AWS EDITION 1, 2009

438

Appendix B

© 2009, AWI, AWMAC, WI - Architectural Woodwork Standards - 1st Edition, October 1, 2009

(Appendix B is not part of the AWS for compliance purposes)

1 - Submittals

WHAT TO EXPECT

“The Woodworker shall submit shop drawings, samples, brochures,

etc. on all items of architectural woodwork. Shop drawings shall

be of sufficient detail in scale to determine compliance with the

intent of the Quality Standard Grade specified.” - from an office

Master Specification

In commonly used Guide Specifications, the scale, level of detail

and quantity of shop drawings actually required for custom

architectural woodwork are described rather broadly. The key to

achieving the most detailed and useful set of drawings is clear and

continual communication between the architect/designer and the

woodwork manufacturer, from the earliest stage of design.

PURPOSE

Shop drawings are the means by which the design intent is turned

into reality, serving as the primary instructions for woodwork

engineering and fabrication, and as a guide for other trades. As the

primary communication among woodworker, general contractor

and design professional, shop drawings serve a valuable

coordinative function. Good shop drawings are the extension

of the design into the area of engineering. They should indicate

methods of construction, exact material selections, finishes,

method of attachment and joinery, exact dimensions and should

include the woodworker’s technical suggestions.

LEVEL OF DETAIL

The level of detail required on shop drawings is established by

the Quality Grade and complexity of the project. The specifier

is at liberty to specify any level of detail as a requirement of the

project and of the contract documents. It should be noted that

requirements for local codes and utilization of fire retardant

wood products are to be researched and directed by the design

professional and are not the responsibility of the woodworker.

What constitutes the minimum expectation for a set of shop

drawings? The answer is not simple, since there are many variables

as to the complexity, quality and type of work being specified.

A suggested level of detail and scale of drawings has been

established in tabular form and is provided on the following pages

to be used as a guideline.

APPROVALS

The approval stage provides the architect/designer a final

opportunity, prior to fabrication, to make changes or correct

mistakes. Shop drawings, however, are not an extension of the

design development process; therefore, changes of intent made

during shop drawing review will in many cases involve an increase

in cost and time.

During the review process the design professional should consider

the following:

• Only two copies are necessary for checking purposes. After
  being reviewed, one marked copy should be returned to the
  woodworker with a request for the required number of prints or a
  sepia from which the owner’s representative may make prints.
  
  
  • Those charged with review of shop drawings should be
    completely familiar with woodwork fabrication, and be responsible
    for insuring compliance with referenced Standards as well as
    design intent.
  
  
  • Deviations from the original plans are often recommendations
    for improvement, and not necessarily a “flying in the face” of
    instructions. It is as wrong for a checker to arbitrarily stamp
    “Redraw and Resubmit” on a shop drawing that proposes a
    change as it is wrong to automatically accept a folio of drawings
    because they contain duplicates of the original plans.
    The four common levels of approval are:
    
    
    • Approved
    
    
    • Approved As Noted
    
    
    • Redraw and Resubmit
    
    
    • Disapproved
      Approvals are generally indicated by a stamp on each of the
      drawings. When selecting “Approved As Noted” rather than
      “Redraw and Resubmit,” the design professional can often save
      weeks of production time provided the intent and all changes are
      clearly marked on the drawings.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

SCHEDULING

Most projects are encumbered by a tight production schedule,

especially for the finish trades such as woodworking, painting,

carpeting and wall coverings. Prompt review of shop drawings

and accurate coordination of multiple trades can save weeks of

time and eliminate problems before construction begins.

We recommend the design professional work with the woodwork

manufacturer to determine the maximum “approval-to-fabrication”

timeline needed to keep the job on schedule (e.g., “Shop drawings

must be returned approved to fabricate seven (7) days after

submittal.”)

SCHEDULES VS. DRAWINGS

In some cases shop drawings are not required to communicate

the necessary quality, type, quantity and details of an item.

Tabular schedules are used instead, generally for such items

as doors, frames, stock factory cabinets, closet shelves, and

furniture items.

THE PROCESS

It is the role of the design professional and the contractor to

coordinate the woodworker’s shop drawings with work of all other

trades and to insure the “hold” dimensions are actually held. It is

also the responsibility of the architect or contractor to give field

changes to all parties so that if dimensions are changed, each

subcontractor and material supplier can be held responsible for

his work.

B