Drawing set QA checklist: 12 checks before you issue

Most drawing errors that reach site are not design mistakes. They are coordination slips: a sheet missing from the index, a detail reference pointing to a sheet that was renumbered, a door tag that is not in the door schedule. They are easy to make and tedious to find — which is exactly why a short checklist pays off. These twelve checks cover the errors that most often cause RFIs.

The set as a whole

1. The sheet index matches the set. Every sheet listed in the index is in the set, and every sheet in the set is in the index, with the same number, title and revision.

2. Title blocks are consistent. Project name, number, revision, date and status (for construction, for tender, preliminary) agree across every sheet. A single “preliminary” stamp left on a construction sheet causes confusion on site.

3. No blank or placeholder sheets. Sheets that were added as placeholders and never drawn should be removed or clearly marked as intentionally blank.

4. Revision clouds and the revision schedule agree. Every clouded change has a revision entry, and every revision entry has something to show for it.

References between sheets

5. Every sheet reference resolves. Section, elevation and detail callouts point to sheets that exist, and the detail number exists on that sheet. Renumbering sheets late in a project is the usual cause of broken references.

6. “See …” notes point to real places. Notes like “SEE M-102” are easy to miss in reference checks because they are plain text. Search for them.

Tags and schedules

7. Every tag is in its schedule. Door, window, room finish and equipment tags shown on plans all appear in the matching schedule.

8. Every schedule row is used. A scheduled door that appears on no plan is either missing from a plan or should be deleted from the schedule.

9. Room names and numbers agree between plans, finish schedules and reflected ceiling plans.

Between disciplines

10. Grids and levels line up. Grid positions and level datums are the same on architectural, structural and MEP drawings. A grid moved on one discipline only is a classic source of setting-out errors.

11. Main clashes are resolved. Overlay the disciplines — structure, architecture, services — and look at congested areas: corridors, plant rooms, risers and ceiling voids.

12. Penetrations are shown on both sides. Openings in structure for services appear on the structural drawings, not only on the services drawings.

Making it routine

Doing all twelve checks by hand on a large set takes a long time, which is why they get skipped under deadline pressure. Several of them can be automated: comparing the index with the sheets present, finding references to sheets that do not exist, matching tags against schedules, spotting blank sheets and checking grid positions between disciplines. Automating the mechanical checks leaves the reviewer’s time for the judgement calls — clashes, buildability and whether the design does what the client asked.

Whichever way you do it, run the checks before every issue, not only the first one. Late revisions are when references break.

Printable checklist

• Sheet index matches the sheets in the set
• Title blocks consistent (number, revision, date, status)
• No blank or placeholder sheets
• Revision clouds match the revision schedule
• All callouts point to existing sheets and details
• “See sheet” notes point to real sheets
• Every tag is in its schedule
• Every schedule row is shown somewhere
• Room names and numbers agree everywhere
• Grids and levels agree across disciplines
• Clashes in congested areas resolved
• Penetrations shown on structural and services drawings