework. Thanks to the early intervention, the design team corrected the deficiencies before submission, avoiding months of delays and significant added costs.

Case Study 2: Ensuring ADA Compliance and Avoiding Legal Liability

A multi-family housing project was nearly complete when a third-party review was conducted to verify compliance with accessibility regulations. The review revealed multiple critical deficiencies, including insufficient door clearance and incorrect ramp slopes—violations that could have resulted in lawsuits and required expensive post-construction modifications. With the review’s findings, the developer implemented corrective measures before final inspections, ensuring full ADA compliance and reducing the risk of future legal claims.

Case Study 3: Reducing RFIs and Change Orders for a Healthcare Facility

A hospital expansion project faced coordination challenges due to the complexity of integrating multiple building systems. A third-party review identified inconsistencies between the mechanical and electrical plans, which would have led to field conflicts and substantial RFIs. By addressing these discrepancies during the design phase, the project team reduced RFIs by 40% and minimized costly change orders, ultimately keeping the project on schedule and within budget.

‍

Integrating Third-Party Reviews into the Project Lifecycle

To maximize the benefits of third-party reviews, project teams should integrate them at key milestones:

• Design Development (DD): Early reviews help identify regulatory issues before they become deeply embedded in the design.
• 50% Construction Documents (CDs): Mid-phase reviews focus on discipline coordination and compliance alignment.
• 90% Construction Documents (CDs): Final-stage reviews ensure all corrections have been implemented before permitting and bidding.

By incorporating third-party reviews throughout the project timeline, teams can prevent late-stage disruptions and enhance overall project quality.

‍

Industry Data & Supporting Research

• Construction Industry Institute (CII) reports that rework due to design errors accounts for 6-10% of total project costs, much of which stems from preventable code-related issues.
• According to McKinsey & Company, 5-10% of construction costs can be attributed to inefficiencies, including compliance oversights that lead to project delays.
• A study by the National Institute of Building Sciences found that every dollar spent on early-stage quality control, including third-party reviews, results in a $4 to $6 reduction in later-stage rework costs.

These findings underscore the financial and operational benefits of investing in independent code compliance reviews.

‍

Conclusion

Third-party reviews play a crucial role in safeguarding projects from costly compliance-related pitfalls. By leveraging independent expertise, project teams can navigate the increasing complexity of building codes, reduce risk exposure, and enhance collaboration with regulatory agencies. CHECKSET’s specialized review process ensures that compliance issues are proactively addressed, minimizing RFIs, reducing rework, and streamlining approvals.

In an industry where regulatory missteps can have serious financial consequences, third-party reviews are not just an added layer of protection—they are a best practice that ensures project success. Whether you’re developing a high-rise, healthcare facility, or multi-family housing project, engaging a trusted third-party reviewer is an investment in efficiency, quality, and compliance.

‍