Inserting vendor submittal drawings into overall design drawing package

[rockman7892]

I work on a lot of design build projects where our engineering team creates a set of design/construction drawings which will include equipment (switchgear etc..) that is provided by other vendors and will have their own show drawings specific to that equipment.

On many projects there are cases where we need to reference these vendor drawings for external integration (external wiring interconnects) etc. usually there is debate on how to best incorporate these vendor drawings into our design construction package.

There are some that are of the thought that you can simply take that content of that vendor drawing and remove the vendors border and any other origin reference and simply put the drawing content in one of our project design drawing title block. There are others that believe that we should always keep the manufacturer drawing references for document control and recommended just putting our project design drawing title block around the existing vendor drawing title block. If there is a case where the original manufacturer title block is not kept there should be a note on the new design drawing that specifically references the original manufacturer title block.

I am of the though that we should always keep the original manufacturer drawing reference and should not just completely wipe out any reference to the original manufacturer drawing.

I'm curious to hear feedback on best practice that others follow?

A simple example here is taking an internal wiring diagram from a switchgear manufacturer's drawings and incorporating it into our design drawing set to show external wiring that will integrate into this internal switchgear wiring.

 

[xnuke]

I've seen drawings with the engineering firm's title block with the entire OEM drawing on them - the vendor's title block and everything - and that included a disclaimer that all of the drawing's contents were provided by the manufacturer and the engineer included it for the benefit of the contractor/for information only but assumed no responsibility for its content, or something to that effect. I've also seen the engineer add their own content to extend an OEM drawing, but in a scope bubble with a note that clearly identified only the area on the drawing that was their responsibility and what content was provided by the OEM.

Another option I've seen is inclusion of notes or text on the engineer's drawings that included no content from the OEM but incorporated the OEM drawings by reference.

I've also seen engineers create very simple interconnect diagrams that show point-to-point wiring between terminals using information from the OEM drawings to identify the appropriate terminals, or wiring schedules that include the same information.

Obviously, a lot of options exist. In my opinion, to strip the OEM title block away is a copyright violation unless permission was obtained. Also, if there are errors in the OEM drawings, why would the engineer of record want to assume responsibility for them?

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[rockman7892]

Xnuke thanks for the feedback.

As you mentioned my concern is stripping any reference to original vendor and the liability or risk that presents even with vendor permission. It also presents a challenge with Rev control.

The company I work for sometimes makes a habit of incorporating all the vendor drawings (ex switchgear) into our design package even if there are no additions or changes being made. This seems like a complete waste to me as opposed to just keeping them as a separate vendor package.

Any thoughts on an OEM brand labeling another manufactures equipment and how drawings should be handled in that case? Complete removal of original manufacturer reference or still keep reference even with brand labeling?

 

[nhcf]

Our approach would be as mentioned by xnuke - keep vendor drawings as vendor drawings, and create interconnect/installation drawings for the field installation that reference the vendor drawings.

In some instances the client may want loop termination drawings that end up duplicating information from all of the other drawings into one loop detail.

 

[xnuke]

Any thoughts on an OEM brand labeling another manufactures equipment and how drawings should be handled in that case? Complete removal of original manufacturer reference or still keep reference even with brand labeling?

In that case, I'm of the opinion that the way the drawings will be handled will depend on an agreement reached between the two companies. That agreement should probably cover use of IP, including formats, who has liability, etc.

xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.