I have a project that is a steel framed building. I have been submitted shop drawings for review. There are around 400 pages or so that need to be reviewed. We used to just print the pages out, mark up the drawings and send them back. I don't really want to do that and I am wondering if there is a better way to run through the approval process.
Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet
Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals
-
Congratulations waross on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Shop Drawing Review
- Thread starter SteelPE
- Start date
What do your Specifications require for Submittals? Unless you specifically indicate electronic submittals, I would make the Contractor submit the hard copies since the printing cost should be in their bid number. As far as transfering your comments to multiple sets, I would talk to the Contractor and have him agree to you sending back only one hard copy and he can make the additional copies of your mark-up. Typically, they will be ok with this if you tell them that your turn around time will be much quicker by transfering marks to only one set.
- Thread starter
- #4
This is something that wasn't really covered in the contract. Also, on this project the contractor is my client. When we did the rebar shop drawings I had them print me out a set and then I marked up a single set and sent them back. They didn't complain. I just don't want to print out 400 pages of steel beams and columns. I find it slightly easier to look at hard drawings for this type of review rather than trying to go back an forth and make sure I didn't miss something (that's where a highlighter comes in handy).
I just know some companies do electronic reviews and I was wondering what is the standard.
I just know some companies do electronic reviews and I was wondering what is the standard.
PUEngineer
Structural
A lot of our projects use 'cloud' based websites for the submittal process. So, all submittals are electronic. On those projects, I'll typically markup the drawings in Adobe if the marks aren't too extensive. Although I've found that I usually end up printing E sheets, redmarking and then scanning those in while digitally redmarking the piece detail sheets. If what you're marking up digitally was produced as a PDF then you can highlight text as required. If the drawing was created, printed and then scanned, you'll not be able to highlight digitally.
- Thread starter
- #6
PU
What software do you use to make the marks on the PDF? I only have reader here and I don't want to drop $300 on a program. I managed to get the client to print the Joist, Deck and Erection drawings and I figure I will print out the other shop drawings as needed or possibly mark up using some sort of PDF program.
What software do you use to make the marks on the PDF? I only have reader here and I don't want to drop $300 on a program. I managed to get the client to print the Joist, Deck and Erection drawings and I figure I will print out the other shop drawings as needed or possibly mark up using some sort of PDF program.
There are free/cheap PDF programs for this (don't know the name off the top of my head), I have used them and they are super intuitive and almost no learning curve. You can cloud things, mark things up, draw lines and circles, text boxes, etc. I have used them for coordination but not actual show drawings, but I would not hesitate to do it this way.
A lot of the sheets in larger steel projects end up being fabrication sheets showing every beam, plate and column, sometimes only a few per page- major waste of paper and not like you are checking every beam length. This way you can skip to the "good stuff" fast and easy.
A lot of the sheets in larger steel projects end up being fabrication sheets showing every beam, plate and column, sometimes only a few per page- major waste of paper and not like you are checking every beam length. This way you can skip to the "good stuff" fast and easy.
JedClampett
Structural
We use electronic reviews, except, for complicated reinforcing or structural steel drawings. Which is exacttly what you have. Printing the drawings should cost no more than 80 or 90 cents a sheet. I know it seems like a lot for 400 sheets, but your review time will eat up a lot more time and value than that costs. Maybe you can tell the contractor either they can print them or you'll do it and charge them an extra two hours (unless you can expense it directly) for your out of pocket expenses.
Trying to review them on a screen is going to be very unwieldy.
Trying to review them on a screen is going to be very unwieldy.
When reviewing electronic steel shop drawings, I generally print out the erection drawings only for use during my review. I will highlight and mark on these sheets while I review the piece details and other sheets (these sheets being reviewed and marked up electronically). When I'm done I will generally transfer my notes on the erection sheets onto the electronic copy prior to returning to the contractor.
Our company policy at this time is to receive and send shop drawing electronically, but if an individual is more efficient by printing out a shop drawing, then we're directed to print out the shop drawing. The cost of printing is generally minimal relative to the cost of labor.
Our company policy at this time is to receive and send shop drawing electronically, but if an individual is more efficient by printing out a shop drawing, then we're directed to print out the shop drawing. The cost of printing is generally minimal relative to the cost of labor.
connectegr
Structural
We have tried using the electronic files for review. Maybe it is just a learning curve, but I don't feel like we are as thorough working from the computer screen. With split monitors it is a little better. Being able to look at erection drawings and shop drawings or beam and column/girder at the same time, helps. I just feels faster and more thorough putting red ink on paper, and scanning the drawings with comments. I am sure there is a green reason for me to save the paper. But, that is a weak argument if we miss something.
Another issue is that frequently the files we receive are consolidated and finding a specific drawings is difficult.
Providing fabrication and erection efficient structural design of connections. Consulting services for structural welding and bolting.
Another issue is that frequently the files we receive are consolidated and finding a specific drawings is difficult.
Providing fabrication and erection efficient structural design of connections. Consulting services for structural welding and bolting.
charliealphabravo
Structural
Request PDFs or DWFs or scan them to PDF and then use ADR (Autodesk Design Review) to mark them up and return them. It used to be two or three hundred dollars but they have been giving it way for the last 5 years or so. You can drag and drop multiple PDFs directly into the application now.
We have been moving to using Bluebeam PDF Revu for checking shop drawings ( I thought AISC's Modern Steel Construction had an article a while ago about the software. It does take a while to get used to reviewing on a computer screen, but now that I have done 3 large projects with it (mostly steel framing with 300+ drawings on each job), I could never see going back to paper prints and pen/highlighter. Also, with Bluebeam it does help to have multiple monitors. One monitor for erection drawing and another one for the detail sheets. Cost is pretty cheap too, about $150 to $200 for a license. Just my 2 cents.
JWB
JWB
slickdeals
Structural
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question