A correction notice usually lands at the worst moment: framing is scheduled, the client is asking for dates, and the city has listed a dozen comments in language that reads like a riddle. A1 reads that notice with you, explains what each comment is really asking for, and marks the fixes on the sheets so the resubmittal answers every item the first time.
The same review works before you ever submit. Send the set first and the reviewer sees a cleaner package.
Reading a correction notice
Most notices follow the same pattern. Each comment names a sheet, points to a condition, and cites a code or local amendment. The trouble is that reviewers write short. "Provide load calc per NEC" can mean the calc is missing, uses the wrong method, or doesn't match the panel schedule on another sheet.
When Nick reads a notice, he sorts the comments into three groups:
- Engineering comments. Load calcs, service sizing, conductor and breaker sizing, grounding, anything that needs a PE's judgment or seal.
- Drafting comments. Missing dimensions, unlabeled rooms, title block details, sheet references that point nowhere. Your drafter fixes these.
- Administrative comments. Owner signatures, application forms, fees, zoning items. These go to the GC or the permit applicant.
Sorting first matters because a resubmittal fails if one group gets skipped. A perfect electrical response does nothing if the reviewer is still waiting on a signed owner affidavit.
How code-cited redlines work
Every redline we send has two parts: the mark on the sheet showing what changes, and the code reference that requires it. If a reviewer cites a section and we read the requirement differently, we say so and explain why, so you can decide whether to revise or respond with a written justification.
A typical redline looks like this:
| Sheet | Comment | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | Service load calc missing for added heat pump | Add calc using the NEC Article 220 optional dwelling method; update service size note |
| E-2 | Panel schedule total does not match calc | Rebalance circuits; correct the connected load column |
| E-2 | Kitchen circuit count unclear | Label small-appliance circuits on the plan and in the schedule |
Your drafter gets a marked-up PDF and a short list. No guessing at what "revise per code" was supposed to mean.
What to send us
A review goes faster when we have the whole picture on day one. Send:
- The complete plan set as the city received it, not just the sheets with comments
- The correction notice or review letter, including any reviewer markups
- The project address and the permit or case number
- The drafter's contact, if you want redlines to go straight to them
- Anything new since submittal: equipment changes, an added EV charger, a revised panel
If you only have a phone photo of the notice, that's fine to start. We'll ask for what's missing.
Resubmittal without a second round
Second rounds of comments usually come from one of two places. Either a fix created a new conflict on another sheet, or the response letter didn't make it clear where each change lives. We check both. After your drafter revises, Nick reviews the updated sheets against the original comments and against each other, then we help write a response that lists each comment, the sheet it was addressed on, and what changed.
Reviewers appreciate a response they can check line by line. It shortens their review and yours.
For the common reasons sets get held up, see the hidden engineering issues that delay building permits. If you'd rather hand off the uploads and tracking too, that's permit support.
Reviewing before the city does
A pre-submittal review follows the same process without the notice. Nick checks the electrical sheets, the calcs and the panel schedules against the code the jurisdiction has adopted, flags anything a reviewer is likely to question, and sends redlines. Drafters who use us regularly often pair this with a standing seal arrangement, so the review and the seal happen in one step.
Structural sheets in the set are reviewed by a licensed structural engineer in our network, licensed in the project's state. You still send one package to one office.
Questions
Can you review a set someone else drew?
Yes. Most of the sets we review were drawn by an outside drafter or designer. We send redlines to whoever you tell us to.
Do you review commercial sets or just residential?
Both. Electrical review is done by Nick. Structural sheets go to a licensed structural engineer in our network.
What if we disagree with the city's comment?
We'll tell you if we think the reviewer misread the set or the code, and help you write a response that explains why. Sometimes a short written justification is faster than revising.
How long does a review take?
It depends on the size of the set and how many comments there are. We quote the turnaround before we start, and you can ask for a rush.
How is a review priced?
Once we see the set and the notice, we give you a flat quote. No surprise hourly bill.
Got a correction notice sitting on your desk? Send it with the plans or call (214) 382-9584 and talk to Nick about it.