Washington, DC

About the Washington, DC Office:

DC-IBTS is a division of the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting residential and commercial building safety and building code compliance across the United States.

DC-IBTS was formed to serve the specific needs of the District of Columbia, providing services on demand which would normally be provided by government offices in the built environment. DC-IBTS's expert Plan Reviewers and Inspectors can provide the following services on an as-needed basis:

DC Inspections  

DC Inspections is an online service that allows IBTS clients to request inspection services and coordinate with field inspectors on their progress. Our clients can request inspections by individual property, monitor the status of their requests, and review detailed reports on the results of each inspection.  

Please note that access to the DC Inspections site requires a valid login account with IBTS. If you do not currently have access and are interested in the DC Inspections system, please contact the DC Inspections Site Coordinator for more information.

DC-IBTS was formed to serve the specific needs of the District of Columbia, providing services on demand which would normally be provided by government offices in the built environment. DCIBTS's expert Plan Reviewers and Inspectors can provide the following services on an as-needed basis: 

• Building Design Review and Plan/Peer Review
• Building Department Municipal Services
• Building Inspection
• Education and Training of Building Officials
• Independent Verification and Validation

The following comments have been made by our clients:

Hotel Washington Renovation

"It has been a pleasure working with the IBTS inspection team on this high-profile W project. I found them to be responsive, professional, and reliable. Not only were they prompt and thorough in their inspections, but their willingness to sit down with the team to give code interpretations aided several critical design-change decisions. I could always count on Cindy Verbeek to returned phone calls and emails, to give me spur-of-the-moment code interpretations, and to proactively investigate issues that were requested of her. The team's dedication to this project was evident by their helpful attitudes. I would not hesitate to recommend them for future projects." 

--Andrea Baker, Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle

Brookfield Properties

"This letter is to confirm Brookfield Properties' very positive experience working with IBTS and specifically its plan review group through design and redesign of a high-rise office building at 77 K Street NW in Washington DC. While it is true that IBTS was thorough in its review and accessible and responsive to our needs, what is most notable is that ultimately, IBTS's expedited plan review helped us receive our building permit from DCRA faster than we have received any permit in the District of Columbia, even for simpler projects. Too, in addition to the typical peer/plan review services that we expected, IBTS alerted us immediately to a specific challenge we would face with the DC Fire Marshal's Office regarding the location of the Fire Command Center in relation to the main building entrance. This single "heads up" observation prevented us from wasting perhaps several months in re-design, and contributed significantly to the success of the project. I continue to recommend IBTS plan review services to my colleagues and associates, and I look forward to working with IBTS on other projects. Thank you for helping our projects to succeed in this difficult and competitive market." 

--James Berkon, Director of Design and Construction, Brookfield Properties

Landis Construction Corporation

"We've been very happy with the level of service and professionalism provided by IBTS. [Using IBTS] inspectors saves our company time and money for two reasons: (1) They show up when promised; and (2) They perform more than one inspection within any one site visit. Instead of having a skilled carpenter sitting around all day... we can keep that employee working." 

--Christopher K. Landis, Landis Construction Corporation

Clark Realty Capital, LLC

"I feel like IBTS is dedicated to seeing our project succeed. They understand the parameters we are operating under and have been flexible in meeting our needs." 

--Troy Balkema, Clark Realty Capital, LLC

Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group East

"IBTS has been extremely helpful in working issues through the DC City agencies, and through their tireless efforts have brought to resolution a number of issues that have resulted in several thousands of dollars in savings for the (City Vista) project." 

"The Development Team at City Vista originally contracted with IBTS to perform 3rd Party Plan Review Services. We were so pleased with the responsiveness and professionalism of the organization we ultimately added the 3rd Party Code Compliance Inspections, a wall close-in inspection service (beyond code requirements) and punchlist preparation services to their base contract. This additional work was incorporated into the IBTS scope, not because it was convenient, but rather due to the continued overall efforts and client-oriented approach that is a foundation of the IBTS corporate culture. Lowe Enterprises REG-E will continue to endeavor to use any and all of the services provided by IBTS as the opportunities present themselves." 

--Chad Harmon, Construction Manager, Assistant Vice President, Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group East

Turner Construction Company

"Now that the Phelps Career Technology High School has opened, we at Turner Construction would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere thanks for a job well done. As with most 'high profile/high finish' projects, the road to completion was often filled with obstacles, and the day-to-day challenges were often tedious. We do sincerely appreciate your perseverance and professional dedication to quality that has made this marquee project a roaring success. The end result of your efforts, a unique building of which we can all be proud, is now the benchmark by which all the best projects in Washington, DC will be measured. Please extend our thanks to your respective jobsite staffs. Their professionalism, attention to detail and unflagging devotion to building the best project possible, truly made for an inspirational result. We look forward to joining with you on future projects and bringing to other owners and development teams this kind of quality, skill and dedication." 

--Christian Jahrling, VP/General Manager, H. Benjamin Short, VP/Senior Operations Manager, and Thomas Esau, Purchasing Manager, Turner Construction Company

Urban Structures

"IBTS not only expedited our plans through the review/permitting process, they also coordinated the inspections of an occupied high rise project. As a result, our project was completed with minimal inconvenience to the tenants. We would definitely use them again, particularly where timeliness means the difference between success and failure." 

--Terry Busby, Urban Structures

Municipal Consulting Group, LLC

"I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all of you help with the inspections for the Riggs Lassalle Project. Your response time and professionalism of your team should set the standard for the industry in the DC area. The project was on a fast track for completion with multiple municipal issues hampering its progress. With your help the project was a success."

--Raushan Murshid, Municipal Consulting Group, LLC

Zahn Design Architects

"We received our C of O on Tuesday for Garden District. ON TIME!! For a fast track project. Thank you for your help!!!"

--Greg Zahn, Zahn Design Architects

Donohoe Construction Company

"All members of the IBTS Inspection Team were professional, reliable, and competent. Inspections are a crucial component of job completion schedule and knowing that the inspector will show up when they are scheduled is invaluable. Another positive attribute of IBTS is that most of their inspectors are certified in multiple disciplines which saved us both time and money by performing combination inspections. Their willingness to take the time to explain their code interpretations was also appreciated."

--Neal Frumkin, Project Manager, Donohoe Construction Company

Boston Properties

"IBTS's expertise on inspection-related issues and their ability to meet the schedule demands when necessary has enabled projects to be completed both efficiently and on schedule...IBTS's code-related expertise has been extremely important in managing the complexities associated with constructing a mixed-use project with multiple phases...For all projects, despite tight construction schedules, IBTS has completed inspections in a timely manner and provided an outstanding level of service. The staff brings an incredible level of expertise to the projects. We highly recommend IBTS to others seeking these services."

--Jake Stroman, Senior Project Manager, Boston Properties