Shop drawings:
Are detailed, scale drawings that are produced by contractors, subcontractors, or fabricators. They are used to convey information about a building project’s components and system, and provide a visual representation of the design for the construction team. Here’s a step-by-step guide to producing shop drawings:
Review the project specifications and design documents: Before proceeding with the creation of shop drawings, it is crucial to thoroughly review the project specifications and design documents to gain a comprehensive understanding of the design goals and specifications. This step will ensure that you have all the necessary information to accurately create the shop drawings.
- Create an outline: Before beginning the actual creation of shop drawings, it is advisable to create a detailed outline of the scope of work. This outline should encompass a comprehensive list of all the different systems and components that need to be included in the shop drawings, in order to give a clear picture of the work that needs to be done.
- Create a detailed floor plan: To create a comprehensive and accurate representation of the building, it’s crucial to develop a detailed floor plan. Using the project specifications and design documents as a guide, carefully plot out the placement of all systems and components, considering the location and relationships of each element. This will allow you to visualize how everything fits together, ensuring that all components are positioned correctly within the building.
- Create detailed drawings: To create detailed shop drawings, you need to make an accurate representation of each component and system that is included in your project’s scope of work. The drawings should include all relevant information such as the dimensions, finishes, and materials used. This step is crucial in ensuring that all necessary information is captured and communicated to the various parties involved in the construction process. By creating detailed drawings, you can effectively visualize and plan out each component and system, ensuring that they will be installed correctly and meet the project specifications.
- Verify accuracy: Before finalizing the shop drawings, it is essential to check for accuracy and ensure that the drawings comply with the project specifications and design documents. This includes verifying that the drawings accurately reflect the sizes, finishes, and materials specified in the project requirements. It is also important to ensure that the drawings accurately depict the placement of each component and system in the building.
- Make Revisions if necessary: Once you have checked the accuracy of your shop drawings, if there are any changes that need to be made, it is important to revise the drawings accordingly. This could be due to updates in the project specifications or design documents, or simply because you have identified areas in the drawings that can be improved. Ensure that all revisions are made accurately, and then re-check the drawings for compliance and accuracy before moving forward.
- Submit for review: After thoroughly reviewing and verifying the accuracy of your shop drawings, you can now submit them to the relevant authority, such as the architect or engineer, for approval. Ensure that you provide all necessary information, including all relevant details and specifications, to facilitate a smooth and efficient review process.
- Review feedback: Carefully evaluate any comments or feedback you receive from the architect or engineer and make the necessary changes to your shop drawings. Ensure that these changes are in compliance with the project specifications and design documents and that the revisions accurately reflect the design intent.
- Finalize and distribute: After receiving approval on the shop drawings, it’s time to finalize them and make copies for distribution to the relevant parties involved in the construction process, including the construction team, subcontractors, and suppliers. Ensure that the final version of the shop drawings is complete and accurate, ready to be used as a reference during the construction process.
By following these steps, you can produce clear, accurate, and detailed shop drawings that will help to ensure a successful construction project.
