Plan and Specification Reading Course

Lesson 1 • Types of Construction Drawings

Surveys the full set of drawing disciplines found in a typical project package. Students categorize drawings by discipline and purpose.

Lesson 2 • Specification Organization and Format

Introduces the standard division-based format used to organize written specifications. Students navigate a spec book and locate sections efficiently.

Lesson 3 • Document Hierarchy and Precedence

Defines which document controls when conflicts arise between drawings and specs. Students apply precedence rules to resolve common discrepancies.

Lesson 4 • Navigating a Complete Document Set

Provides hands-on practice locating information across a full project package. Students cross-reference drawings and specs to answer field questions.

Lesson 1 • Dimensioning Conventions on Drawings

Covers how dimensions are placed, labeled, and interpreted on construction drawings. Students distinguish between overall, partial, and reference dimensions.

Lesson 2 • Using Scales and Measuring Tools

Teaches correct use of architect's and engineer's scales and digital measuring tools. Students practice reading dimensions accurately on printed and digital drawings.

Lesson 3 • Understanding Drawing Scale

Explains the concept of representative scale and why drawings are reduced. Students convert between drawing measurements and real-world dimensions.

Lesson 1 • Material Hatch Patterns and Symbols

Identifies standard hatch patterns representing materials in plan and section views. Students match patterns to materials and verify against drawing legends.

Lesson 2 • Architectural Symbols and Conventions

Covers door, window, stair, and fixture symbols used on architectural drawings. Students read floor plans and identify all architectural elements accurately.

Lesson 3 • Reading and Creating Legends

Explains how drawing legends are structured and how to use them as a decoding tool. Students verify symbols against legends and flag unlisted symbols for clarification.

Lesson 4 • Structural and MEP Symbols

Introduces symbols specific to structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings. Students identify equipment, conduit, ductwork, and framing symbols.

Lesson 1 • Building Sections and Wall Sections

Explains how sections reveal interior construction assemblies and vertical relationships. Students trace section cuts from floor plans to locate and read corresponding sections.

Lesson 2 • Elevations: Exterior and Interior

Covers how elevations show vertical relationships, materials, and finish heights. Students read exterior and interior elevations to determine cladding and finish scope.

Lesson 3 • Architectural Details and Assemblies

Focuses on large-scale details that specify exact construction methods and materials. Students interpret detail callouts and connect details to parent drawings.

Lesson 4 • Floor Plans: Layout and Information

Teaches how to read floor plans for room layout, dimensions, and element locations. Students identify walls, openings, and annotations critical to construction.

Lesson 1 • Connection Details and Schedules

Focuses on structural connection details specifying welds, bolts, and hardware. Students read connection schedules and match details to framing plan callouts.

Lesson 2 • Structural Sections and Elevations

Explains how structural sections reveal vertical framing and connection conditions. Students read column lines, story heights, and bracing from structural elevations.

Lesson 3 • Foundation Plans and Details

Covers footing types, bearing conditions, and reinforcement shown on foundation drawings. Students identify foundation elements and read associated detail callouts.

Lesson 4 • Framing Plans: Floor and Roof

Teaches how to read framing plans showing beam, joist, and deck layouts. Students determine member sizes, spans, and bearing conditions from framing plans.

Lesson 1 • Electrical Plans and Panel Schedules

Covers power, lighting, and low-voltage layouts on electrical drawings. Students read panel schedules, circuit numbers, and load information.

Lesson 2 • Mechanical and HVAC Drawings

Covers duct layouts, equipment schedules, and airflow diagrams on mechanical drawings. Students identify supply, return, and exhaust systems and read equipment tags.

Lesson 3 • Civil and Site Plans

Introduces grading, utility, and paving plans used for site construction. Students read contour lines, spot elevations, and utility routing on site drawings.

Lesson 4 • MEP Coordination Drawings

Explains how MEP trades coordinate routing to avoid conflicts in shared spaces. Students identify conflict zones and understand coordination drawing conventions.

Lesson 1 • Submittals, Shop Drawings, and Samples

Covers the submittal process from contractor preparation to designer review and approval. Students identify required submittals from specs and track them through the process.

Lesson 2 • Execution and Workmanship Requirements

Focuses on Part 3 requirements for installation methods, tolerances, and inspection. Students identify mandatory procedures and quality benchmarks for each trade.

Lesson 3 • Product Specifications and Substitutions

Teaches how Part 2 specifies materials, products, and acceptable manufacturers. Students evaluate substitution requests against specified performance criteria.

Lesson 4 • Referenced Standards and Testing

Explains how specifications reference external standards for materials and testing methods. Students locate referenced standards and understand their binding effect.

Lesson 1 • Scope Verification and Change Orders

Teaches how to use documents to verify scope inclusions and support change order claims. Students compare original documents to revised drawings to identify scope changes.

Lesson 2 • Quantity Takeoff from Documents

Applies reading skills to extract quantities for estimating and procurement from drawings and specs. Students perform takeoffs for concrete, framing, and finishes.

Lesson 3 • Writing and Responding to RFIs

Covers the Request for Information process triggered by document ambiguities or conflicts. Students draft clear RFIs referencing specific drawing and spec locations.

Lesson 4 • Integrated Document Review Exercise

Simulates a full project document review using a complete drawing and spec package. Students answer field questions, resolve conflicts, and prepare RFIs independently.