Plans, Specifications, and Construction Documents
What must be submitted
IBC Section 107 requires construction documents, drawings, specifications, and supporting data, of sufficient clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the work and to demonstrate conformance. Depending on the project you will see architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and civil sheets, a code summary, life-safety plans, energy compliance forms, and geotechnical data.
Reading a set at intake
Drawings are organized by discipline: G general, C civil, A architectural, S structural, M mechanical, E electrical, P plumbing, FP fire protection, L landscape. Check the title block, seal, signature, date, and revision block; check the scale and north arrow. Scale arithmetic matters: at 1/8 inch equals 1 foot, a 20-foot wall measures 2-1/2 inches on paper.
Specifications and submittals
Specifications are written requirements, traditionally organized under CSI MasterFormat divisions. Shop drawings and delegated-design submittals are the contractor detailed documents checked against the approved design. The approved construction documents govern the project, and field changes require revision and re-review rather than an informal field decision.
Traps
Accepting plans without a required design professional seal where state law demands one. Treating a vendor cut sheet as a design document. Expecting the technician to judge structural adequacy. Confusing the permit set with the record or as-built set.
Rule of thumb
Apply the completeness checklist: every discipline, every referenced sheet, seal and signature, code summary, and site plan present before intake is complete. Technical adequacy is the reviewer call, not yours.