Table 2-1.—Technical Specifications

A building project may be broadly divided into two major phases: the design phase and the construction phase. First, the preliminary drawings are prepared during the design phase. They are prepared by the EFD or by an architect’s and engineer’s (A/E) firm. The preliminary drawings are used for exploring design concepts between the designer and the user (customer), making material selection, getting preliminary cost estimates, and serving as a basis for preparing the finished working drawings.

The presentation drawings are developed to show the proposed building or facility in an attractive setting in its natural surroundings at the proposed site. Since these drawings are actually used to sell an idea or a design, you will probably see this type of drawing only as a cover sheet to a set of construction drawings.

In the second phase, after approval has been given for construction, the working drawings are developed.

Shop drawings are supplied by manufacturers to show fabrication of building parts. After review by the architect and engineer, they become a part of the working drawings. Throughout your career, you will hear working drawings referred to as blueprints, construction drawings, prints, or plans. Basically, these terms are all correct; they can be used interchangeably.

As mentioned earlier, the construction drawings are developed from the preliminary drawings. With the collaboration of the EFD and the architect and the engineer, both the materials to be used and the