FTP sites, downloading drawings, uplo...

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Author Message Robin E. Snyder Senior Member Username: robin Post Number: 186 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 12:06 pm:    This applies primarily to independants: More and more of my clients are using ftp sites. They expect me to access the ftp site for drawings, just like all their other consultants do. I have been fighting this and requesting hard copies, but I am meeting more and more resistance. I have avoided having to upload specs by telling them that the Architect of record needs to review the specs first, so they need to "pass through" their hands... so far this has worked. How are the rest of you handling ftp sites and the increased reluctance of clients to provide hard copies of dwgs? Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 269 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 12:36 pm:    In our proposals I say that the architect will provide the consultant half-size paper copies of drawings at no charge, for Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Document progress printings, for-bid issue, and for-construction issue. I tell them that we do not have CADD capability and are not in a position to print drawings. If this was something they would require of us nonetheless (and we have not had that happen yet), I would add printing costs to our proposal. I don't have a problem uploading specifications, whether drafts or final sections, to FTP sites; such uploads would be in pdf format. However, this means that the architect must print hard copy of my sections for us to review during our specification review meetings (rather than review the hard copy sections I would otherwise have sent them). I want a paper record of drafts, the architect's comments, and decisions reached during our meetings. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 546 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 12:49 pm:    Robin, I agree with Dave, we add a clause in our agreement that the PM must review and approve the specifications before they are used for construction. The advantage of the FTP is that all the consultants are able to look at the specs and contribute or at least are aware of what exists. I still maintain a requirement that all drawings be sent in half size hard copy for our use to prepare the specifications. Margaret G. Chewning FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: presbspec Post Number: 153 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 12:49 pm:    I LOVE FTP sites! I have the Architect upload his drawings as he finishes them or changes them in an PDF file for me to access and keep current with his changes. I can review on the screen or print out in tabloid size if needed. (I purchased a large format printer (11 x 17) specifically for that purpose.) UPloading the specs to the site also avoids the problems of email size limitations that occur on larger project manual files. Most of my clients have Acrobat Professional so marking up my specs can be done electronicly saving a few trees. David E Lorenzini Senior Member Username: deloren Post Number: 76 Registered: 04-2000 Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 01:06 pm:    Some of my projects are on eBuilder, and I have no problem uploading specifications. It is quick and I don't have to zip them up into several smaller batches to get through the email. I can also update sections as I make changes so that the client always has access to the latest version. I have write access so I can set up folders that identify the current status of the contents. They could be a draft version for review or a final set for bidding. I create separate folders for the MPE sections since I don't edit them. It has worked well for the past three years or so. eBuilder regularly updates its system with new features and conducts training webinars to introduce them. We do not accept electronic drawings for the same reasons Dave Metzger mentioned. We only accept half-size sets as well. Once in a while we will get one or two updated Autocad files that contain new details. We can view these with Autodesk's DWG TrueView 2008, a free utility to view, plot, and publish DWG files. We also have AutoDesk Design Review that views AutoCad DWF files. We rarely have to use these utilities, but they come in handy occasionaly when we can't wait for overnight delivery. Jo Drummond Senior Member Username: jo_drummond_fcsi Post Number: 20 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 01:48 pm:    My contract specifies half size printed sets also. My deliverable is paper originals, and if the client wants, a continuous, password protected, PDF file. That file contains only what I write, i.e., no landscaping, hardware, MEP, etc. Since no one reads my contracts any more than they read my specs., if they ask for more, after the fact, I remind them that I have done what my contract with them says I will do. (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 02:53 pm:    Paper copies? In this www world we should be accepting and using electronic files. I live in DFW metroplex and am currently working with an architectural firm in Houston on 3 different projects, having received all of their drawings via e-mail as pdfs. These are very legible on my 19" LCD monitor and with the proper pdf software I can markup any areas that need the Architect's attention. When I've completed my specifications, I upload or e-mail the completed product as pdfs. No wasted paper, no postage, no trees had to die. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 760 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 03:15 pm:    I assume therefore, that your contract also specifies that the electronic document is the "real " document for court purposes? If I were still consulting, the only way I would use ftp sites for drawings is if the client set up a printing contract (or paid me to do so) with a local print shop. I still review documents better in hard copy, but I have found that some of our younger staff is equally comfortable reviewing electronic submittals. My preference is for hard copy, but toward the deadline of a project, I have been known to review updated details on the screen rather than wait for a hard copy to be printed for me. I don't review as well electronically, though, especially if I'm looking at the whole sheet, rather than trying to confirm a small detail. Ann G. Baker, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 12:34 pm:    This is an interesting discussion. I'm an in-house specifier, and I have trouble getting our other offices to understand that I don't have CADD capabilities to print drawings. That software is not on my computer, and I'd have to find somebody who has the time to do the printing. I ask for half-sized drawings, the complete set, and I'm constantly amazed when I either get an email saying the latest drawings are on the ftp site or a set of only architectural drawings (or worse, floor plans and a couple of wall sections when we're well into the CD's). John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 894 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 01:37 pm:    I have Autodesk "True View" on my desktop which allows me to open but not edit drawing files. I think this is a free, or cheap, application. Our IT department maintains it. I can also plot or print. I sometimes will print only portions of a drawing for further "study", which True View allows you to do easily. Downside is there are no viewers for Revit models, according to my IT department. In our office, the FTP site generally contains only PDFs, so I can open those, too. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 549 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, May 07, 2008 - 01:50 pm:    Ann Here is how I have successfully dealt with that, first off it is clearly stated in my agreement that we must receive half size hard copies of all drawings that are to be coordinated for specifications. If a client pulls the ftp demand, we advise that we can not properly coordinate the specs with the drawings. We also throw in a bone by providing comments of items on their drawings (while coordinating the specs) that we believe are miscoordinated or in error - we will only provide those comments if we received hard copies of the drawings - most of our clients desire our comments on their drawings (although we are not contracted to provide them) and although they gripe about the cost to print (and throw in a line or two about cutting down more trees), they always meet our contractual requirements.