Format of Review Files
We conduct design reviews primarily in a fully digital process – in exceptional cases, a semi-digital approach may be used.
Advantages of Digital Review:
- Time savings during review cycles
- Digital documentation and archiving
- Cost efficiency
- Fast communication
The design review is carried out directly within PDF files (PDF/A) by inserting review comments and approval notes. Once completed, the audited PDF/A documents are digitally signed and sent via email.
File Transfer
In all federal states—except Lower Saxony—submission of files for review, return of audited files, and delivery of review reports is carried out via the cloud-based platform ELBA (Electronic Structural Engineering Audit File):
https://www.bvpi-elba.de/
In Saxony-Anhalt, files to be reviewed and the audited files are also transferred via cloud systems. For legal reasons, each review file must additionally be sent to the design review engineer as a hard copy by post.
Once the review engineer is commissioned and the project is created in ELBA, all project participants (lead designer, structural engineer, building authority, client, etc.) are registered on the platform. The responsible structural engineer then uploads the documents to be reviewed in PDF/A format.
File Contents
To ensure fast and efficient processing, objective use of audit resources, and full auditability of submitted documents, it is recommended that the following checklists be considered before submitting the review file.
