🔥 90% Complete… Wrong Building Classification

 🔥 90% Complete… Wrong Building Classification

Part 1 of #PermitRisk Series

We recently reviewed a tenant fit-up project at a medical clinic in Airdrie, AB.

Most permit problems don’t appear at the beginning — they surface when construction is nearly finished.

In this case, the second floor was designed under the wrong building classification. On paper, combustible construction appeared acceptable.

In reality, the base building classification required noncombustible construction with a 1-hour fire-resistance rating for the floor assembly.

The issue was discovered when the project was approximately 90% complete.

The consequences:

🔹A major compliance gap

🔹An Alternative Solution proposal

🔹Over $100,000 in additional design and implementation costs

🔹More than six months of occupancy delay

All because of an early classification assumption that was never verified.

Lesson:

Early verification of building classification is the cheapest insurance policy you can buy for a project.

Have you ever encountered a classification mismatch during construction? Share your experience below.

#ConstructionRisk #PermitDelay #BuildingCode #ArchitectureCanada #ProjectManagement #BuildingCompliance #FireSafety #AlternativeSolutions #CommercialConstruction #CodeReview