Review drawings against local building codes
The Compliance agent runs a systematic, exhaustive review of your drawings against every applicable building code, fire safety regulation, accessibility standard, energy requirement, and planning control for your jurisdiction. It's designed to catch problems before building permit lodgement — not after.
What you'll produce
- Project classification (building class, construction type, rise, occupancy)
- Structural compliance review
- Fire safety audit (FRLs, exits, travel distances, detection, sprinklers)
- Means of egress review (door widths, signage, emergency lighting)
- Accessibility review with measurements
- Energy efficiency check (insulation, glazing, sealing)
- Waterproofing compliance for every wet area
- Health & amenity review (light, ventilation, ceiling heights)
- Site & planning controls (setbacks, coverage, height, parking)
- Services compliance (plumbing, electrical, mechanical, gas)
- Compliance Summary Dashboard with counts per section
- Priority Actions table (what must be fixed, by when, by whom)
- Certificates & Approvals Required list
Before you start
Arcyon knows the codes for Australia, Brazil, USA, UK, Portugal, Spain, Canada, UAE, New Zealand, and Germany. The exact code applied depends on your project address.
Australian project → NCC 2022. US project → IBC 2021. Brazilian project → NBR/ABNT. And so on.
Step 1 — Open the Compliance agent
Click C — Compliance in the workspace. Attach every available drawing — plans, elevations, sections, schedules, site plan. More drawings = fewer "NOT SHOWN" flags.
Step 2 — Choose your review area
Full Code Review
Covers all 9 compliance categories in one document. This is what you want for a pre-permit review.
Targeted reviews
- Fire Safety Audit — FRLs, compartmentation, exits, detection
- Accessibility Review — ADA / DDA / local access standards with measurements
- Energy Efficiency Check — insulation, glazing, thermal envelope
- Permit Requirements List — every document you need to lodge
- Waterproofing Compliance — every wet area and external waterproofing location
- Certifier Checklist — exactly what a building certifier would check
- Site & Local Requirements — planning controls for your site
Step 3 — Understand the status legend
Arc uses 5 status labels:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✅ COMPLIANT | Meets code as shown on drawings |
| ❌ NON-COMPLIANT | Does not meet code — must be rectified |
| ⚠️ NEEDS CLARIFICATION | Drawings don't have enough information |
| 📋 NOT SHOWN | Required information is missing from the set |
| N/A | Not applicable to this building class |
Focus on the ❌ first
Any NON-COMPLIANT item will cause the building surveyor to reject your permit. Fix these before lodging.
Address ⚠️ and 📋 before the inspector visits
"NEEDS CLARIFICATION" and "NOT SHOWN" items will trigger RFIs or failed inspections later. Better to resolve them now.
Step 4 — Read the Priority Actions table
At the bottom of every compliance review, Arc produces a Priority Actions table:
- Priority 1 — Must resolve before building permit lodgement
- Priority 2 — Must resolve before next relevant inspection
- Priority 3 — Must resolve before occupation certificate
- Priority 4 — Best practice recommendation
Start with Priority 1 and work down.
Step 5 — Understand Certificates & Approvals
Every project needs documentation beyond the building permit. Arc's table lists them all:
- Building permit / Development approval
- Structural engineering certificate
- Energy compliance certificate (BASIX, NatHERS, IECC COMcheck, etc.)
- Geotechnical / soil report
- BAL assessment (bushfire zones — AU)
- Heritage approval (if heritage-listed)
- Pool safety certificate
- Plumbing permit
- Electrical connection approval
- Occupation certificate / Certificate of Final Inspection
Arc tells you which ones your specific project needs — don't send to the wrong authority.
Step 6 — Export
Click PDF for a formal compliance report suitable for submission to certifiers, banks, insurers, or legal teams. The PDF is structured exactly how a building surveyor's own report would be.
Click XLSX for an editable review matrix. Useful for tracking rectification status as the design team addresses each item.
Pro tips
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Run compliance BEFORE estimating. If there's a major non-compliance (e.g. insufficient fire stair width), fixing it will change the estimate dramatically. Don't estimate, then find out you need to re-scope.
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Run it again at DA stage, CD stage, and just before lodgement. The design evolves. Compliance issues at DA stage are far cheaper to fix than at CD stage.
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Use the Certifier Checklist template for your pre-lodgement check. It mirrors what the surveyor will check. If Arc finds zero issues with this checklist, your permit will likely sail through.
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Accessibility measurements are real. Arc measures from your drawings. If the ramp grade is 1:12 and your jurisdiction requires 1:14, Arc will flag it. Don't argue — fix the ramp.
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Waterproofing failures are the #1 construction defect. Arc is exhaustive on wet areas. Pay close attention to this section.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring NOT SHOWN flags. If Arc can't see a fire door rating on the drawings, the certifier won't see it either. Add it.
- Assuming codes are the same everywhere. Codes vary dramatically across jurisdictions. Arc always uses the local code — don't override unless you have a specific reason.
- Running compliance too late. Run it at schematic design. Run it again at DD. Run it again at CD. Run it again before lodgement. Compliance is iterative, not a one-shot check.
What Compliance is NOT
Arc's compliance review is a preliminary assessment tool, not a formal building certification. It identifies potential issues and informs the design process. A licensed Building Certifier / Building Surveyor / Plans Examiner in your jurisdiction must review and certify compliance with the applicable code before construction commences.
Arc saves you time, catches issues early, and makes certification faster. But it doesn't replace the certifier.
You've finished the tutorial series. Now go build something great.
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