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Thread: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

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    Default Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Hi, I work for a modular company and we typically pass architectural plans onto our structural engineers who would in turn resend us modified structural plans showing the shell of the building which we would then modify by adding in specific door/window details, M&E items, casegoods, finishes, etc and then pass these back to the project architects for comment/approval and for them to update their plans to our specific details.

    Although this has been going on for years, when there was >20 cad technicians in the company (before I joined), there has never been any CAD standards in place. Now that there is only 2 of us, I have been thinking of implementing some kind of layering standards even if just for myself for now.

    My question is how best to do this as the drawings we receive from the structural engineers typically use a base of 10 or so layers e.g. 0-10; 0-25, 0-50, DIM.....all of which have default lineweights while the various architects we deal with typically use some variance of the AIA layering standard.

    I have been researching the layer translator and the rename command so am pretty sure I know how best to change names but the difficulty I have is knowing which items should be on which layer.

    As we are the specialist contractor we will be supplying all items from doors, steel studs, plasterboard, sanitary ware, plumbing/electrical fixtures, furniture, tiles, carpet......... so how do I know which Discipline all these should go on; should they all be A- Architectural, Y- Specialist Designers (according to AEC(UK)Standards) or if split them between the various disciplines A, S, M & E should the finishes/casegoods go in A or I?

    Furthermore is there any script available with all the AIA or AEC(UK) layers written so that I could make that a template drawing to load into the layer translator?

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    Certifiable AUGI Addict tedg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Quote Originally Posted by harrington233138783 View Post
    Hi, I work for a modular company and we typically pass architectural plans onto our structural engineers who would in turn resend us modified structural plans showing the shell of the building which we would then modify by adding in specific door/window details, M&E items, casegoods, finishes, etc and then pass these back to the project architects for comment/approval and for them to update their plans to our specific details.

    Although this has been going on for years, when there was >20 cad technicians in the company (before I joined), there has never been any CAD standards in place. Now that there is only 2 of us, I have been thinking of implementing some kind of layering standards even if just for myself for now.

    My question is how best to do this as the drawings we receive from the structural engineers typically use a base of 10 or so layers e.g. 0-10; 0-25, 0-50, DIM.....all of which have default lineweights while the various architects we deal with typically use some variance of the AIA layering standard.

    I have been researching the layer translator and the rename command so am pretty sure I know how best to change names but the difficulty I have is knowing which items should be on which layer.

    As we are the specialist contractor we will be supplying all items from doors, steel studs, plasterboard, sanitary ware, plumbing/electrical fixtures, furniture, tiles, carpet......... so how do I know which Discipline all these should go on; should they all be A- Architectural, Y- Specialist Designers (according to AEC(UK)Standards) or if split them between the various disciplines A, S, M & E should the finishes/casegoods go in A or I?

    Furthermore is there any script available with all the AIA or AEC(UK) layers written so that I could make that a template drawing to load into the layer translator?
    Congrats on your first post!
    I don't have a definitive answer but suggestions (I work with NCS (AIA layers) etc).
    Using NCS (AIA) layer naming standards:

    Everything supplied for the Architectural people: A-XXXX-XXXX (etc)
    Everything supplied for the Structural people: S-XXXX-XXXX (etc)
    Everything supplied for the Specialist people (YOU): Y-XXXX-XXXX (etc)

    I would also highly suggest using XREFS per discipline (if possible) to keep everything even cleaner.

    I don't know where you can get a template or script for these layers but the standards live in NCS and/or AIA.

    does that help?

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    Certifiable AUGI Addict tedg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Hello again..
    Just to further explain what I would do in your case, (making some assumptions on who creates what at your office).

    Creating seperate xref files with NCS (AIA) layer names, and each discipline uses the other xrefs as backgrounds.
    These would be discipline and floor specific, examples below is for the "first floor" of a building, all at the same origin to be placed directly on each other.

    The Architectural folks would create the general architectural background in an xref file named something like "A-FP01.dwg".
    Structural folks would create "S-FP01.dwg" for foundation or framing etc, and "S-GD01.dwg" for the column grid to be used by all.

    (And so on, for everyone involved.)

    And your part as Specialists, would create a base called "Y-FP01.dwg" etc which would contain only your information.

    This is of course that you all are creating a seperate part of the plan(s), but if that's not the case and you are supplying each discipline with information that becomes thiers, than they would keep it within thier disicipline.


    Does THAT make sense??? (I'm not sure)

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Thanks for reply Ted,

    A lot of what we do involves modifying the architects drawings so that casegoods/sanitary ware etc. fit into our precise room types and doors & windows need to be redrawn to exact dimensions, etc.
    Xrefs may be possible with the structural drawings but I typically turn off what layers I don't need in the structural drawings and then just copyclip in the section (room) I want. I never looked into how to only get a portion of a drawing to show up when xref'd in. Might look into that actually.

    With regards the naming standards I kind of get what you mean; 'lights' are supplied 'for' the electrical people to wire/fit them so they should be on the E- layer; although items like doors, windows, plasterboard, etc. confuse me as I know they should probably be on the A- layer but technically they are 'for' my company as we are the ones that fit them as we are a modular company so do the entire fit out off site.

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Just seen your second reply- we're not so much creating a new part of the plans but more so modifying the existing architects plans in which case we usually send them back our plans which they then update their plans from.

    I have been asked by one of the architects to fully layer our plans which is the reason I'm looking into this. Not sure which way is best to proceed though as we get different architects on every project and they all use different layer standards.

    Off home now but thanks and will look into what you suggested about xrefing tomorrow.

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Quote Originally Posted by harrington233138783 View Post
    Just seen your second reply- we're not so much creating a new part of the plans but more so modifying the existing architects plans in which case we usually send them back our plans which they then update their plans from.

    I have been asked by one of the architects to fully layer our plans which is the reason I'm looking into this. Not sure which way is best to proceed though as we get different architects on every project and they all use different layer standards.

    Off home now but thanks and will look into what you suggested about xrefing tomorrow.
    Oh ok, I sort of get it now.
    I would still consider you a seperate discipline, if you're taking over entities in a drawing.
    Everything that you "supply" should be on your layer, even if it means you're taking it away from the architectural drawings.

    So like if you are supplying wall panels, fixtures, lights, etc, they would all start with a "Y".

    PS, I couldn't find where "Y" is for specialist, in NCS/AIA.
    NCS has "R" for resource, "X" for other discipline and "Z" for Contractor/Shop Drawings.

    Another option is to use the User Defined level 2 designator (per NCS/AIA) where you would add J or K to the discipline that owns them.
    NCS/AIA allow a user defined J or K for a level 2 designation (you decide which and what for) such as AK-XXXX or EK-XXXX.

    AK-WALL-PANL = Architectural, Specialist, Wall Panel
    EK-LITE-FIXT = Electrical, Specialist, Light Fixture

    And all other entities' layers (that you don't take charge of) would just have thier normal level 1 designators which can be sorted in the layer manager:

    A-WALL

    E-POWR

    S-COLS

    You could create a master template (or templates) and use layer translator to convert incoming files to the NCS/AIA layers to start.

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Assuming you're in the UK - The BAA has an acad add-on for creating/assigning objects to (more or less) AEC standards; Gatwick Airport Ltd. also use it so, if you have contacts with any company that contracts on any UK airport work ....

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Quote Originally Posted by jaberwok View Post
    Assuming you're in the UK - The BAA has an acad add-on for creating/assigning objects to (more or less) AEC standards; Gatwick Airport Ltd. also use it so, if you have contacts with any company that contracts on any UK airport work ....
    Thanks, in the UK alright but we mainly just do hotels and apartments so probably won't be dealing with the BAA anytime soon. Found a document from them showing their CAD standards but the referencing appeared quite different from the NCS & AEC standards. For example A- was for ground works so not sure if it would be of benefit.

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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Quote Originally Posted by tedg View Post
    Oh ok, I sort of get it now.
    I would still consider you a seperate discipline, if you're taking over entities in a drawing.
    Everything that you "supply" should be on your layer, even if it means you're taking it away from the architectural drawings.

    So like if you are supplying wall panels, fixtures, lights, etc, they would all start with a "Y".

    PS, I couldn't find where "Y" is for specialist, in NCS/AIA.
    NCS has "R" for resource, "X" for other discipline and "Z" for Contractor/Shop Drawings.

    Another option is to use the User Defined level 2 designator (per NCS/AIA) where you would add J or K to the discipline that owns them.
    NCS/AIA allow a user defined J or K for a level 2 designation (you decide which and what for) such as AK-XXXX or EK-XXXX.

    AK-WALL-PANL = Architectural, Specialist, Wall Panel
    EK-LITE-FIXT = Electrical, Specialist, Light Fixture

    And all other entities' layers (that you don't take charge of) would just have thier normal level 1 designators which can be sorted in the layer manager:

    A-WALL

    E-POWR

    S-COLS

    You could create a master template (or templates) and use layer translator to convert incoming files to the NCS/AIA layers to start.

    I got the 'Y' discipline from the AEC(UK) standards although from looking through forums most people appear to use the NCS/AIA standards alright.

    I think I might go with the user Defined level 2 designation alright thanks as this means I can easily scroll down to each category to find the layer rather than having everything on the Y- layer.

    The plan was to create a master template alright and convert incoming files but was hoping one with all the AIA or AEC standards might already have been created. I found a script on another website which had a simple version of an AIA layer referencing which when dragged into the drawing brought up all the layers. Any idea if more of those type scripts are around so that I don't have to go creating hundreds of layers from scratch?

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    Certifiable AUGI Addict tedg's Avatar
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    Default Re: Specialist Contractor- Layer Standards

    Quote Originally Posted by harrington233138783 View Post
    I got the 'Y' discipline from the AEC(UK) standards although from looking through forums most people appear to use the NCS/AIA standards alright.

    I think I might go with the user Defined level 2 designation alright thanks as this means I can easily scroll down to each category to find the layer rather than having everything on the Y- layer.

    The plan was to create a master template alright and convert incoming files but was hoping one with all the AIA or AEC standards might already have been created. I found a script on another website which had a simple version of an AIA layer referencing which when dragged into the drawing brought up all the layers. Any idea if more of those type scripts are around so that I don't have to go creating hundreds of layers from scratch?
    I have attached a lisp routine (that I wrote a long time ago), that makes a bunch of layers based on NCS 3.1 for several disciplines.
    It sets the layers colors, line types and even assigns line weights if you're using a ctb file that reads object line weights.

    My disclaimer: use at your own risk, you must verify that the layers are NCS complient, I'm pretty sure they are, but no guarentees.

    At the very least, it will make layers to a set of standard layers you can use and set up your templates.

    Hope that helps.

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