Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about CanCodes and how it can help you work more efficiently with Canadian building codes.

Getting Started

What is CanCodes?

CanCodes is an AI-powered assistant specifically designed to help Canadian construction professionals, architects, engineers, and building inspectors quickly find accurate information from Canadian building codes. Unlike general AI tools, CanCodes is trained exclusively on official Canadian building documents and provides precise, code-specific answers.

How do I get started?

Simply sign up with your email address - no password required! We'll send you a secure login link and verification code. You can start asking questions immediately with our free plan, which includes 3 messages per day.

Do I need to create an account?

Yes, an account helps us provide you with personalized project organization, save your conversation history, and manage your document preferences. Plus, it ensures you get the most accurate answers based on your selected building codes.

Why Choose CanCodes Over General AI Tools?

How is CanCodes different from AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude?

While general AI tools like ChatGPT have broad knowledge, they weren't designed for the precision required in construction and building code compliance. Their training data is often over a year old, which is problematic since building codes change every few years with amendments in between. CanCodes is purpose-built for Canadian building codes with several key advantages:

  • Specialized Knowledge: Works exclusively with official Canadian building documents, not general internet content
  • Always Current: Our system is regularly updated with the latest code revisions and amendments
  • Document-Specific Answers: You choose exactly which codes to query, ensuring relevant results for your project
  • Professional Reliability: Designed for compliance-critical work where accuracy is essential

Can I trust the answers for professional work?

CanCodes provides highly accurate information sourced directly from official Canadian building codes. However, like any tool, it should be used as part of your professional judgment and verification process. Always cross-reference critical decisions with the original code documents and consult with relevant authorities when required.

What types of building codes do you cover?

We cover a comprehensive range of Canadian building codes including Provincial Building Codes, Fire Codes, and Plumbing Codes across different jurisdictions. For a detailed list of available documents, please visit our pricing page where you can see exactly what's included with each plan.

Features and Usage

What's the difference between General Questions and Projects?

CanCodes offers two ways to interact with the system:

  • General Questions (Free Plan): Each question is treated independently without conversation history. Perfect for quick, standalone building code questions.
  • Projects (Pro Plan): Create custom projects that maintain conversation history, allowing for complex, multi-part discussions. Each project remembers your document selections and previous questions, making it ideal for ongoing work on specific buildings or renovation phases.

Projects help you organize your work by keeping related conversations and document selections together. For example, you might create separate projects for different buildings, client work, or renovation phases.

How does CanCodes provide more detailed answers?

CanCodes ensures that you are only working with the data you select from the document list, rather than the collective knowledge of the AI's training data. On top of that, when you ask a question, it doesn't just provide a simple answer. Our system automatically generates several related follow-up questions in the background to enhance the clarity and detail of the response. This means each question you ask is actually like asking 4-5 comprehensive questions on the topic, giving you much more thorough and useful information than a basic AI response.

How do I select which building codes to use?

When you create a new project, you'll see a document selection panel where you can choose from available building codes. This ensures your questions are answered using only the relevant codes for your specific project location and type. You can change your document selection at any time within a project.

Can I ask follow-up questions?

Absolutely! CanCodes maintains the context of your conversation within each project (available in the Pro plan), so you can ask follow-up questions, request clarifications, or dive deeper into specific code sections. This makes it easy to have natural conversations about complex building code topics.

What types of questions work best?

CanCodes excels at a wide range of building code questions:

  • Specific code requirements and interpretations
  • Compliance questions for your project specifications
  • Clarifications on code language and terminology
  • Comparisons between different code sections
  • Requirements for specific building types or occupancies
  • Fire safety, accessibility, and structural requirements
Pricing and Plans

What's included in the free plan?

Our free plan gives you a great way to try CanCodes and handle basic questions:

  • 3 messages per day (each including 4-5 automated internal follow up questions for improved detail)
  • Access to core building code documents
  • General Questions mode (each question is independent)
  • Mobile-friendly interface

See our pricing page for a detailed list of which building code documents are available with the free plan.

What additional benefits does the Pro plan offer?

The Pro plan is designed for professionals who need regular access to building codes:

  • 150 messages per month (vs. 3 per day on free)
  • Access to ALL building code documents
  • Create unlimited custom projects with conversation history
  • Priority email support
  • 14-day free trial to test all features

Visit our pricing page to see the complete list of building code documents available with the Pro plan.

How does the 14-day free trial work?

When you upgrade to Pro, you get full access to all Pro features for 14 days completely free. If you decide it's not right for you, simply cancel before the trial ends and you won't be charged. No hidden fees or complicated cancellation process.

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?

Yes! You can upgrade to Pro at any time to access more messages and additional building codes. If you need to downgrade, you can do so from your account settings, and the change will take effect at your next billing cycle.

What happens if I reach my message limit?

On the free plan, you'll need to wait until the next day for your messages to reset. Pro users get 150 messages per month, which is typically more than enough for regular professional use. If you find you need more, contact us to discuss your needs.

Account and Technical

How does the passwordless login work?

When you log in, we send both a secure link and a 6-digit verification code to your email. You can either click the link for instant access, or enter the code on our website. This system is more secure than traditional passwords and much more convenient.

Is my data secure?

Yes. We use industry-standard security practices to protect your information. Your conversations and project data are stored securely, and we never share your personal information or conversation data with third parties.

Can I use CanCodes on my phone?

Absolutely! CanCodes is designed to work on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops. You can access your projects and ask questions from anywhere with an internet connection.

What if I forget which email I used to sign up?

If you're not sure which email address you used, try the most likely ones. After signing in, if you're asked to complete your registration then you can go back and try a different email. If you're still having trouble, contact our support team and we'll help you locate your account.

Support and Contact

How can I get help if I have issues?

We're here to help! Pro users get priority email support, while free users can also reach out for assistance. Check our contact page for the best ways to reach our support team.

Do you offer training or onboarding?

CanCodes is designed to be intuitive and easy to use from day one. Most users can start getting value immediately. However, if you're part of a larger organization or have specific training needs, please contact us to discuss custom onboarding options.

Can I suggest new features or building codes to add?

We'd love to hear your suggestions! User feedback helps us prioritize new features and building code coverage. Please reach out through our contact page with your ideas and we'll consider them for future updates.

Is there a refund policy?

Yes, we offer a fair refund policy for Pro subscriptions. You can find full details on our refund policy page. We want you to be completely satisfied with CanCodes.

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