.png)
The city of DuPont is a small, densely populated military community in Washington. They faced challenges in managing building code compliance and customer service, with physical books and a very manual compliance review process. With a growing need for a more efficient and digital process, the city turned to UpCodes to digitize and streamline the plan review process. The team experienced 50% cost savings and 60% times savings after switching to UpCodes.
“UpCodes has made it so much easier to work with the public. I’m able to share direct links to code sections when reviewing plans, or send screenshots of diagrams when I’m trying to explain the specific requirements. UpCodes has helped me communicate much faster and more efficiently.” (Ray Shipman)
The Challenge
Ray Shipman, an experienced building code specialist, took on the role of building official for the City of DuPont in April 2022. The department was grappling with an outdated, paper-based system for managing building code compliance.
Their existing approach was cumbersome, inefficient, and fraught with challenges. It involved juggling multiple sets of physical plans, relying on cumbersome code books and ‘insert-pages’, and manually redlining documents, all of which contributed to delays and increased the risk of errors.
These inefficiencies not only consumed valuable time and resources but also increased the likelihood of errors and miscommunications. The city recognized that modernizing this system was not just an operational necessity but also crucial for improving the department's customer service.
The Solution
Recognizing the urgent need for a more streamlined and efficient process, Ray spearheaded the implementation of UpCodes, a digital platform designed to simplify building code compliance. UpCodes offered a comprehensive suite of features that directly addressed the department's challenges.
Its Copilot feature provided quick and accurate code summarization, while Code Compare allowed for easy cross-referencing between different code years, a crucial capability given the city's ongoing projects under various code cycles. UpCodes also offered a rich library of diagrams, which became invaluable tools for explaining complex requirements to the public.
The digital nature of UpCodes also meant that plan reviews could be conducted in real-time, with the ability to cut and paste code references directly onto plans. This not only expedited the review process but also enhanced the clarity and accuracy of communications between the building department and the public.
Implementation
Ray led the transition to UpCodes, and the team adapted quickly. The user-friendly interface of UpCodes and its training resources played a significant role in this smooth transition. The team found it particularly easy to adapt to the electronic system, laying the groundwork for the numerous operational improvements that followed.
“I really appreciate the platform, and I’ve continued to build confidence with it too. I don’t think people realize how much work has gone into building the platform and maintaining the code library. I can’t say enough about the customer service experience as well and have really enjoyed all of my interactions with the team.” (Ray Shipman)
Results
- 60% time savings: Cut plan review times in half and eliminated the time spent researching newly adopted code changes and errors throughout the year.
- 50% cost savings: Eliminated the need for purchasing multiple sets of physical code books every 3 years, that are now available in UpCodes.
- Improved customer service: The platform's features, such as diagrams and direct links to code sections, have made it easier to communicate requirements to the public.
- Enhanced accuracy: The digital process has streamlined communication with the public and simplified the redlining of plan reviews. This has reduced errors in the review process for the public.
Key Use Cases
- Copilot for code summarization: Copilot is used to quickly summarize and understand code requirements. It's especially useful when responding to questions about the code.
- Code Compare across code year collections: This feature is used to compare codes between different code years, which is essential given that the city has ongoing projects under various code cycles.
- Diagrams to better understand requirements: The platform's library of diagrams is used to explain complex requirements to the public, and these diagrams have replaced the need for handouts.
- Leveraging Search for quick look-ups: The search tab is used for quick look-ups of code requirements, and whenever the team needs to double-check for changes or updates.
- Direct Links to code sections: These are used to provide immediate feedback during plan reviews and are also shared with the public for clarity.
- Leveraging UL Assemblies: They look at the UL Assemblies in UpCodes when dealing with firewalls or fire rating systems, asking architects or engineers to specify the assembly they intend to use.
Conclusion
The implementation of UpCodes at the City of DuPont has proven to be a game-changer, not just in streamlining the code review process but also in enhancing customer service. The platform has saved significant time and resources, cutting plan review times in half and eliminating the need for costly physical code books. Moreover, it has improved the quality of interactions with the public by providing clear, accurate, and easily accessible information.
Ray’s leadership and the team's willingness to adapt have been key factors in this successful transition, making UpCodes an invaluable asset for the city's building department.