What are the key points to consider when reviewing Design Information?

Question

Howard Gregory · Accepted Answer

THE BASICS

Whether a Main Contractor, Designer, Subcontractor, or any other Consultant, understanding what is to be built is key. Tradition prefers a process in which there is

· the printing of full-size drawings, and

· the study of the drawings and associated specifications

Scoping

The basic premise being that to procure or build accurately, a detailed knowledge of the drawn information / specification is required.

This is known as “Scoping”, to ensure that all the works are understood and considered in the design, procurement and construction process. Every piece of design information (e.g. drawings / specifications/ schedules) must be appropriately studied. To understand what it contains.

To Understand What it Contains

Ultimately the information will need to be commented upon. By Consultants, Designers, Main Contractor and Subcontractor. Typically, the following questions are asked, but this is not an exhaustive list: -

· Does the information accord with the budget / cost plan / contract sum / programme?

· Is information shown buildable? (for example, a perfect curved wall drawn on a computer-generated drawing may not be achievable using the products specified or allowed for in the budget)

· Logistically, is it possible to build what is required, accounting for the spatial limitations on the project?

· What specific construction details are still required?

With the majority of documents being generated electronically and transmitted electronically there is a very significant risk that they are not properly studied until it is too late. It is considered all but impossible to do this on a computer monitor screen where only part of the drawing can be properly viewed at any one time. Further compounded if the context of other drawings needs to be considered at the same time. It is also impossible to understand properly with part prints or A3 prints of A0 and A1 drawings.

BIM models are increasingly improved to avoid some of the pitfalls outlined above. However, the technology is still not widespread in the supply chain, so the traditional method is a safety net. But similar principles apply to BIM.

Print the drawings full size and properly study them.

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What are the key points to consider when reviewing Design Information?

Building-regulations

Architecture

Design-interfaces

Cost-management

Tom Spilsted

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