Code Compliance Reviews

The Building Code Department (BCD) offers code expertise and institutional knowledge of university buildings throughout the design process to ensure compliance, budget adherence, and timely delivery. Meetings are optional, and frequency is tailored to the complexity of each project.

Purpose: To verify code compliance, align with project cost and schedule, and reduce permit review time and questions.

Deliverables: Required documentation and approvals for the specific design phase.

Attendees: BCD experts, architects, and key project stakeholders.

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Project Feasibility

Project kickoff meeting with regulators

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Confirm Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
    • Demonstrate Land Ownership
    • Infrastructure Ownership/Condition
    • Change in Use/Occupancy
    • Outside Agency Involvement
    • Other Environmental Permitting Agencies
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting Minutes and Final Feasibility Report provided by Planning, Space, and Real Estate
    • Building Code Department Role is Known and Confirmation as the AHJ
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • No Bluebeam
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Planning, Space, and Real Estate
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Planners/ Planning, Space, and Real Estate (Leader)
    • Engineers
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers

Pre-Design Meeting

Near the end of pre-design but prior to finalizing

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare Meeting Agenda and Following Documents:
      • Scope/Schedule/Budget (Valuation)
      • Preliminary Code Analysis
      • Site Plan (fire department apparatus roads and hydrants)
      • Preliminary Floor Plans/Cross Section
    • Architect or Engineer of Record prepared to discuss/review the following:
      • Applicable Codes
      • Existing Record Drawings (if applicable)
      • Jurisdictional Authority
      • Outside Agency involvement: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, High Pressure Steam, Elevators, Modular/Prefab Building and Structures
      • Alternative Design, Materials or Methods
      • Operational licenses and/or permits
      • Utilities (Private or Public)
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect or Engineer of Record
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Building Code Department invited but not expected to comment
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Planners/ Planning, Space, and Real Estate (Leader)
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers
    • Building Code Department Fire Marshals

Schematic Design 1st Meeting

Beginning of Schematic Design

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare Meeting Agenda and Following Documents:
      • Scope: clear description of nature of work: New, Addition, Renovation)
      • Project Schedule
      • Preliminary Code Analysis (state applicable main governing code: IBC or MCCEB path)
      • Site Plan
      • Survey (if necessary)
      • Floor Plans/Cross Section
    • Architect or Engineer of Record
      • Previous pre-design decisions
      • SAC/Industrial SAC
      • Anticipated Project Phasing / Phased Occupancy
      • Energy Code Pathway and related requirements (Commissioning, Testing and Verification)
      • Permitting Submittal Documents
      • Chemical Inventory (MAQs, Control Areas, storage, ventilation)
      • Outside Agency involvement: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, High Pressure Steam, Elevators, Modular/Prefab Building and Structures
      • Alternative Design, Materials or Methods
      • Special Provisions / Chapter 4
      • Special Inspections
      • Special Project Requests
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect/Engineer of Record
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Not Applicable 
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Planners/ Planning, Space, and Real Estate (Leader)
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers
    • Building Code Department Fire Marshals

Schematic Design 2nd Meeting

End of Schematic Design (95% Complete)

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare Meeting Agenda & Following Documents:
      • Updated Code Analysis
    • Architect or Engineer of Record is prepared to discuss/review the following:
      • Any changes to the project scope
      • Documents reflect regulatory requirements
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect/Engineer of Record
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Building Code Department invited -not expected to comment
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers

Design Development 1st Meeting

If Needed beginning of Design Development – Consult with Building Code Department Leadership

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare Meeting Agenda and Following Documents:
      • Project review of existing documents and confirmation documents reflect regulatory requirements
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect/Engineer of Record 
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Not Applicable
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Engineers
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers

Design Development 2nd Meeting

End of Design Development (95% Complete)

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare Meeting Agenda and the following documents:
      • Finalize Scope
      • Finalize Code Analysis
    • Finalize Energy Code Design Compliance Pathway
      • Owner selected Verifications and Testing Provide and Commissioning Agent if required (Energy Code Commissioning Roles and Responsibilities understood)
    • Finalize phasing documents
    • Finalize SAC documentation
    • Specific project and code questions directed to specific Building Code Department Staff /Trade Discipline
    • Architect or Engineer of Record is prepared to discuss/review the following:
      • Project scope/overview with all Building Code Department staff
      • Conduct a page turn of prepared documents
      • Confirmation documents reflect regulatory requirements
      • Equipment (Listings and certifications)
    • B Occupancy Laboratories (containing hazardous materials):
      • Design to IBC Table 414.2.2 or 414.2.6 Minnesota Amendment for Control Areas
      • Hazardous Material Inventory Statement (HMIS): Chemical Types and MAQs anticipated per Control Area(s) design/formatted to IBC Table 307.1.(1) and 307.1.(2)
      • Identify Control Area(s) and Boundaries
      • State Mechanical Ventilation and Hazardous Exhaust rates for process and types of chemicals

NOTE: Expectation is all plans (including MEP and civil plans) have been completed prior to this meeting

  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect/Engineer of Record
    • SAC documentation ready for BCD cursory review and pending Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) submission
    • Alternative Design, Materials and Methods (ADMM) are ready for BCD review and pending approval to be incorporated with CD drawings
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Building Code Department invited -not expected to comment
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Engineers
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers
    • Building Code Department Trade Inspectors
    • Building Code Department Fire Marshals

Construction Documents

End of Construction Documents (95% complete)

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Prepare meeting Agenda and following documents
      • Completed set of construction “Permit Construction Documents”
      • Architect or Engineer of Record is prepared to discuss/review the following: Deferred permit submittals (site staging/logistics, contractors budget/GM, Etc.) 
  • Post Meeting/Deliverables
    • Meeting minutes provided by the Architect/Engineer of Record
    • Special Inspection and Testing Forms are enroute for signatures and BCD final approval
    • Energy Design has been completed and includes the following:
      • Function Performance Testing (FTP)
      • Energy Prescriptive/Performance Pathway Compliance documentation (COMcheck, Budget Cost Analysis)
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Building Code Department invited -not expected to comment
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Capital Project Management
  • Required Attendees
    • Capital Project Management
    • Architect (Leader)
    • Engineers
    • Building Code Department Leadership
    • Building Code Department Plan Reviewers
    • Building Code Department Trade Inspectors
    • Building Code Department Fire Marshals

Informal Discussions

Architect or Engineer of Record Team or BCD to meet as necessary

  • Meeting Preparation – Agenda Required
    • Concept Discussion
  • Bluebeam All Call Stakeholder Session
    • Not applicable
  • Party Responsible for Scheduling
    • Informal

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