Introduction

Plans and specifications provide the information required to implement a customer s design. Plans are sometimes referred to as blueprints, building plans, or drawings. They give a pictorial representation of a project. Specifications provide a detailed written description of a project. They identify the materials to be used, as well as applicable standards, performance criteria, and testing methods.

The following sections give an overview of project plans and specifications and identify the components that impact the telecommunications cabling installer.

Drawings

To understand project blueprints, it is necessary to understand the design used in creating them. The overall design of the structure(s) in new construction and most renovation projects requires site, architectural, mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, and structural drawings. Normally, the architect is responsible for:

• Preparing the architectural plans and general information drawing sheets.

• Hiring engineers and consultants, as appropriate, to prepare the remaining plans.

• Producing all plans and compiling them in a drawing set.

The drawing set, sometimes referred to as architectural, mechanical, electrical (AME) or architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural (AMES), is used in the bidding process and during construction. These drawing set segments are described in the following subsections.