Glad this topic came up!
In my quest to create better Plansets - ones which are high in details, low in errors, and easy for both Plncheckers + Field Crews to read / follow / understand, I would like to ask everyone some very improtant questions.
Best for me to start a new dedicated thread for this, as polluting this established one would be improper.
Look for this new thread under the topic heading of:
"Questions For All Regarding Plansets"
(will return later and insert a link to that thread)
I have in the past - and will in the future, been "Blown Away" by crazy, non-relevent and un-realistic Spec Notes embedded into Plansets and Manuals.
Mainly these insane requests are from firms simply trying to "CYA", and at the same time, not invest a whole bunch of Labor Units into a Project's Design + Engineering.
The usage of "Boiler Plate" Specification text may lead to three individual Plan pages of Spec Notes - and on ARCH "E" size Media!
("E" size media = 36" x 48").
The same applies to Project Manuals, where a firm may simply submit _ALL_ possible subdivisions to the Manual (like all possible for Division 16).
For those unfamiliar with the "Design" side of Planset generation, it begins with some "Conceptual Designs" from an Architect, then progresses towards "Working Drawings" through:
* Engineering by "MEP" firms (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing),
* Submission of "Concept Plans" to the local Planning Department, by the Architect,
* Once approved by Planning Dept., submitted to Building Department + Fire Departments.
Usually after the MEP firms have created their stuff + submitted it, the Architect will have a new / revised floor plan (revised through the Planchecks listed above) -
so everyone needs to revise their sets to comply accordingly.
This is typically where things begin to turn bad!
For the "Design/Build" Contract work and Lighting:
A very common thing when I do a Design/Build type Engineering job, is the Architect not only designs the Lighting, but specifies the Fixture types and Manufacturer(s).
Typically, this is performed in conjunction with a "Lighting Supplier" who performs some level of fixture layouts, which are targeted towards lighting levels only - not any Code-related and/or Engineering issues.
One common VE step is to try and use some type of fixture which is equivalent, and more cost efficient
(readilly available, installs much easier, lower costs for fixture + accessories, less of a maintenace nightmare, etc.)
On the design/engineering side, I need to design the Lighting Systems to comply with several factors:
* Energy Compliance (AKA "Title 24, Part 6 - section 5 and 6),
* The Client's needs,
* The enviroment and structural restraints,
and
* Emergency Egress Lighting; -
then I can perform Circuitry Calculations.
Many Clients + Architects are now allocating the task of Lighting Design to me, in order to reduce the red tape involved with Lighting Design and its Compliance.
Now, most of the Design/Engineering related Preliminary work on Design/Build Projects, are compiled as a "Package" by myself, and submitted to Architect + client for their approval.
This makes for a much more efficient design process, and further reduces the overall costs of the complete Project - not to mention it also reduces loss of time and non-coopoerative work progression between all trades.
I will start that new thread (about Planset Questions) sometime soon.
Got to run - just got an E-mail message with revised floorplans - how ironic, huh?
See ya
