diff --git a/mfr/core/exceptions.py b/mfr/core/exceptions.py
index 9f7d5c8dc..317399568 100644
--- a/mfr/core/exceptions.py
+++ b/mfr/core/exceptions.py
@@ -147,9 +147,8 @@ def __init__(self, message, *args, metadata_url: str='', response: str='', **kwa
 
 
 class QueryParameterError(ProviderError):
-    """The MFR related errors raised from a :class:`mfr.core.provider` and relating to query parameters
-    should inherit from MetadataError
-    This error is thrown when a query parameter is used missused
+    """The MFR related errors raised from a :class:`mfr.core.provider`and relating to query
+    parameters. This error is thrown when the query has an invalid value.
     """
 
     __TYPE = 'query_parameter'
diff --git a/mfr/core/provider.py b/mfr/core/provider.py
index 00054c313..32ddbaea5 100644
--- a/mfr/core/provider.py
+++ b/mfr/core/provider.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import abc
-import markupsafe
+from http import HTTPStatus
 
 import furl
+import markupsafe
 
-from mfr.core import exceptions
-from mfr.server import settings
+from mfr.core import exceptions as mfr_exceptions
 from mfr.core.metrics import MetricsRecord
+from mfr.server import settings as mfr_settings
 
 
 class BaseProvider(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
@@ -17,12 +18,12 @@ class BaseProvider(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
     def __init__(self, request, url):
         self.request = request
         url_netloc = furl.furl(url).netloc
-        if url_netloc not in settings.ALLOWED_PROVIDER_NETLOCS:
-            raise exceptions.ProviderError(
+        if url_netloc not in mfr_settings.ALLOWED_PROVIDER_NETLOCS:
+            raise mfr_exceptions.ProviderError(
                 message="{} is not a permitted provider domain.".format(
                     markupsafe.escape(url_netloc)
                 ),
-                code=400
+                code=HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST
             )
         self.url = url
         self.provider_metrics = MetricsRecord('provider')
@@ -60,8 +61,8 @@ def serialize(self):
         return {
             'name': self.name,
             'ext': self.ext,
-            'is_public': self.is_public,
             'content_type': self.content_type,
             'unique_key': str(self.unique_key),
             'download_url': str(self.download_url),
+            'is_public': self.is_public,
         }
diff --git a/mfr/core/utils.py b/mfr/core/utils.py
index c5f7713cc..1abea18a9 100644
--- a/mfr/core/utils.py
+++ b/mfr/core/utils.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ def make_renderer(name, metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url):
     normalized_name = (name and name.lower()) or 'none'
     if metadata.is_public:
         try:
+            # Use the public renderer if exist
             return driver.DriverManager(
                 namespace='mfr.public_renderers',
                 name=normalized_name,
@@ -85,18 +86,19 @@ def make_renderer(name, metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url):
                 invoke_args=(metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url),
             ).driver
         except:
-            # Check for a public renderer, if one doesn't exist, use a regular one
-            # Real exceptions handled by main driver.DriverManager
+            # If public render does not exist, use default renderer by MFR
+            # If public render exists but exceptions occurs, delay the exception handling
             pass
 
     try:
+        # Use the default MFR handler
         return driver.DriverManager(
             namespace='mfr.renderers',
             name=normalized_name,
             invoke_on_load=True,
             invoke_args=(metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url),
         ).driver
-    except RuntimeError:
+    except:
         raise exceptions.MakeRendererError(
             namespace='mfr.renderers',
             name=normalized_name,
@@ -110,6 +112,7 @@ def make_renderer(name, metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url):
             }
         )
 
+
 def sizeof_fmt(num, suffix='B'):
     if abs(num) < 1000:
         return '%3.0f%s' % (num, suffix)
diff --git a/mfr/extensions/office365/render.py b/mfr/extensions/office365/render.py
index 2760ce761..2c03cb3e1 100644
--- a/mfr/extensions/office365/render.py
+++ b/mfr/extensions/office365/render.py
@@ -1,19 +1,22 @@
 import os
+from urllib import parse
+
 import furl
+from mako.lookup import TemplateLookup
 
 from mfr.core import extension
-from mako.lookup import TemplateLookup
-from mfr.extensions.office365 import settings
+from mfr.extensions.office365 import settings as office365_settings
 
 
 class Office365Renderer(extension.BaseRenderer):
-    """A renderer for use with public .docx files.
+    """A renderer for .docx files that are publicly available.
+
+    Office online can render `.docx` files to `.pdf` for us. This renderer will only be made
+    if a query param with `public_file=true` is present. It then generates and embeds an
+    office online URL into an `iframe` and returns the template. The file it is trying to
+    render MUST be public.
 
-    Office online can render .docx files to pdf for us.
-    This renderer will only ever be made if a query param with `public_file=1` is sent.
-    It then generates and embeds an office online url into an
-    iframe and returns the template. The file it is trying to render MUST
-    be available publically online. This renderer will not work if testing locally.
+    Note: this renderer DOES NOT work locally.
 
     """
 
@@ -23,9 +26,10 @@ class Office365Renderer(extension.BaseRenderer):
         ]).get_template('viewer.mako')
 
     def render(self):
-        download_url = furl.furl(self.metadata.download_url).set(query='')
-        url = settings.OFFICE_BASE_URL + download_url.url
-        return self.TEMPLATE.render(base=self.assets_url, url=url)
+        download_url = furl.furl(self.metadata.download_url).set(query='').url
+        encoded_download_url = parse.quote(download_url)
+        office_render_url = office365_settings.OFFICE_BASE_URL + encoded_download_url
+        return self.TEMPLATE.render(base=self.assets_url, url=office_render_url)
 
     @property
     def file_required(self):
diff --git a/mfr/providers/osf/provider.py b/mfr/providers/osf/provider.py
index 52bf13d36..0480ba2a5 100644
--- a/mfr/providers/osf/provider.py
+++ b/mfr/providers/osf/provider.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import os
 import json
 import hashlib
+from http import HTTPStatus
 import logging
-from urllib.parse import urlparse
 import mimetypes
+import os
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 import furl
 import aiohttp
@@ -11,12 +12,10 @@
 
 from waterbutler.core import streams
 
-from mfr.core import exceptions
-from mfr.core import provider
-from mfr.core.utils import sizeof_fmt
-from mfr.providers.osf import settings
-from mfr.settings import MAX_FILE_SIZE_TO_RENDER
-from mfr.core.exceptions import TooBigToRenderError
+from mfr import settings as mfr_settings
+from mfr.core import exceptions as mfr_exceptions
+from mfr.core import provider, utils
+from mfr.providers.osf import settings as provider_settings
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -74,14 +73,14 @@ async def metadata(self):
             response_reason = metadata_response.reason
             response_headers = metadata_response.headers
             await metadata_response.release()
-            if response_code != 200:
-                raise exceptions.MetadataError(
+            if response_code != HTTPStatus.OK:
+                raise mfr_exceptions.MetadataError(
                     'Failed to fetch file metadata from WaterButler. Received response: ',
                     'code {} {}'.format(str(response_code), str(response_reason)),
                     metadata_url=download_url,
                     response=response_reason,
                     provider=self.NAME,
-                    code=400
+                    code=HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST
                 )
 
             try:
@@ -104,12 +103,12 @@ async def metadata(self):
         name, ext = os.path.splitext(metadata['data']['name'])
         size = metadata['data']['size']
 
-        max_file_size = MAX_FILE_SIZE_TO_RENDER.get(ext)
+        max_file_size = mfr_settings.MAX_FILE_SIZE_TO_RENDER.get(ext)
         if max_file_size and size and int(size) > max_file_size:
-            raise TooBigToRenderError(
+            raise mfr_exceptions.TooBigToRenderError(
                 "This file with extension '{ext}' exceeds the size limit of {max_size} and will not "
                 "be rendered. To view this file download it and view it "
-                "offline.".format(ext=ext, max_size=sizeof_fmt(max_file_size)),
+                "offline.".format(ext=ext, max_size=utils.sizeof_fmt(max_file_size)),
                 requested_size=int(size), maximum_size=max_file_size,
             )
 
@@ -121,18 +120,16 @@ async def metadata(self):
         unique_key = hashlib.sha256((metadata['data']['etag'] + cleaned_url.url).encode('utf-8')).hexdigest()
 
         is_public = False
-
-        if 'public_file' in cleaned_url.args:
-            if cleaned_url.args['public_file'] not in ['0', '1']:
-                raise exceptions.QueryParameterError(
-                    'The `public_file` query paramter should either `0`, `1`, or unused. Instead '
-                    'got  {}'.format(cleaned_url.args['public_file']),
+        public_file = cleaned_url.args.get('public_file', None)
+        if public_file:
+            if public_file not in ['True', 'False']:
+                raise mfr_exceptions.QueryParameterError(
+                    'Invalid value for query parameter `public_file`: {}'.format(cleaned_url.args['public_file']),
                     url=download_url,
                     provider=self.NAME,
-                    code=400,
+                    code=HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST,
                 )
-
-            is_public = cleaned_url.args['public_file'] == '1'
+            is_public = public_file == 'True'
 
         return provider.ProviderMetadata(name, ext, content_type,
                     unique_key, download_url, is_public=is_public)
@@ -140,13 +137,13 @@ async def metadata(self):
     async def download(self):
         """Download file from WaterButler, returning stream."""
         download_url = await self._fetch_download_url()
-        headers = {settings.MFR_IDENTIFYING_HEADER: '1'}
+        headers = {provider_settings.MFR_IDENTIFYING_HEADER: '1'}
         response = await self._make_request('GET', download_url, allow_redirects=False, headers=headers)
 
-        if response.status >= 400:
+        if response.status >= HTTPStatus.BAD_REQUEST:
             resp_text = await response.text()
             logger.error('Unable to download file: ({}) {}'.format(response.status, resp_text))
-            raise exceptions.DownloadError(
+            raise mfr_exceptions.DownloadError(
                 'Unable to download the requested file, please try again later.',
                 download_url=download_url,
                 response=resp_text,
@@ -154,7 +151,7 @@ async def download(self):
             )
 
         self.metrics.add('download.saw_redirect', False)
-        if response.status in (302, 301):
+        if response.status in (HTTPStatus.MOVED_PERMANENTLY, HTTPStatus.FOUND):
             await response.release()
             response = await aiohttp.request('GET', response.headers['location'])
             self.metrics.add('download.saw_redirect', True)
@@ -186,8 +183,8 @@ async def _fetch_download_url(self):
                 )
                 await request.release()
 
-                if request.status != 302:
-                    raise exceptions.MetadataError(
+                if request.status != HTTPStatus.FOUND:
+                    raise mfr_exceptions.MetadataError(
                         request.reason,
                         metadata_url=self.url,
                         provider=self.NAME,
diff --git a/tests/extensions/office365/test_renderer.py b/tests/extensions/office365/test_renderer.py
index ae485a125..5d90d3990 100644
--- a/tests/extensions/office365/test_renderer.py
+++ b/tests/extensions/office365/test_renderer.py
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
+from urllib import parse
+
 import furl
 import pytest
 
-from mfr.extensions.office365 import settings
 from mfr.core.provider import ProviderMetadata
 from mfr.extensions.office365 import Office365Renderer
+from mfr.extensions.office365 import settings as office365_settings
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def metadata():
-    return ProviderMetadata('test', '.pdf', 'text/plain', '1234',
+    return ProviderMetadata(
+        'test',
+        '.pdf',
+        'text/plain',
+        '1234',
         'http://wb.osf.io/file/test.pdf?token=1234&public_file=1',
-                                                        is_public=True)
+        is_public=True
+    )
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -20,7 +27,7 @@ def file_path():
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def url():
-    return 'http://osf.io/file/test.pdf'
+    return parse.quote('http://osf.io/file/test.pdf')
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -40,8 +47,8 @@ def renderer(metadata, file_path, url, assets_url, export_url):
 
 class TestOffice365Renderer:
 
-    def test_render_pdf(self, renderer, metadata, assets_url):
+    def test_render_pdf(self, renderer, metadata):
         download_url = furl.furl(metadata.download_url).set(query='')
-        body_url = settings.OFFICE_BASE_URL + download_url.url
+        office_render_url = office365_settings.OFFICE_BASE_URL + parse.quote(download_url.url)
         body = renderer.render()
-        assert '<iframe src={} frameborder=\'0\'></iframe>'.format(body_url) in body
+        assert '<iframe src={} frameborder=\'0\'></iframe>'.format(office_render_url) in body
diff --git a/tests/server/handlers/test_query_params.py b/tests/server/handlers/test_query_params.py
index b707035dc..001c42b27 100644
--- a/tests/server/handlers/test_query_params.py
+++ b/tests/server/handlers/test_query_params.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from tests import utils
 
 
-class TestRenderHandler(utils.HandlerTestCase):
+class TestQueryParamsHandler(utils.HandlerTestCase):
 
     @testing.gen_test
     def test_format_url(self):