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Index for 12 page calculations? 2

swooneyWOODSTRUCT

Structural
Aug 23, 2019
26
Am I crazy for being a little pissed that a plans examiner issued a checksheet asking for an index for a calculation package with 12 pages? For a residential wood deck? Surely the city has better things to do with their time.
 
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Tell him, "Pages 1 through 12 are numbered as shown. Provide code reference requiring index or approve as is."

That being said even for my short calc package template I have an index.
 
You have to submit calcs on a deck?
Other than when I was doing light gage steel, I have had to submit calcs maybe 10 times in 30 years.
 
Sounds to me like they are just going through a list, looking for something to comment on. I would be pissed I had to waste my time, on the flip side, it's easy to do for 12 pages. I have turned in 5000+ page calculations before without an index (whoops) and had no issue and rarely include an index in any calculation package. Was this reviewer by chance a 3rd party the jurisdiction uses?
 
Do you mean a page with a TOC? If so, then 2002 called and wants its submittal method back.

I could see them insisting on PDF bookmarks or hyperlinks for all but trivial packages.
 
Move your calcs to a 48" drafting sheet, then you just need "Page 1-Deck Calculations for a Jerk".
 
For a 12-page calculation, it looks like overkill. But for longer documents, one can use LaTeX, which prepares the TOC automatically.
 
As Aesur stated, nearly everything out west requires calcs. When you include computer printouts, 12 pages sounds about right.

As tempting as it is to be sarcastic to the reviewer, it's a lot easier (and will take less of your time) to just add the index and be done with it.
 
No good comes from fighting with a plan reviewer. If it is something easy to fix just grumble to a coworker and make the change.
 
No good comes from fighting with a plan reviewer. If it is something easy to fix just grumble to a coworker and make the change.
I'd agree fighting is no good. However, pushing back on time consuming but insignificant comments, is another issue entirely, particularly if it's a jurisdiction you submit to frequently. The plan checkers personal preferences shouldn't dictate your design or submittal.

I frequently do this and manage to get through plan checks just fine.
 

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