Structural Plans Requirements

A Structural drawings set includes the following components as they apply to your project. Your building plan reviewer will provide information on more specific requirements.

Structural Notes
Foundation Plan
Roof, Deck and Floor Framing Plans
Cross Sections and Details

Refer to Electronic Document Submittal Standards and Electronic Review Efficiency for PDF submittal standards.

Structural Notes

For commercial building permits:

Specify all design loads. Include live (including floor, stair, etc.), dead (including mechanical equipment, materials, etc.), wind, seismic, snow, equivalent fluid pressure, soil bearing values and geotechnical engineering parameters.
Specify all structural materials and connections.
Specify all welding to be done by WABO-certified welders. WABO-certified fabrication shops are deemed as Approved Fabricators and are exempt from special inspections during fabrication.
Specify the special inspections required for the type of construction, as outlined in Chapter 17 of the International Building Code.
Specify structural observation if required for the project.
Identify all deferred submittals for the project.

For residential building permits:

Specify all design load values, including dead, live, snow, wind, lateral retaining wall pressures and soil bearing values.
A geotechnical report may be required for single family residential structures and townhomes if unstable soils conditions exist.
Specify grading and species of all framing lumber, including sheathing. Specify pressure-treated wood and hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel fasteners, anchors and hardware where required.
Specify GLU-LAM beam stress grade and combination symbols.
Specify all engineered wood materials.
Specify maximum design concrete strength, concrete sack mix and reinforcing bar grade.
Specify metal connectors, including joist hangers, clips, post caps, post bases, etc.
Provide fastening schedule.
Provide shear wall schedule and hold-down schedule specifying required framing, fasteners and connectors.

Foundation Plan (including Mobile Structure)

Foundation Plan

Provide those items that are applicable to your project.

Show the location of footings, foundation mats, piles and grade beams, including all dimensions and top of footing elevations. Provide typical foundation sections. Include the height of any unbalanced retained soil.
Provide footing schedule, including footing size, minimum embedment and reinforcement.
Retaining structures higher than four feet require an engineered design with calculations.
Engineered Foundation: Stamped engineered plans with calculations are required for all projecst except for single family residential structures or townhomes designed in accordance with the Residential Building Code.

Mobile Structure Foundation

Show foundation layout, and specify all dimensions. Provide a typical foundation section. Specify reinforcement footing size, minimum embedment and reinforcement.
Show the location and size of beams, posts, and interior footings and their dimensions and connections to the foundation.
Engineered Foundation: Stamped engineered plans with calculations are required for non- conventional foundation systems and/or sites with special soil conditions.
Show a layout and detailing of the anchoring or bracing system, showing cables, rods, tie- downs, or dead men. Provide approval/testing information per industry standards.
Show how access by disabled persons will be provided (where required). Show the location and signage for disabled parking stalls. Show the design of ramps, landings, and handrails.
Show a section of the stairs. Include rise, run, handrail height and grasp dimensions. Indicate the distance between any intermediate rails. Show landing or deck framing and size.

Roof, Deck and Floor Framing Plan

Specify structural framing members, including size, spacing, layout, supports, connections, blocking, etc. Identify the lateral force-resisting system and provide details of components and connections, including diagram chords, collectors, and hold-downs.
Show mechanical equipment location, weight and screening. Provide a structural design to accommodate the equipment and show visual screening.

Cross Sections and Details

Commercial Building Permits

Show typical building sections and details. Specify connections.
Provide details for all unusual, project specific conditions.
Show typical foundation sections. Specify foundation wall thickness, reinforcing bar size and spacing, reinforcing bar clearance, footing depth below grade, clearance between grade and sill plate, maximum wall height, connections, anchor bolt size and spacing, and drainage for foundation retaining wall.
Provide connection details of the lateral resisting elements to show continuous load path from roof to foundation. Specify fasteners, attachments and connectors.

Tenant Improvement Permits

Show typical construction of walls, wall bracing, ceiling assemblies and connections.
Provide seismic bracing details for suspended ceilings, lighting fixtures, and mechanical equipment per ASTM 635 and 636. Suspended ceilings shall be seismically braced by an engineered design or CISCA guidelines.
Structural design is required for free-standing storage racks more than eight feet tall.

Single Family Building Permits

Show typical building sections. Indicate size, spacing, and structural grading of all members, sheathing and connections.
Specify all connections of the lateral resisting elements, including diaphragm and shear wall nailing, nailed straps and bolted connections at the drag struts and chord members, top plate splices, nails and clips connecting the diaphragms to the walls, hold-down attachments, and wall anchor bolts.
Show all connection details, including post-beam, post-footing, wall-footing, wall-ceiling, wall-roof, collar ties, strong backs, etc.
The Deck Tip Sheet provides prescriptive residential wood deck and guardrail design. An engineered design would be required if the scope of work exceeds the limitations of the prescriptive design.