Project Development & Documentation: Drawings, Specifications, Coordination
Construction documents
CDs consist of drawings and specifications that are complementary, not ranked. Drawings show quantity, location, and dimension; specifications define quality, standards, and execution. The set is organized by discipline - general, civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, interiors.
Specifications
MasterFormat organizes specifications into divisions, with Division 01 (General Requirements) covering submittals, substitutions, quality control, and closeout. Prescriptive specs state the product; performance specs state the result. Proprietary specs must generally allow approved equals. Know the difference between a basis-of-design product and a sole source.
Coordination and detailing
Clash detection and overlay review resolve conflicts among disciplines. Material assemblies - fire-resistive construction, air and vapor barriers, waterproofing, thermal breaks, flashing - are heavily tested. Build details from the water, air, and thermal control layer outward.
Traps
Conflicts between drawings and specs are usually resolved by the more specific or larger-scale document, with the specification governing quality and the drawing governing quantity and location. Figure dimensions govern over scaled dimensions. An addendum is issued only during bidding; after award, changes go through an ASI or change order. Architects cannot delegate design responsibility through performance specifications without owner consent.
Worked example
A wall appears as 12'-0" on a 1/8" plan and 11'-10" on a 3/4" detail. The larger-scale detail governs - but confirm intent, since the structural grid typically controls. Always prefer the explicitly written dimension drawn at the larger scale.