How BIM Software Simplifies Coordinated Shop Drawings
Coordinated shop drawings must include equipment and components from all trades in the same model. Completing this task with 2D CAD software is possible, but the amount of information can become overwhelming. Also, consider that components at different elevations are shown with overlap in a 2D drawing.
Building information modeling (BIM) software like Autodesk Revit is a much better option for coordinated shop drawings, since all components can be represented in three dimensions.
- This is especially useful when many components share small spaces, such as electrical and mechanical rooms.
- A three-dimensional model that represents the actual installation is much easier to understand than a 2D drawing with overlapping components.
- Conventional drawings are even more difficult to understand when they use PDF format, since they cannot be manipulated easily.
The limitations of 2D drawings are evident when drawing distribution systems that share spaces. Air ducts, electrical conduit and fire sprinkler piping above a dropped ceiling can be modeled more easily in three dimensions, for example. When these distribution systems are drawn in the same 2D sheet, the coordination drawing can become very confusing. In the modern construction industry, not using BIM software is a major competitive disadvantage.