Design That Survives the Pour
We review existing plans for potential coordination gaps involving plumbing, HVAC, electrical, drainage, slab penetrations, equipment locations, access, and sequencing. Structural adequacy and code compliance must be confirmed by the appropriate licensed professionals.
"A floor plan is a promise. We make sure your systems can keep it."
What We Review — Before Your Building Department Asks
Building departments reject incomplete applications. We catch these issues during design — not during inspection.
Stamped Structural Drawings
Engineered for your specific soil conditions, snow loads, and wind exposure.
HVAC & Mechanical Plans
Duct routing, register placement, radiant tubing layouts, and HRV integration.
Electrical Panel & Circuit Planning
Panel sizing for shop loads, EV charging, welders, and residential circuits.
Plumbing & Drainage Coordination
Wet-wall alignment, drain slope verification, and cleanout placement.
Vapour Barrier & Insulation Strategy
Condensation prevention in metal buildings and thermal bridge mitigation.
Slab-Embed Conflict Resolution
Identifying clashes between radiant tubing, plumbing rough-ins, anchor bolts, and electrical conduit.
The Mistakes That Cost $10K–$50K+
Every one of these comes from real barndominium and post-frame projects.
HVAC supply runs blocked by structural posts
Post-frame buildings have columns in fixed positions. If duct routing isn’t planned around them, you’re rerouting after framing.
Plumbing drains in wrong slab location
Moving a floor drain or toilet rough-in after the pour means saw-cutting concrete, re-grading, and re-pouring.
Electrical panel undersized for shop loads
A 200A panel isn’t enough if you’re running a welder, compressor, and EV charger.
No radiant tubing in shop slab
Radiant in-floor heat must be embedded before the pour. Adding it later is essentially impossible.
Vapour barrier on wrong side of insulation
In metal buildings, vapour drive goes inward in winter. Wrong barrier placement causes condensation inside walls.
Service Packages
Each tier builds on the last. Start where your project needs the most support.
Floor Plan Review
A systems-first review of your floor plan before it becomes permanent. We assess traffic flow, mechanical clearances, and slab-embedded conflicts most designers miss.
- Full floor plan markup with systems annotations
- Traffic flow and clearance analysis
- Mechanical chase and plumbing stack alignment
- Slab-embed conflict identification
- Written priority recommendations report
Mechanical-Design Integration
Deep integration review connecting your design intent to mechanical reality — HVAC routing, electrical panel placement, plumbing wet-wall strategy, and drainage coordination.
- Everything in Floor Plan Review
- HVAC duct routing and register placement review
- Electrical panel and circuit path optimization
- Plumbing wet-wall and drain slope coordination
- Vapour barrier and insulation conflict analysis
- 60-minute consultation walkthrough
Full Build Coordination
End-to-end design-systems coordination from slab plan through commissioning. Ongoing advisory embedded in your build timeline to catch conflicts before they become change orders.
- Everything in Mechanical-Design Integration
- Multi-phase design review checkpoints
- Builder and trade coordination support
- Envelope and finish material systems review
- Kitchen and bathroom mechanical coordination
- Priority scheduling and ongoing advisory access
How the Review Process Works
Submit Your Plans
Share your floor plan, site conditions, and build goals through our inquiry form.
Systems Audit
We review your plans against 525+ decision points covering mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural coordination.
Marked-Up Report
You receive a detailed annotated floor plan with conflicts identified, priorities ranked, and solutions recommended.
Walkthrough Call
We walk through every finding with you so you understand what to tell your builder and trades.
Who This Is For
Owner-builders who have a floor plan but aren’t sure if it accounts for HVAC runs, plumbing stacks, or slab embeds.
Barndominium builders dealing with open-span framing, metal envelope challenges, and mechanical routing through post-frame structures.
General contractors who want a second set of systems-focused eyes before locking in the slab pour.
Anyone submitting for permits whose building department is asking for mechanical plans, energy evaluations, or HVAC calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a systems-first design review?
A systems-first design review evaluates your floor plan through a mechanical lens — checking HVAC routing, plumbing stack alignment, electrical panel placement, and slab-embed conflicts before concrete locks your decisions.
Who should get a design review before building?
Owner-builders, barndominium builders dealing with open-span framing and metal envelopes, and general contractors who want a second set of systems-focused eyes before the slab pour.
How much does a barndominium design review cost?
IronField design reviews start at $750 CAD for a Floor Plan Review, $1,500 for Mechanical-Design Integration, and $3,500+ for Full Build Coordination.
Do you provide stamped structural drawings?
Our review focuses on mechanical-design coordination, not structural engineering stamps. However, we identify structural conflicts that affect mechanical systems.
What happens if my building department rejects my plans?
Our review catches the mechanical and systems coordination issues that cause rejections — like missing HVAC calculations or undersized electrical service — before you submit.
Start With a Conversation
Not sure which package fits your project? Tell us a bit about your build and we'll reach out within 1–2 business days.
Continue Planning Your Build
Planning System Explained
How the 8-phase, 525+ item IronField planning system works — and why sequencing matters.
Find Professionals
Barndominium-friendly realtors, insurance brokers, and lenders across Canada.
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Complete Canada Build Guide
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