In This Article
What Is a General Review?
A General Review (formally termed "review of construction" in the Ontario Building Code) is the professional obligation of a licensed engineer or architect to make periodic on-site visits during construction to determine whether the work generally conforms to the reviewed and approved design documents. It is not a continuous inspection — the professional does not supervise the contractor — but it is a formal, regulated activity that creates a documented record of compliance throughout construction.
The term "General Review" is used by PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario) and is the structural engineer's equivalent of what architects call a "field review." Both fulfil the same statutory function under Division C of the Ontario Building Code (OBC), specifically Articles 1.3.4.1 through 1.3.4.3.
Key distinction: The municipal building inspector who comes to your site is exercising public regulatory authority under the Building Code Act. The P.Eng. performing the General Review is acting as a private professional under contract to the owner, confirming that the contractor is building what was designed. These are two separate and complementary functions.
When Is General Review Required?
General review is commonly required for buildings regulated under OBC Parts 3 and 4 and for smaller buildings where professional engineering design forms part of the permit submission. The practical screening questions are:
| Building Type | General Review Required? |
|---|---|
| Buildings following a Part 3 permit path | Commonly required for all applicable designers identified on the permit |
| Buildings or systems requiring Part 4 structural design | Structural general review is commonly required |
| Smaller buildings with engineer-designed structural work | Often required; confirm through permit conditions and Schedule 1 commitments |
| Small-building work without engineer-designed structural scope | May be limited or not required, depending on the permit path and municipality |
| Interior alterations with no structural system review | Often not required unless the permit includes reviewed structural scope |
In practice, if your permit package includes engineer-designed structural scope or follows a Part 3 or Part 4 review path, expect the municipality to look for a signed commitment to perform general review on Schedule 1 before the permit is finalized.
The OBC Legal Framework
The general review obligation is codified in OBC Division C, Article 1.3.4.1. For projects that fall within the applicable review path, the designer of the system is expected to perform a general review of that scope of construction. Owners should treat that requirement as part of the permit conditions rather than as an optional consultant service.
PEO's role: PEO (Professional Engineers Ontario) enforces the general review obligation as part of its regulatory mandate under the Professional Engineers Act. Failure by a P.Eng. to perform required general review can result in discipline by PEO, including suspension or revocation of licence. This means the P.Eng. cannot simply "opt out" of general review obligations once they have prepared and stamped the structural drawings for a regulated project.
If the owner replaces the structural engineer after permit issuance, the incoming engineer must formally assume the general review obligation and notify the municipal building official. The building official may require a condition assessment of work already completed before the new engineer takes over.
Schedule 1: Identifying Who Must Review
When a building permit application is submitted, the applicant must complete Schedule 1 of the OBC application package. Schedule 1 identifies the designers of each regulated system and whether each is committed to perform general review. The municipal building official reviews Schedule 1 to confirm general review coverage before issuing the permit.
For a typical commercial or multi-residential building, Schedule 1 will identify:
- The architect (responsible for architectural/fire protection elements)
- The structural engineer (responsible for structural systems)
- The mechanical engineer (HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression)
- The electrical engineer (where regulated)
Each professional listed on Schedule 1 commits, with their signature, to performing general review of their scope and submitting the required completion certification. Missing a required signature can delay permit issuance or trigger follow-up from the building department.
What Happens During Site Visits
The frequency and timing of general review site visits is at the engineer's professional judgment, guided by PEO's Guideline for General Review. Typical structural milestone visits include:
- Foundation stage: After excavation and before pouring footings or placing piles — confirming bearing conditions match the geotechnical report and that the structural drawings are achievable in the field conditions found
- Structural framing: After primary structural framing is erected (steel frame erected and bolted; concrete poured and stripped; wood framing completed) — confirming member sizes, connections, and load paths conform to drawings
- Pre-close-in: Before insulation and drywall conceals structural elements — confirming any exposed structural elements (blocking, connections, hold-downs) conform
- Substantial completion: A final site review confirming that all structural elements are in place and no outstanding non-conformances remain
For larger or more complex projects, the engineer may conduct additional visits during concrete pours, post-tensioning operations, or when non-standard structural details are being constructed. The engineer does not, however, conduct continuous on-site inspection — that responsibility rests with the contractor and their site superintendent.
Field Review Reports
After each site visit, the engineer must prepare and issue a field review report documenting:
- Date of visit and construction stage observed
- Work observed and its general conformance (or non-conformance) with the structural drawings
- Any deficiencies, non-conformances, or concerns identified
- Any outstanding items to be resolved before proceeding
- Engineer's signature and seal
Field review reports are distributed to the owner, the general contractor, and retained in the engineer's project file. They are not automatically filed with the building department, but the building official may request them. If non-conformances are identified and not corrected, the engineer must escalate — ultimately including notification to the chief building official if the safety of persons is at risk.
For owners: Maintain a complete file of all field review reports from the structural engineer for the life of the building. These documents are critical evidence of the building's as-built structural condition and are frequently requested in future renovations, due diligence reviews, and legal proceedings.
Schedule 2: The Completion Letter
Schedule 2 (OBC Division C) is the formal certificate submitted by each designer to the chief building official upon completion of the project. For the structural engineer, Schedule 2 states that general review of the structural construction was performed in accordance with the permit obligations and that the work generally conforms to the design documents.
Schedule 2 is commonly part of the closeout package needed before occupancy or final sign-off. If a required designer listed on Schedule 1 does not submit the completion certificate, municipal closeout can stall and create project delays.
The Schedule 2 certificate does not guarantee that every element is perfectly built to drawing — it certifies that on the basis of periodic visits, the work generally conforms. Material deviations found during field review are documented in field reports and must be resolved before Schedule 2 can be issued.
What If General Review Was Not Done?
Projects where required general review was not performed face several consequences:
- Occupancy withheld: The CBO will not issue the occupancy permit without Schedule 2 letters from all required designers
- Retrospective assessment: The owner must engage a P.Eng. to conduct a retroactive structural assessment — opening walls, inspecting concealed connections, reviewing as-built conditions — which is significantly more expensive than performing general review as construction proceeds
- Liability gap: If a structural problem emerges later, the absence of general review documentation eliminates a key layer of professional accountability and may expose the owner to difficulties in pursuing claims against the contractor or designer
- Insurance complications: Some property insurance policies have conditions related to OBC compliance. A building occupied without the required occupancy permits may trigger coverage disputes
Owner's Obligations
While the general review obligation is on the professional engineer, the owner has important complementary duties:
- Retain and maintain the contract with the structural engineer through project completion — do not terminate the engineer before Schedule 2 is issued, as a replacement engineer will need to assess all prior work
- Ensure the contractor provides adequate site access, drawings, and notification for field review visits
- Do not cover or conceal structural elements before the engineer has had an opportunity to review them — coordinate sequencing with the structural engineer
- Retain all field review reports in the building file permanently
- Verify Schedule 2 submission before accepting the occupancy permit from the municipality
Frequently Asked Questions
A General Review is the Ontario Building Code requirement for a licensed P.Eng. to make periodic site visits during construction and confirm that structural work generally conforms to the approved design. It is not continuous supervision — the engineer visits at key milestones, issues field reports, and ultimately submits a Schedule 2 completion certificate to the building department.
General review is commonly required for projects following Part 3 or Part 4 permit paths and for many projects involving engineer-designed structural work. The correct answer for a specific project should be confirmed from the permit documents and Schedule 1 commitments.
The P.Eng. visits the site at critical construction stages appropriate to the project, issues written field review reports, and documents any non-conformances that must be addressed before completion certification can be provided.
Schedule 2 is the formal OBC completion certificate submitted by each designer whose scope required general review. It confirms that the required review was performed and is commonly needed for permit closeout and occupancy-related approvals.
Permit closeout can be delayed and the owner may need a retrospective engineering assessment of completed work. That process is usually more expensive, more intrusive, and less efficient than carrying out general review during construction.
General Review & Field Review Services in Ontario
Asvakas Engineering provides OBC-compliant structural general review services for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects across Ontario — from Schedule 1 permit commitment through Schedule 2 occupancy certification.
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