How to Use BIM 360 to Review andApprove Shop Drawings with Confidence?
Shop drawings are critical components of any construction project The purpose of shop drawings is to provide detailed plans and specifications for the fabrication and installation of building elements including Mechanical/HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing fixtures, structural components, and architectural finishes Reviewing and approving these drawings is a critical responsibility for any project manager or design professional
Typically, a supplier or subcontractor will create fabrication drawings of a system and then print off PDFs for final approval How can we better utilize BIM models to reduce the amount of time spent on reviews and the number of mistakes made in areas like embed positions and enclosure specifics? PDFs make it difficult to coordinate between trades because of the time and mistakes they introduce.
Autodesk's cloud-based platform BIM 360 enhances BIM's potential by facilitating simultaneous collaboration and communication across a wide variety of project participants in real time for the shop drawing submittal process.
Why is Shop Drawing Review Important?
Shop drawings are an important component of the overall building process, and it is crucial that they be accurate and comprehensive in order for the project to be successful.
It is required to review and approve working drawings in construction, in order to guarantee that the project will be built according to the design intent, will be in compliance with all applicable building laws and regulations, and will be buildable within the allotted amount of time and money
It is possible for the project's quality and integrity to be jeopardized if submittals and shop drawings are not thoroughly reviewed, which can lead to errors that are not only expensive but also cause delays in the schedule and safety concerns
Traditional Shop DrawingApproval Process
1. Paper-Based: This is the conventional approach taken when reviewing shop drawings in construction. Printing, mailing, reviewing, marking up, and returning many copies of drawings is standard procedure. It is functional, but slowing down progress on the project.
2. Semi-Electronic: This is by far the most widely used approach to reviewing shop drawings and construction drawings in theAEC business today. Email is used to send drawings (in PDF or a comparable format).These blueprints are then sent to print, inspected, marked up, scanned back to PDF, and sent back out.
3. Electronic Drawings Only: The designs are sent as PDFs, examined and annotated digitally, and then sent back as PDFs. Despite the obvious advantages (faster turnaround, less chance of miscommunication, and fewer lost documents), only a few construction companies use electronic drawings.
Reviewers are having trouble utilizing these applications and using computer monitors to view the drawings, despite the existence of various software tools designed to streamline the review, markup, and archiving process
Steps to Review andApprove Shop Drawings in Construction with BIM 360
BIM 360 is a powerful tool that can streamline the shop drawing review and approval process, enabling project teams to collaborate effectively and efficiently
Here are some key steps to follow when using BIM 360 for shop drawing review and approval:
Contractors and fabricators can upload their shop drawings directly to BIM 360, making them easily accessible to the project team.The drawings can be organized by discipline, trade, or area, making it easier to navigate and review them.
2 Assign reviewers and approvers
Project managers and coordinators can assign reviewers and approvers to specific shop drawings, ensuring that the right people are involved in the review process This can be done by setting up a workflow that includes various stages, such as review, makeup, approval, and final sign-off.
3. Collaborate and markup drawings
Using BIM 360’s markup and collaboration tools, reviewers and approvers can annotate and comment on the shop drawings, highlighting any issues, discrepancies, or changes that need to be made These markups can be viewed in real-time, allowing for faster communication and decision-making
1. Upload shop drawings to BIM 3604. Track and manage changes
BIM 360 keeps a record of all changes made to the shop drawings, including who made the changes and when they were made.This ensures that all parties are aware of any modifications and can track progress toward completion.
5 Finalize and approve
Once all the comments and markups have been addressed, the shop drawings can be finalized and approved. BIM 360 allows for construction submittal stamps, and electronic signatures, making it easy to obtain sign-off from all necessary parties.
Conclusion
Using BIM 360 to review and approve shop drawings includes numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. By following the steps outlined above, you can confidently review and approve MEP, structural, and architectural shop drawings and ensure that your construction project stays on track and meets the design intent Shop drawings services can be improved with the help ofAutodesk BIM 360 reviewing and approval process