3rd-5th-yr-Working Drawing - Synopsis

I will put the subject under 4 major headings as below:

A). Working Drawing (WD): Introduction & Definition.

B). Information gathering for WD: 

C). Structure of working drawing or construction drawings & documents (CDD's).

D). WD or CDD's management.

      Summary / Concluding Remarks.

Introduction & Definition:

As the name suggests the team who constructs buildings on site read graphical language called as Working Drawings. If all the required information are put in proper sequence on drawings and other documents, adequately cross referenced, then the author of drawings is not required on site constantly. This allows him/her luxury of visiting sites periodically to check progress and measure and approve key mile stones of the project as s/he deem fit. 

Why it is called WD? Since the role of architects is predominantly linked with preparing drawings, (if writing specifications is done by other specialists) then it is appropriate nomenclature. But in bigger & complex buildings apart from Working (or Construction)  Drawings there are many more documents like Tender Documents which may include things like specifications, schedules (like door / window / finishes, etc), general & special terms and conditions of contract. Hence many professionals refer WD as CDD's or Construction Drawings & Documents because its more comprehensive.Why we need documents like specifications? Some information is very tedious to put on drawings. For example, like fixing of tiles on structural slab, we have to describe in detail like screed size, mortar depth/size, mortar mix ratio, etc which is best put on specifications by experts who know better than architects.

My argument for WD's or CDD's is that it is arrived at from common pool of knowledge of many professionals including yourself as Architect as Team Leader. others who also contribute by way of technical information or by way of feel or look of WD's are people named as below:

1). Structural Engineers

2). Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) Engineers

3). Surveyors - Land surveyors, Quantity surveyors, Estimators and Specifications writers.

4). Project Managers, Site Project Engineers, Foremen, Laborers. 

5). Project Management Consultants Team.

Throwing up a question in class, some terms as definition of WD following will come up from students:

WD is technical, graphical, detailed (with more information) representation of information on drawing.

A teaser: if i put 4 different type of drawings like presentation, municipal, building construction plate and working without it being named so. now my question to you can you pick up a working drawing from above set just by feel / look of it. removing presentation and municipal from this out is easy. but between BC plate and WD the difference may not be great. normally BC plate has pre-decided graphic representation of different materials and mostly BC teachers hold this non-negotiable. but in WD it is negotiable and adopted suiting the needs as established by common pool of knowledge from time to time. 

some criteria to keep in mind while adopting proper graphical presentation. 

A good WD should be consistent with following criteria:

* If xeroxed will give good quality or almost copy of original using minimum or optimum toner. for example shading wash in grey for RCC works may not come in xerox or too much black hatch will use too much toner in xerox and plotter as well. 

* Labor intensive / time consuming hatching be avoided if it does not impact over all feel of WD.

A sample WD sketch: