The basic workflow
From files to a cited report in four steps. The same flow works whether you are asking one question or auditing an entire set.
Create a project
Start a project for the building or job you are working on. Everything you upload and ask stays grouped together.
Upload your files
Add your drawing PDFs, your IFC or BIM model, and the code or standard you want to check against. You can add more than one drawing set.
Ask or run a check
Ask a question in plain English, or run a full compliance audit across the whole regulation. Answers arrive in seconds; audits in minutes.
Read the cited report
Every finding points to the clause in the code and the drawing or model element it came from, so you can verify and defend it.
What to upload
Drawings (PDF)
Your drawing set as PDF. You can upload multiple sets into one project to compare revisions and ask across documents.
BIM / IFC models
Export an IFC from Revit, ArchiCAD, Tekla, or any tool that supports open BIM. UptoCode reads the model data, not just the drawn lines.
The code or standard
Upload the exact code you want to check against: the NCC, IBC, Saudi Building Code, a council requirement, or the specific parts your project needs.
Your QA standards
Add your own quality-assurance checklist or a client specification, and UptoCode checks against it the same way it checks a published code.
How to write great questions
The quality of an answer follows the quality of the question. A few habits make a big difference:
- Be specific. Name the sheet, level, room, or element you mean.
- Reference the code. If you know the section or clause, say so; if not, point at the discipline (fire, egress, energy).
- Say what good looks like. Mention the threshold or units you care about, so the answer is measured against the right thing.
- One thing at a time. Ask a focused question for a precise answer, then follow up to drill in. Use a full audit for breadth.
| Instead of | Ask |
|---|---|
| Is this compliant? | Does the accessible bathroom on sheet A-203 meet the clearance requirements in the code I uploaded? |
| Check the fire stuff | List every fire door on level 2 and its required fire-resistance rating under the uploaded code. |
| Are the stairs ok? | Does the main egress stair meet the minimum width and riser and going requirements for its occupant load? |
| Check energy | Do the external walls and glazing meet the insulation and U-value requirements in the energy section of the code? |
You can ask in Arabic as well as English, and receive cited answers in the same language.
Example prompts to try
Starting points you can adapt to your project and the code you uploaded.
Fire safety
- What is the required fire-resistance level for the separating walls between units, and do the drawings meet it?
- Check the travel distance to the nearest exit from the far corner of the office floor against the code.
Egress and access
- Does every required exit door meet the minimum clear width, and do any open the wrong way?
- Check the ramp gradients and landings on the accessible path of travel to the main entrance.
Energy efficiency
- Do the glazing U-values and wall insulation meet the energy requirements for this climate zone?
- Summarise where the design falls short of the energy section and cite each clause.
Structural
- What load combinations apply to this structure under the uploaded code, and are they reflected in the design notes?
- Check the minimum concrete cover for the slabs against the concrete code.
Waterproofing and wet areas
- Check the membrane termination heights and falls in the wet areas against the code.
- Are the required waterproofing details shown for the balconies?
Whole-project
- Run a full audit of this set against the code and give me a pass or fail per requirement.
- What are the top five compliance risks in this set, most serious first, each cited?
A guide to the features
Chat vs full audit
Ask a single question in chat for a fast, focused answer, or run a full audit to check the whole set against an entire regulation. Use chat to investigate; use an audit for coverage.
Sources on every answer
Each answer shows the exact document, page, and clause it drew from. Open the citation to verify the finding against your own files before you rely on it.
Prompt wand
Not sure how to phrase a question? Tap the wand to sharpen your prompt and get suggestions, which usually leads to a more precise answer.
Multiple drawing sets
Add several drawing sets to one project to compare revisions and ask questions across documents, without merging PDFs first.
The screenshot tool
When a sheet is dense, or you want to ask about one specific detail, the screenshot tool lets you capture any area of a drawing and ask about that exact detail. UptoCode reads what is inside the box you drew and answers in that context, which is often faster and more precise than describing the location in words.
When to use it
For a specific detail, a callout, or a busy area where naming the location in text would be awkward.
How to use it
Open the screenshot tool, draw a box around the detail, then type your question about it.
Best practice
Frame the box tightly around the detail plus the labels or dimensions it depends on, so the answer has the context it needs.
- 1
Select mode. Switch between Select, for drawing a box, and Pan, for moving around the sheet. Select is active here.
- 2
Draw the box. Drag a box around the detail you want to ask about. Frame it tightly, but include the labels and dimensions the answer depends on.
- 3
Navigate and zoom. Page through the set and zoom in before selecting, so the box captures the detail crisply.
- 4
Your selected region. The crop attaches to your next question, so the answer is about exactly what you boxed. The X clears it.
A visual walkthrough
A tour of the main screens and the buttons you will use most. Each number on the picture is explained underneath it.
The chat composer
Does the accessible bathroom on sheet A-203 meet the clearance requirements in the uploaded code?
- 1
Your project files. Everything you have uploaded rides along with the chat: drawing sets under Plans & notes (you can add several), the code under Regulations, and your IFC model as a Source file.
- 2
The prompt wand. Not sure how to phrase it? The wand refines your draft into a sharper question, and you can undo the refinement with one tap.
- 3
Ask about an area of the drawing. Opens the drawing so you can draw a box around a detail and ask about exactly that region. See the screenshot tool below.
- 4
Send. Sends your question. Answers arrive in seconds, grounded in the files above.
A cited answer
Not compliant. The bathroom on sheet A-203 shows a 1,050 mm circulation space at the pan; the uploaded code requires a minimum 1,200 mm clearance for accessible sanitary facilities.
Cited: clause reference in ncc_2025.pdf · p. 148, and sheet A-203 in working_drawings.pdf · p. 12
Sources
- working_drawings.pdf · p. 12
- ncc_2025.pdf · p. 148
- 1 web reference
- 1
The answer, with its evidence. Every answer states the finding and points to the clause and the sheet it came from, so you can verify it rather than take it on trust.
- 2
The Sources panel. Lists exactly which of your documents, down to the page, the answer drew from. Open a source to check the finding against your own files.
A compliance report from a full audit
Compliance audit · ncc_2025.pdf
14 checked · 11 pass · 3 fail- 1
Pass or fail, per requirement. A full audit works through the regulation and returns a verdict for each requirement, so you see coverage at a glance.
- 2
A citation on every finding. Each result links the clause in the code and the sheet or detail it was checked against, ready to verify and hand to a certifier.
Tips and common pitfalls
Upload the right code and edition
Answers are only as current as the code you provide. Upload the edition and the specific parts that apply to your project and jurisdiction.
Be specific
Name the sheet, level, room, or discipline. A precise question gets a precise, easy-to-verify answer; a vague one gets a vague answer.
Always open the citation
Treat each finding as a cited shortlist to check, not a final word. The citation is there so you can verify and stand behind the result.
Break big questions down
For a dense sheet, ask a few focused questions or use the screenshot tool rather than one sweeping prompt, then run a full audit for coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a good prompt for UptoCode?
Be specific and reference the code. Name the sheet, level, room, or discipline you mean, and mention the requirement or units you care about. A precise question like 'Does the accessible bathroom on sheet A-203 meet the clearance requirements in the uploaded code?' gets a precise, easy-to-verify answer.
What is the difference between chat and a full audit?
Chat answers a single, focused question in seconds, grounded in your project files. A full audit checks the whole set against an entire regulation and returns a pass or fail per requirement in minutes. Use chat to investigate a specific point and an audit for coverage.
How does the screenshot tool work?
The screenshot tool lets you capture any area of a drawing and ask about that exact detail. Draw a box around the detail, type your question, and UptoCode answers in the context of what is inside the box. It is useful for dense sheets or a specific callout.
Can I use UptoCode in Arabic?
Yes. You can ask questions and receive cited answers in Arabic as well as English.
New to the idea? Read the guide to AI compliance checking, see how BIM and IFC checking works, or view pricing.