Construction Permit Review Service (CPR)

• Review Request Form (PDF file, 1 pp., 40 KB Word file, 1 pp., 90 KB )
• Review Evaluation Form (PDF file, 1 pp., 84 KB Word file, 1 pp., 90 KB)

• The service is intended to be helpful and to address specific situations as well as recurring issues and concerns that could inhibit the permit application and general review process.
• The service is intended to assist both parties in understanding and interpretation of the standard of care required under the 2006 Building Code (BC) and the Architects Act that regulates architects and their respective responsibilities.
• The OAA will use a mediated approach. An OAA staff architect works with the municipality and the architect to resolve concerns and provide objective, professional advice.

• Advise on appropriate professional standards and practices
• Assist in clarifying appropriate roles and responsibilities
• Provide information and resources including OAA Practice Bulletins
• Identify solutions and remedial action to be taken.

• To provide a process that is informal and flexible enough to offer solutions that are practical, time-sensitive and specific to each situation
• To facilitate a collaborative approach to resolving issues between architects and municipal staff
• To resolve problems and deficiencies related to permit applications and general review services
• To prevent recurring problems
• To prevent formal complaints
• To improve communication and understanding between architects and building officials.

• Numerous or significant issues that are inhibiting the work from proceeding
• Recurring issues
• Documents that are not sufficiently developed or coordinated to permit a thorough, timely review
• Concerns with respect to compliance during construction
• Insufficient reporting or notification during general review.

• Replace pre-application meetings between the architect and municipality
• Replace minor comments or red-lining of permit application documents by plans examiners
• Address matters of BC interpretation, or matters that are best determined by the Building Code Commission
• Replace the project coordination role typically undertaken by the prime consultant or project manager
• Provide a building code consulting service.

• Building Officials, including Plans Examiners and Building Inspectors
• Architects practicing in Ontario who have submitted an application for a building permit or are undertaking general review services

• Complete the Review Request Form and submit to the OAA.
• A review may be requested by fax: 416-449-5756 or e-mail: practiceadvisor@oaa.on.ca.

• An OAA Practice Advisor will respond to the initial request within two working days by phone or e-mail.
• Under 8. (9) of the Building Code Act, upon reasonable grounds, the OAA may request that drawings, plans, or specifications accompanying applications for permit or the reports arising out of general review of the construction of a building be provided by the Chief Building Official (CBO).

• The OAA will contact both the architect and building official to confirm and clarify the issues.
• The Practice Advisor may review drawings and other relevant documents related to the request.
• If appropriate, the OAA staff will meet with both parties at the building department.

• The OAA will advise both parties of the findings.
• The Practice Advisor may suggest solutions or improvements to avoid similar situations in the future.
• The Practice Advisor will also recommend resources such as OAA Practice Bulletins to assist the parties.

• Non-compliance with BC and/or applicable law, including information that may be missing from application documents, including:
  • Building classification/occupancy
  • Building and site statistics
  • Building code analysis checklist
  • Life safety issues
  • Zoning standards.
• Procedure non-compliance:
  • Not advising the building inspector of matters requiring his/her attention
  • Not advising the CBO that construction is proceeding without a permit
• Document completeness and/or document coordination:
  • Drawings not sufficiently complete for construction
  • Drawings labeled “not for construction” or “preliminary”
  • Sub-consultant drawings incomplete and/or not coordinated with architectural drawings
  • Supplementary reports and documents missing e.g. survey, soils report.
• Scope of practice:
  • Undertaking work for which an engineer is required
• Professional seal/signature requirements:
  • Drawings not sealed and signed by an architect
  • Name and address of the architect missing.
• Submission/content of general review reports:
  • Not submitting reports to the municipality on a regular basis as the work proceeds
  • Insufficient information in reports regarding progress of work, code and life safety matters, site conditions, changes to the work and follow up to remedy deficiencies.

• the preparation or provision of a design to govern the construction, enlargement or alteration of a building,
• evaluating, advising on or reporting on the construction, enlargement or alteration of a building, or
• a general review of the construction, enlargement or alteration of a building.
• Only architects may prepare or provide designs for an assembly building or building with other occupancies that exceed 600 square metres in building area or three storeys in height except,

• 2006 Building Code, Division C, Part 1-Administrative Provisions, Section 1.2-Design and General Review.
• Section (c) 1.2.2.1 of the BC requires that architects submit general review reports to the CBOl.

• The Architects Act requires that all drawings prepared by an architect as part of a building permit application must be sealed and signed by an architect regardless of the construction type, occupancy or size of the building.
• Each drawing prepared under the architect’s responsible control must include:
  • Name of architectural firm
  • Address of architectural firm
  • Professional seal
  • Signature of architect whose seal has been used. The signature must be written through the seal.
• Architects may only seal and sign drawings that have been prepared under the responsible control of an architect. Responsible control generally means that an architect has played a significant role in the major decision-making throughout the development of the design and construction drawings.
• The following is a sample of the architects seal. Only architects seals are valid which have been issued by the OAA. The architects seal is only valid if it includes both the name and licence number of the architect.

• A.9 Ontario Building (OBC) - OBC Data on Drawings
• PT.5 General Review - BUilding Code (BC) and Non-Code Related Matters
• R.1 Architect's Professional Seal- Application
• R.9 General Review Where Contractor Proceeds Without a Building Permit
  

• Knowingly contravening any provision of the Building Code Act or the 2006 Building Code
• Contravention of federal, provincial or municipal laws, regulations or by-laws
• Failing to maintain the standards of practice and performance standards of the profession
• Affixing a seal or permitting a seal to be affixed to a design that was not prepared under the responsible control of an architect