NFPA 101
How do I describe a project?
What you do:
Simply, describe the project by answering questions and selecting options from the following screens.
You simply enter the size of the building, select the use of each area from an extensive use menu and describe the type of construction. Plan Analyst will set defaults for the rest of the input information. You may use the defaults or change them to match your project.
First, you enter the basic building description.

Next, you enter the basic description for each floor.

You then select the use of each area and enter the floor area. Additional information is required for some uses so that the correct occupancy and special requirements can be determined.
Examples of some uses requiring additional information are: Stage? Fixed Seats? Material used or stored in the area?

You then indicate the type of construction if known and and indicate whether the building has an automatic sprinkler system or not. Note: You may ask Plan Analyst to find all of the construction types that work or check a specific type of construction.

The last step is to select any applicable additional building features.

How complete is the Plan Analyst code study?
What Plan Analyst does:
- Searches through the code, completes all necessary calculations and creates a complete code study for the project
- Analyzes and indicates rated corridor requirements, number and size of exits, fire assembly requirements and fire rating requirements
- Includes any exceptions or special requirements
Reports can be based on new or existing use.

The following examples are from a typical Plan Analyst analysis report using the simple input procedure that you have just seen. As you review the following examples, please consider the tedious code study time that you could save with this powerful plan check and design tool in your office. A typical analysis report is 10 to 15 pages long. Reports do not contain just basic information, they also include all exceptions and special requirements that apply.


How do I check a plan using Plan Analyst?
After the simple input, Plan Analyst will create a checklist just for this project. As you go through the checklist, you simply select whether each item is ok or not on the plans. If you indicate that its is not ok, you will be asked to enter the location of the problem and Plan Analyst will describe the problem including the applicable code references. When you are finished, you will be able to print a correction report showing all of the problems on the plan and the precise code reference number for each problem.

Each question in the checklist will be asked using this screen. If you select [ Not Correct ], the following screen will be displayed.

For any correction needed, all that you need to do is enter the sheet number and any identification needed to help the designer understand where the problem is (ie. door number, room number/name, section number, grid line, etc.).
The following sample correction report shows the format and type of information provided by Plan Analyst. You can easily customize these reports to reflect local requirements. You can then return this professional quality correction report with the project plans to clearly show what changes need to be made for code compliance and project approval. Note: All code requirements and corrections can be edited.

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