1. Introduction
These Content Guidelines and Standards ("Guidelines") establish the rules and expectations for all content shared, posted, or uploaded to the Plan Checker platform, a trading name of Elegance Engineering Ltd. ("Plan Checker," "we," "us," or "our"). These Guidelines apply to all users of our platform, including professionals, clients, and visitors.
These Guidelines should be read in conjunction with our Terms of Use, User Agreement, Privacy Policy, and other applicable policies.
2. Purpose and Scope
2.1 Purpose
The purpose of these Guidelines is to ensure that all content on the Plan Checker platform maintains professional standards, provides accurate information, protects users' privacy and intellectual property rights, and complies with legal requirements including the Online Safety Act 2023.
2.2 Scope
These Guidelines apply to all content on the Plan Checker platform, including but not limited to:
- Profile information and descriptions
- Service listings and descriptions
- Project portfolios and images
- Reviews and testimonials
- Messages between users
- Forum posts and comments
- Documentation and technical files
- Building plans and specifications
3. General Content Principles
All content on Plan Checker must adhere to the following principles:
3.1 Accuracy and Truthfulness
- All content must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading
- Performance claims must be verifiable and substantiated
- Credentials and qualifications must be accurately represented
3.2 Professionalism and Respect
- Content must be professional in tone and presentation
- All communication must respect the dignity and privacy of others
- Harassment, discriminatory language, or personal attacks are prohibited
3.3 Compliance with Law
- Content must comply with all applicable laws and regulations
- Content must not promote or facilitate illegal activities
- Content must respect intellectual property rights of others
3.4 Relevance and Purpose
- Content must be relevant to building control, inspection, or related services
- Promotional content must be clearly identified as such
- Off-topic content may be removed at Plan Checker's discretion
3.5 Safety and Integrity
- Content must not compromise the safety or security of users or the platform
- Content must not undermine the integrity of professional services
- Content must not mislead about building regulations or safety requirements
4. Profile Content Standards
4.1 Professional Profiles
Professional profiles must include:
- Accurate name and business information
- Genuine professional photograph or company logo
- Truthful description of services, experience, and qualifications
- Accurate geographic service areas
- Current contact information
4.2 Client Profiles
Client profiles must include:
- Accurate name or company name
- Genuine profile photograph (if chosen to be displayed)
- Factual information about project requirements
- Accurate location information
5. Project and Portfolio Standards
5.1 Project Descriptions
- Must accurately describe the scope, nature, and outcomes of work
- Must clearly indicate the professional's specific role in the project
- Must not misrepresent the scale, complexity, or results of the work
- Must respect client confidentiality unless explicit permission is granted
5.2 Image and Media Requirements
- Images must be of professional quality and relevant to the service
- Images must be the original work of the user or used with proper permission
- Before/after images must be genuine and not misleading
- Plans and technical drawings must be clearly labeled and professionally presented
- Images must respect privacy (e.g., no visible personal information, license plates)
- No stock photography allowed without proper disclosure
5.3 Technical Documentation
- Must be professionally formatted and presented
- Must be accurate and comply with current regulations
- Must clearly indicate authorship and ownership
- Must include proper citations for any referenced standards or codes
6. Review and Feedback Standards
6.1 Client Reviews
- Must relate to actual services received through the platform
- Must be factual and based on first-hand experience
- Must focus on the service provided, not personal characteristics
- Must not contain inflammatory, defamatory, or abusive language
- Must not disclose confidential information
6.2 Professional Responses
- Must be professional, respectful, and solution-focused
- Must address the specific points raised in the review
- Must not be hostile, defensive, or contain personal attacks
- Must not disclose client's confidential information
7. Communication Standards
7.1 Direct Messages
- Must be professional and respectful
- Must be relevant to platform services
- Must not contain harassment, threats, or inappropriate solicitations
- Must not attempt to circumvent platform fees
7.2 Public Comments and Forum Posts
- Must be relevant to the topic of discussion
- Must be constructive and professional in tone
- Must not contain promotional material unless clearly labeled
- Must not contain personal attacks or defamatory statements
8. Prohibited Content
The following content is strictly prohibited on Plan Checker:
8.1 Harmful or Illegal Content
- Content promoting illegal activities or services
- Content advocating harm to individuals or groups
- Content containing threats, harassment, or incitement to violence
- Content that violates the Online Safety Act 2023
8.2 Deceptive or Misleading Content
- False credentials or qualifications
- Misleading service descriptions or pricing
- Fake reviews or testimonials
- Misrepresentation of regulatory compliance or approvals
8.3 Inappropriate Content
- Sexually explicit or suggestive material
- Offensive, discriminatory, or hateful content
- Graphic or disturbing imagery
- Content targeting minors inappropriately
8.4 Disruptive Content
- Spam, excessive posting, or irrelevant content
- Malware, viruses, or potentially harmful code
- Content designed to manipulate platform functions
- Content intended to disrupt user experience
8.5 Intellectual Property Violations
- Unauthorized use of copyrighted material
- Unauthorized use of trademarks or brand names
- Violation of others' intellectual property rights
- Plagiarized content
9. Content Moderation Process
9.1 Pre-Publication Review
Certain content may be subject to review before publication, including:
- Initial professional profiles
- First-time service listings
- First reviews by new users
- Content flagged by automated systems
9.2 Post-Publication Moderation
- User-reported content will be reviewed within 48 hours
- Plan Checker may proactively review content at any time
- Automated systems may flag potential violations for human review
- Multi-level review process for complex moderation decisions
9.3 Content Removal and Sanctions
For content that violates these Guidelines, Plan Checker may:
- Remove or hide the content
- Request modifications to bring content into compliance
- Issue warnings to the content creator
- Apply account restrictions or suspensions
- Terminate accounts for serious or repeated violations
9.4 Appeal Process
Users may appeal content moderation decisions by:
- Submitting a formal appeal within 14 days of the decision
- Providing additional information or context
- Demonstrating how the content complies with these Guidelines
- Appeals will be reviewed by a different moderator than the original decision-maker
10. Special Content Categories
10.1 Technical Information and Building Advice
- Must be accurate and conform to current regulations
- Must clearly distinguish between requirements and recommendations
- Must include appropriate qualifications or disclaimers
- Must not misrepresent regulatory compliance issues
10.2 Fee and Pricing Information
- Must be clear, transparent, and not misleading
- Must clearly indicate what is included and excluded
- Must accurately represent all fees, including Platform fees
- Must clearly state any conditions or variables that may affect pricing
10.3 Promotional Content
- Must be clearly identified as promotional in nature
- Must not misrepresent services, qualifications, or outcomes
- Must comply with UK advertising standards
- Must not contain comparative claims without substantiation
11. Content Ownership and Licensing
11.1 User Retention of Ownership
- Users retain ownership of content they create and share on the platform
- By posting content, users grant Plan Checker a license as outlined in the Terms of Use
11.2 Platform License
- The license granted to Plan Checker allows us to display, distribute, and promote user content
- Plan Checker may use content for platform improvement and marketing purposes
- Users may revoke this license by removing content, subject to reasonable archival needs
11.3 Third-Party Content
- Users must have proper rights or permission to post any third-party content
- Attribution must be provided where required
- Users are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate licenses for any shared content
12. Accessibility Requirements
12.1 Image Accessibility
- All images should include appropriate alt text describing the image
- Infographics should have text alternatives available
- Complex visuals should include descriptions of key information
12.2 Document Accessibility
- Documents should be formatted for accessibility
- PDFs should be properly tagged for screen readers
- Tables should include appropriate headers and structure
12.3 Video and Multimedia Accessibility
- Videos should include captions where feasible
- Audio content should have transcripts available upon request
- Multimedia controls should be keyboard accessible
13. Changes to these Guidelines
We may update these Content Guidelines and Standards from time to time. Changes will be effective upon posting on the Platform with an updated "Effective Date." For material changes, we will provide notification to users.
14. Contact Information
For questions regarding these Content Guidelines and Standards, please contact:
Plan Checker (Trading Name of Elegance Engineering Ltd.)
Email: info@planchecker.co.uk
Company Registration No: 15900115
Registered in England and Wales
By using Plan Checker, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Content Guidelines and Standards.