Vaughn Industries Coordination Drawing Process
When it comes to the fabrication of ductwork and pipe spools, we use the AutoCD MEP (mechanical, engineering, and plumbing) program, combined with an East Coast Cad adder. Each project begins with our designers receiving 3D structural, architectural, and mechanical CAD drawings. We manipulate these to achieve a consistent 0,0,0 insertion point. Once this has been accomplished, we send these “backgrounds” to other trades. With the aid of Navisworks, and drawing directly from the information submitted to us, we begin to draw our ductwork, piping, and equipment into the building diagram.
If a conflict is found within the building’s structure, one that cannot be resolved easily, we submit RFTS (Request for Tenders) with possible solutions that we might have brainstormed. When our drawings are complete, or almost complete (depending on the schedule), our drawings are submitted to other trades so they might draw around us in CAD. If it is not feasible for them to draw around us, they contact us and we put our heads together to find a reasonable solution for both parties. This can involve looking at rain liters, cable trays, lights, etc. during the initial drawing process, which helps us avoid overlapping with trades that “cannot” move.
When the other trades have completed their designs, we gather up all of the trades’ drawings and use Navisworks to build overlays. If any trades discover conflicts, they immediately communicate their issues and corrections are made. This typically takes several attempts. But when the drawings have been approved, they are signed off by all of the parties. This is when we begin ductwork fabrication drawings, and spooling pipe for our shop TP build.
Vaughn Industries is a Design Assist and Design Build contractor – using our strengths and knowledge to both design and/or build a project from the beginning drawing stage to the final installation. Our design and fabrication system works well, but in order to utilize the full potential of 3D CAD, coordination drawings must begin as early as possible.
CAD Services Offered
We offer full service 3D coordination through AutoCAD MEP and AutoCAD Architectural Desktop. Both programs are Navisworks compatible and can be utilized throughout the BIM process. We have the ability to model the building structure to include: beams, joists, walls, doors, windows, ceilings, lights, slabs, etc. We can then use this model (or use models provided by the A/E) to find routings and placements of electrical, plumbing, sheet metal, steam and hydronic piping systems. All of these models are built on an AutoCAD platform and appended into Autodesk Navisworks for viewing and collision checking. Once all collisions are cleared up and all of the drawings are signed off, we start the fabrication process.
The fabrication process can be as involved as necessary, to achieve the level required by the client. We can simply use the “smart object” information in the CAD file to perform a BOM takeoff (total feet of conduits, duct, pipe, etc and fitting counts); or, we can go as far as modeling all of the equipment off of your submittals and “cutting” the sheet metal into lengths desired by your manufacturing specifications and give schedules depicting all of the necessary criteria to build your fittings. On the pipe side, we can spool the whole building or just the mechanical rooms by piece marking every large pipe (generally 2.5″ and above). Spooling will include 8×11 sheets of all of the spool pieces with dimensions and BOM schedules for the respective spools for shop use. We will also include a “master” BOM will all of the fittings and pipe lengths for you purchaser.
All projects will include plan view 30×42 color drawings of the building in 1/4″ = 1′ scale. These drawings can be customized in color, dimension styles, etc. to meet your needs. Other options VI offers would be wall penetration drawings, steel roof and floor penetration drawings, pad layouts, underground, etc. We have to ability meet or exceed most of the building technical specifications out right now with the exception of Revit, which we will be adding soon.
