Fabricators, contractors, subcontractors, manufacturers, and suppliers produce shop or technical drawings. The information includes plans, elevations, views, sections, and many other details. Prefabricated components typically require these documents. Some examples include elevators, structural steel, trusses, precast concrete, windows, appliances, cabinets, and air handling units. This article discusses the value of Shop Drawing Services for increasing designer productivity.
Construction documents or manufacturer’s specifications include shop drawings. Unlike construction documents, they usually provide more information. In order to fabricate and install items, manufacturers or technicians use these diagrams. The designer prepares design specifications and drawings. This type of drawing shows the process behind producing, manufacturing, assembling, or installing a component in more detail.
Industrial and engineering communication requires a shop drawing. Common symbols, measurements, page layouts, etc., make the drawing easier to understand. An international standard, ISO 128, defines and codifies many symbols and principles of shop drawings.
Most engineering and technical professions require shop drawings, such as:
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Architecture
- Installation of plumbing and other systems
History of shop drawings
The construction of every building began with sketches and drawings. First, sand drawings, then paper drawings. Computer software makes more and more drawings that designers don’t even print out. There are several components to every building. However, the specifications and measurements of each of these components are different. We analyze each component’s shop drawing to see if it fits into the building. The Shop Drawing Services are important because they are drawn before construction begins.
Computer screens and mice have replaced paper, pencils, T-squares, and eraser crumbs of previous generations in drafting software. It allows designers to focus more on concept and creativity than computation and clutter when creating technical documentation for buildings, structures, and products.
Shop drawings come in many forms and types. Many documents portray a portion of the work provided to the registered professional of record. However, these include drawings, diagrams, illustrations, schedules, performance charts, brochures, and other information. The contractor may prepare clearly identified shop drawings according to contract conditions or as reasonably requested by the registered professional of record. A fabricator, supplier, equipment manufacturer, subcontractor, or contractor can prepare them. Registered designers, professionals, and other consultants must review drawings, specifications, and contract documents to develop shop drawings. As soon as the project documentation is clear, the conditions for developing shop drawings are laid out. Technology has simplified processes, increasing efficiency.
Shop drawings and their importance
It focuses on one product or installation and excludes data about other products or installations unless necessary for integration. In engineering, Shop Drawings are important because they emphasize know-how rather than design intent, which makes them less important for design intent. The project specifications are always necessary to meet the client’s expectations. The drawings consist of Elevation views, Section views, and Detail views depending on the phase of work and part of the construction.
Generally, elevation views represent items as if they were standing directly in front of them.
An essential part of the construction is shown in the section view. There are gaps between the elements, and structure is shown in these drawings.
Drawings of sections have a smaller scale than drawings of detail views. It is usually used to emphasize minor details about a particular component.
CAD Drafting Services and similar software offer valuable and useful tips and guidelines for creating different shop drawings. Array, Offset, Trim, Extend, MultiLine, Block, etc., are easier commands to use during the drawing’s development phase to make needed changes and corrections. A common keyboard command, such as those we use to create MS Office documents, can also be very useful in creating shop drawings!
By indicating the drawing number(s), revision number(s), and the appropriate specification section, shop drawings must refer to the relevant design drawings produced by the registered record professional. A shop drawing must clearly show the design loads specified by the designer. Setting the codes in the shop drawings will avoid confusion and misunderstanding. In cases where engineering is not feasible, shop drawings ensure that the information is accurate.
Shop drawings serve a specific purpose.
They do not include contract documents as part of the package. As per the Contract Documents and the contractor’s design concept, the Contractor illustrates how portions – phases of the Work will construct.
The following features are essential: detailed structural drawings, BIM models, coordination models, quantity and estimate, material takeoff, structural plan drawing, rebar detail, construction drawing, and structural steel detail.
It is known that drafting practices reduce costs, improve delivery schedules, improve productivity, reduce capital expenditures, increase market reach, increase flexibility, improve overall performance and competitiveness, and improve client satisfaction by reducing costs.
It is possible to prepare a technical drawing from a general project design in any format, such as a shop drawing. In cases where the supplier lacks the appropriate skills, software, or hardware to schedule the work or can obtain lower rates or a faster turnaround, they outsource the work. The creation process relies heavily on collaboration. Building drawings change over time, while shop drawings are the originals. In the course of construction, a building may undergo revisions. Shop drawings do not limit themselves to just drawing the structure of the building’s exterior. They can also determine the materials used in the construction process.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to every project. Precision and reliability of Shop drawings and other kinds of technical drawings are essential to enable this realization.
Today’s software packages perform tasks efficiently, retrieving data is easy, and they accomplish tasks quickly. It is no longer necessary to use office equipment to accomplish tasks. You can view the drawings using a wide range of technology devices. All stakeholders can follow up on revisions and changes in drawings with a small amount of advice, suggestions, and changes.
It is possible to submit shop drawings electronically. Cost and constructability issues will inevitably emerge while preparing a complete set of drawings.
The benefits of shop drawings
An engineering project’s success or failure depends on its accuracy and precision. Before transmitting the shop drawings to the architect/engineer, the contractor is responsible for their production. Any shop drawing is not subject to review by the architect/engineer unless the contractor has reviewed it. In recent years, technology advancements have made shop drawings’ overall process more efficient with the introduction of computer-aided drafting and 3D modeling technologies. As a result of utilizing the same database, all parties can create more accurate shop drawings and quality in the long run.
Conclusion:
Construction documentation is the final step in the design process, which is traditionally the climax of the process. As described above, architecture practice has been altered by new technologies as a byproduct of these new technologies.
Additionally, these CAD Drafting Services are self-explanatory so that the contractors will understand everything from dimensions to materials to timelines to installation techniques. All important stages of construction, including all participants, require shop drawings because of their characteristics.
