9

Understanding Schedules

9.1 OVERVIEW.

A schedule as applied to construction working drawings is an organized method of presenting general

notes or lists of materials, building components (doors, windows, etc.), equipment, and so forth in a

drawing in tabulated form. The main purpose of incorporating schedules into a set of construction doc-

uments is to provide clarity, location, sizing, materials, and information on the designation of doors, win-

dows, roof finishes, equipment, plumbing, and electrical fixtures. Properly done, schedules help keep

drawings from becoming cluttered with too much printed information or notes and have proven to be

great time-saving devices for the person preparing the drawing as well as the architect, engineer, con-

tractor, and workers on the site. This chapter is intended to assist the reader in interpreting tabulated in-

formation on blueprint drawings. It should be understood that schedules and specifications give specific

details about actual items, while drawings generally show the size and location of the item.

Schedules are generally organized in a drawing set such that they are near the discipline to which

they are related. There are several different approaches to setting up a schedule; it may include all or

some of the following information about the product:

• Vendor’s name


• Product name


• Model number


• Size


• Quantity


• Rough opening size


• Material


• Color

Many different items or features may be described in schedules: some examples are, doors, win-

dows, lintels, columns, beams, electrical equipment or fixtures, plumbing and mechanical equipment,

room finish information, and appliances. These schedules are essentially tables (i.e., a box of columns

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