How Tools™ Is Transforming the Way Certifiers Assess Compliance
When it comes to building compliance, the smallest details often demand the most time. Especially in areas like wet zones or drainage, where demonstrating compliance can be difficult using traditional plans alone.
Tyler Drake, a certifier at Drake Development Solutions, recently experienced first-hand how the right digital tools can transform the assessment process. In a recent construction certificate assessment, Tyler worked with a building designer who had embedded SpecBlocks into the design documentation, and the impact was immediate.
“The QR code integration drastically sped up my assessment time,” Tyler said. “The links were really easy to follow and gave us a lot more detail.”
Making Complex Compliance Simple Through Shared Understanding
One of the biggest challenges certifiers face is communicating why something might not meet code, particularly when it comes to niche technical details. Tools™ SpecBlocks solve this by creating a common visual reference point that everyone, such as designers, certifiers, and builders, can understand.
“Sometimes it’s very hard to articulate what we’re trying to achieve in words,” Tyler explained. “But when you’ve got a visual—like for a wet stop or drainage detail—it’s obvious. Everyone can see what’s going on.”
This shared understanding didn’t just help with Tyler’s internal reviews. On-site, the visuals made it easier for builders and designers to collaborate and ensure that what was intended on the plans was actually delivered in construction. By specifying Tools™ from the design phase, everyone was working from the same detailed visual compliance standards, eliminating guesswork and speeding up the entire process.
Why Specifying Tools™ Creates Faster, More Accurate Assessments
When designers specify Tools™ SpecBlocks in their documentation, they create a shared foundation that benefits everyone involved. The visual annotations, QR code links (SpecBlocks), and graphic-rich design explanations don’t just make life easier for certifiers, they also reduce project delays, minimise misinterpretations, and support stronger collaboration across teams.
For certifiers like Tyler, specifying Tools™ represents a meaningful shift toward proactive compliance communication rather than reactive problem-solving. The shared understanding created through visual compliance standards means less time spent on clarifications and more time on actual assessment work.
“It’s just a great, powerful tool. Visual is always easier for everyone. It helps us do our job faster and more accurately.”
Want to see how specifying Tools™ could work in your own projects?
Explore how SpecBlocks are changing the game for compliance checks and creating shared understanding across design, certification, and construction teams.
