Higher Nationals

Construction and the

Built Environment
Unit Study Guide
Unit 6: Construction Information (Drawing,
Detailing, Specifiction)

Higher National
Certificate Lvl 4

Higher National
Diploma Lvl 5

Geoffrey Makstutis, Author

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 About this Unit

Construction information is, in many ways, the most important material in the development
of successful building projects. Whether it is a small house, a large office building, a bridge
or other major infrastructure project, the ability to build; what can often be, very complex
structures relies on our ability to present information that is accurate and coordinated.

The term ‘construction information’ refers to much more than just drawings. While drawings
provide a graphic representation of information that is needed to assemble and erect structures,
it relies on a range of other forms of information that, together, define the different aspects of
the project. Some of these will be graphical (as in drawings, models, etc.), others will be written
(such as, specifications) while others are very specific forms of lists (schedules) that provide
information about types of material, equipment, costs, etc.

As construction projects have become more complex, the ways that we prepare, assemble,
distribute and manage information has had to become more robust. When we have many
different individuals and companies working on a project, each undertaking specialist tasks, it
is very important that we are able to ensure the reliability and coordination between different
bodies of information. While computers have revolutionised that way that we are able to
generate, store, transmit and track information, these digital tools are just a more modern
version of the systems that have been in place for a very long time.

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 LO1 Evaluate different types of construction information in the
context of diverse project types

Essential Content
Topic: Construction drawings
What is the role of construction drawings?
How is a site plan used?
What do we include in general arrangement drawings?
Why do we draw sections?

Things to Remember

One of the most common forms of construction information is the drawing. For
many people, the ‘blueprint’ is the thing they think of when asked what kind of
information is needed to construct something. The cliché of a person in a hard hat,
with a roll of drawings, is often used as a proxy for ‘construction’.

However, construction drawings are not simply drawings of a project. They are a
highly specialised form of technical communication. They enable a construction
professional to understand many different aspects of a project and to interpret
the information that will allow them to undertake the operations necessary to
construct the finished project.

Increasingly, site operatives will view construction drawings on computer screens

or tablets, rather than referring to printed drawings. However, the conventions
associated with the graphical presentation of project information remain.

A site plan is a top-down view of the overall area of the project. Typically, this will
include the entire area of the site (where works will take place) and some adjacent
areas. Site plans are usually drawn at a very large scale, so they can show the
full extent of the site (and adjacent areas) within a given drawing size. Site plans
are often begun following initial investigation and desk studies, with additional
information added as it is obtained from site surveys and further investigation.
Site plans show:

• site boundaries
• existing structures
• trees and vegetation
• roads, footpaths, ramps and parking areas
• proposed buildings or infrastructure
• dimensions
• topographic information (levels, benchmarks, etc.).

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 ! Construction drawings are not intended to be attractive or to have particular aesthetic
character. They are a form of information. In this sense, they are different from
presentation drawings, which aim to show the character of the project. When preparing
construction drawings, don’t get caught up in trying to make them beautiful; rather,
concentrate on ensuring the information they provide is clear and precise.

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 Topic: Assembly drawings and detail drawings
What is the difference between a detail drawing and an assembly drawing?
What scale might be use for a detail?

Things to Remember

Assembly drawings are used to show how multiple elements combine to form a
single item. For example, a kitchen cupboard is comprised of a number of different
parts. In a general arrangement drawing, the overall shape and size of the cupboard
will be shown. An assembly drawing will show how the different parts (carcass or
body, door, legs, etc.) fit together to form the cupboard.

Detail drawings (or Component Drawings), like assembly drawings, show how
different parts of a system are put together. However, while assembly drawings
are generally used to show how parts fit together to make a whole, detail drawings
show how different elements are brought together to form part of a structure;
this may include assemblies. For example, a wall detail will show how the different
parts of a wall are put together. This may include the outer material (such as brick
or timber siding), the internal structure (timber framing, steel, concrete, etc.), any
insulation within the wall (if a cavity is present), inner finishes, etc. Similarly, a roof
detail may show the junction between the wall and the roof, illustrating how the
roof is supported on top of the wall and showing the different materials and their
arrangement to construct the roof.

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 Activity
Activity 1

Many local/regional government planning departments have online systems that allow
you to view general arrangement drawings (submitted with planning applications). Find a
recently completed small building in your area, and see if you can download or view the
drawings submitted for planning.

• What type of information do these drawings provide?

• Is it sufficient for construction?
• If not, what else would be needed?

Activity 2

Based on the drawings you found for Activity 1 (or for another small project), choose a part
of the construction work that will be required and prepare a simple bill of quantities, by
taking measurements from the drawings.

• What materials will be required?

• How much of each material will be needed?
• How can you quantify the material (linear metres, square metres)?

LO2 Develop construction drawings, details, schedules and specifications in support

of a given construction project
Assessment Criteria Areas for consideration
P3 Develop a set of general arrangement drawings, Note that this is not intended to be a complete set
selected details and door/window schedules of construction drawings; instead, you are asked to
prepare specific types of drawing. Your tutor may
assign you a project, or you will choose a project, for
which you will produce this information.
P4 Produce an outline bill of quantities As with P3, you do not need to produce a complete
bill of quantities. Rather, you are asked to produce
an approximate or outline bill of quantities. (Note, the
term ‘outline’ can refer to something that is described
in general terms, without too many details.)
M2 Compose a schedule of works Using the drawings you prepared for P3, you are
asked to develop a schedule of works. As above, this
will not be a complete schedule (since you won’t have
all the information). Instead, your aim is to develop
a schedule of works that provides clear information
about the types of work required.
D1 Justify the use of specific types of construction For the given project you have been using to develop
information in support of a given project drawings, a bill of quantities and a schedule of works,
you are asked to justify the types of information you
would use for the project.

Note that this criterion is shared with LO1, so your

justification will be based on both your investigations
into and production of different types of construction
information.

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 Topic: Clash detection
What is clash detection?
How do we manage clashes?

Things to Remember

In modern construction, for complex projects, there is always a need to ensure

there are no ‘clashes’ between different parts of the project. Digital systems have
made the process of clash detection more manageable and more accurate.

At its simplest, clash detection involves looking at a construction project and

highlighting situations where systems that should be separate are intersecting.
For example, an air conditioning system should be uninterrupted, with continuous
ducting from source to exhaust point. If a heating pipe or duct intersects with (or
runs too close to) the air conditioning pipework, the efficiency of the system will
be compromised. This will lead to increased operational costs.

Modern clash detection systems use model data to find and highlight places where
models intersect (or ‘clash’), so the design and technical teams can address any
issues before they are discovered on site. With the use of BIM data, clash detection
can be much more nuanced and finely tuned; some BIM systems even have clash
detection integrated within the software.

! Many of the large CAD/BIM software vendors also provide tools for clash detection.
These companies often have promotional videos that show how clash detection software
works. These videos will provide a good overview of the principles of digital clash
detection.

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 LO4 Assess ways in which construction professionals
collaborate in the production of construction information.

Essential Content
Topic: Project roles
What are the common roles for individuals (and teams) in a construction project?
How do different roles relate to each other?

Things to Remember

As we know, there are many different roles within a construction project. In this
topic, we are not interested in an exhaustive list of everyone involved. Rather, we
are interested in those groups that have direct engagement with the production
and management of construction information. However, this list itself may extend
to numerous different teams.

The RIBA Plan of Works (2013) includes a Project Roles Table that lists 31 different
individuals/groups, not taking into account any sub-contractors or manufacturers.

To simplify, we might consider the following roles as the key information

participants:

• client and client adviser

• designers (including lead designer, lighting designer, master planner, etc.)
• lead/general contractor
• architects (including interiors, landscape, etc.)
• engineers (structural, civil, services, acoustics, highways, etc.)
• cost consultant/quantity surveyor
• manufacturers
• facilities management (FM) advisor
• project manager
• other consultants (party wall surveyor, cladding consultant, planning
consultant, etc..)

These people, and many others, will be involved in the generation and/or review
of construction information.

! Recognising the roles of individuals and groups within a project is only one part of
understanding the flow of information. We must also consider the nature of the
relationships between the various parties. In some cases, these relationships are
contractual; in other cases, they are based almost completely on the flow of information.

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 Topic: Document sharing and distribution
How do we share documents in construction?
Why is it necessary to track information?

Things to Remember

To facilitate the collaborative sharing of information, various systems have been

adopted to track and manage the transmission of information. These systems are
intended to provide an assured method of tracking the movement of information
between different collaborators.

The traditional approach to sharing construction information between different

parties is to use a transmittal. This is a document that can (depending on the
circumstances) be considered a legal document. It records the formal despatch
of information from one party to others. In some cases, the transmittal will
simply be to update the other parties – for example, when drawings have been
updated or changed. In other cases, the transmittal may require formal approval
of the information that is being transmitted, and the approved documents must
be returned.

As computers have become a common feature within the offices of clients,

architects, consultants, contractors, etc., the methods for sharing and distributing
information have become much more dynamic. However, even with digital
communication (email, FTP, etc.) we need to track the flow of information. In fact,
as it becomes easier to update and transmit changed information, it becomes
more important to know you have the latest information and that your latest
updates have been integrated by others. Digital systems often keep very detailed
information about the materials that are being transferred – effectively, the
system creates a digital transmittal.

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 Additional Resources
Additional resources, to accompany this Study Guide, can be found on HN Global here:

https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/study-guide-unit-6-construction-information

HN Global is Pearson’s online learning platform for all BTEC Higher National students.

On HN Global you’ll find:

• Textbooks - created to support your subject core units

• Careers Centre - build on your employability skills
• Study Skills Modules - learn key transferable skills
• Global Forum - discuss common themes
• Video Channel - informative clips for your Higher National
• Reading Lists - list of recommended resources for your programme

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