Revision note standards

[dfarris75]

What is the general standard for when to place revision notes on drawings? I (we) have been taught that we should put a revision note any time a major revision is made, whether it is pre-approval or post-approval. If the client would have us revise the site layout prior to be approved by the city we would put a revision note to that effect. Suddenly I am being told that revision notes should only be used for post-approval revisions. How do you deal with revision notes?

[H-Angus]

We add a revision tag everytime we change a drawing, unless the previous revision has not been issued to anybody.

Otherwise you will have a revision 'A' then decide to change a window position (for example), if you don't add another revision to it and then issue it to people, you will have two revision 'A' drawings showing different things.

Well thats how we do it anyway.

[Opie]

What is the general standard for when to place revision notes on drawings? I (we) have been taught that we should put a revision note any time a major revision is made, whether it is pre-approval or post-approval. If the client would have us revise the site layout prior to be approved by the city we would put a revision note to that effect. Suddenly I am being told that revision notes should only be used for post-approval revisions. How do you deal with revision notes?
With that process, I would think you would have revisions during the pre-approval stage, and once approval has been granted a final drawing with the last revision number / character be created. Once you move into post-approval a new drawing date would be used with all revisions notes being removed. You would then make any revisions to this new dated drawing.

I hope that makes sense. ;)

[jaberwok]

A revision if the drawing has been seen by anyone outside the company. Preferrably, change between letters and numbers at first approval..

[robert.1.hall72202]

I am adding the revision notes once a drawing is approved by the checker.

I also use change balloons next to dimensions that have changed. I only keep
the change balloons for the most recent revision.

A design log is also handy to keep as a personal reference. Anytime I make changes
to a drawing, I always make an entry in my design log. My memory isn't real good
when dealing with thousands of cad files.

[charlie.bauer341340]

When I lived in the Structural world we would cloud any changes that left the office. We would use letters prior to formal issuance of the drawing and numbers after it had been release for construction.

[tedg]

When I lived in the Structural world we would cloud any changes that left the office. We would use letters prior to formal issuance of the drawing and numbers after it had been release for construction.
That is basically what we do.
If a drawing goes out the door, it has a revison letter (or number) and a description.
We use letters before the final documents like "A" "FOR CLIENT REVIEW", "B" PER CLIENT COMMENTS" and so on.

Then we go to numbers like "1" "ISSUED FOR BID" or "ISSUED FOR CONSTRUCTION".
"2" REVISED FOUNDATION DETAILS" etc. They usually get a revison cloud with a number triangle at this point, it depends on the project.

Sometimes, depending on the project, we take out all the "letter" revisions when it gets to the final document stage so it starts out with a "clean slate" with number one.


Ted

[daniel.dennin]

We use numbered revision "letters" during development (and dated Draft Stamps) for each time the drawing cycles through from designers to drafters. Once the drawing is released to our baseline, it becomes a "-" revision and it is all letters from there.
The critical factor is making sure that you can identify the latest and greatest version of a design before someone builds the wrong thing.

[Pontoon]

We create a project drawing from our asset drawing and all design(rev a, a1 etc) and comment's(rev b, b1 etc) go on that. Once it's approved for construction (rev c) it goes offshore, gets done comissioning takes place and the platform sign it off "as built" and then the changes get back drafted onto the asset drawing meaning the asset drawing only increments one revision per project.
(Z(initial as build revision), 1, 2, 3 etc)

Ad hoc maintenance mods, typos, or stuff which has been missed and gets noticed later gets marked up by hand signed by a responsible person and sent onshore, this will increment the revision statement by 1 as well.

System seems to work, we don't have many drawings sitting past 20 and the installation I work with is 30 years old.

If it's not broke don't fix it :-)

[dfarris75]

I am adding the revision notes once a drawing is approved by the checker.

I also use change balloons next to dimensions that have changed. I only keep
the change balloons for the most recent revision.

A design log is also handy to keep as a personal reference. Anytime I make changes
to a drawing, I always make an entry in my design log. My memory isn't real good
when dealing with thousands of cad files.
Design log? Can you elaborate? Is this your own log or are you using Drawing Manager?

[robert.1.hall72202]

Design log? Can you elaborate? Is this your own log or are you using Drawing Manager?


I have an excel file for each project.
In the excel file I keep track of initial part specs, emails received, and engineering change numbers. I can use the log to track all of my design inputs. I keep a chart that shows which spec was used for each drawing.

I make an entry into the log everytime I touch the project. Without the log, I would have a tough time remembering the history behind my several thousand projects.

[Pontoon]

I have an excel file for each project.
In the excel file I keep track of initial part specs, emails received, and engineering change numbers. I can use the log to track all of my design inputs. I keep a chart that shows which spec was used for each drawing.

I make an entry into the log everytime I touch the project. Without the log, I would have a tough time remembering the history behind my several thousand projects.
Wow you're so good I could make a doc controller out of you ;-)
We tend to track our modifications on "integrity critical" drawings more closely than most normal drawings eg P&ID's Cause and Effects. We also use clouds to indicate where it is revised.

One thing I would suggest is be pernickety about language used in the revision statement box. We're having to be really fussy now as things like "Updated for Proj XXXXX" is leaving it open, is it as built or just approved for construction and further as built stuff will be done later etc...
Doesn't seem that important, but when folk keep changing their drawing procedures, it becomes a pain in the neck!

[sgroff]

With that process, I would think you would have revisions during the pre-approval stage, and once approval has been granted a final drawing with the last revision number / character be created. Once you move into post-approval a new drawing date would be used with all revisions notes being removed. You would then make any revisions to this new dated drawing.

I hope that makes sense. ;)

This is how my office does it too. Although, i might bring up the idea of using letters for revisions that reflect client or code official changes prior to the final bid set.

[Opie]

This is how my office does it too. Although, i might bring up the idea of using letters for revisions that reflect client or code official changes prior to the final bid set.
That sounds like a good idea. I'll have to think about this the next time I am revising a drawing.

[H-Angus]

Oh, well we don't make revisions we get it right first time around (well thats what our clients say about their other consultants) :wink:

I like the excel file idea but you would have to discipline yourself to remember to fill it in each time.

[robert.1.hall72202]

Wow you're so good I could make a doc controller out of you ;-)


I am in the Automotive business and have to adhere to TS16949.
I am required to track the inputs and outputs of each design.
This is more like training over the years :lol: