3 Ways Large Format Plotters Streamline Construction Submittals

Construction submittals—from initial preparation to final construction submittal print—are a vital but time-consuming part of every construction project. These documents consist of detailed drawings, material data, and product information. They ensure that all project requirements get met before work begins. Construction submittals must be clear, accurate, and timely. Otherwise, the project can suffer delays, miscommunication, or costly errors.

Thankfully, large format printers significantly improve this process. They print faster and with greater precision, with the additional benefit of streamlining collaboration. In this blog, we'll examine three key areas where using large format plotters for a construction submittal print can streamline the process. We'll also look at how HP's advanced solutions can help AEC professionals stay efficient and organised.

Construction submittals are documentation packages. Contractors give them to architects, engineers, and other stakeholders for review and approval before a particular job begins. They include all technical information required to verify understanding of the project and its requirements. Common construction submittal prints include:

• Shop drawings
• Product data sheets
• Material samples
• Quality certifications

The documents serve as a checkpoint in the construction process, giving design professionals the opportunity to confirm their vision will be realised by the final product. They also serve as a contractual agreement between all parties, creating an official record of project decisions.

The documents in a construction submittal set out the agreed-upon specifications for a project. So, it's important that the data contained within them is accurate. The best case scenario when data is wrong is for stakeholders to catch it and ask for revisions. The delays this causes are unfortunate, but the consequences are less dire than mistakes that make it into the final version. Precise construction submittals:

• Prevents costly errors and rework by catching discrepancies before installation
• Ensures compliance with building codes, standards, and project specifications
• Creates a clear record for future reference during maintenance or renovations
• Protects all parties legally by documenting approval decisions
• Facilitates better project coordination between various trades and stakeholders

Given the need for these documents to be reliable, construction professionals benefit from using equally reliable equipment. That's where large format plotters, like the HP DesignJet series, become valuable tools.

Now, let's look at the three areas where large format plotters streamline the process of creating and using a construction submittal print.

Construction projects are on tight schedules. But the approval of construction submittals is a bottleneck for when work can proceed. Large format printers provide several benefits that speed up the submittal preparation process:

• High-speed printing capabilities that can produce full-size drawings in minutes rather than hours
• Batch printing functionality to allow for the production of multiple documents with unattended printing
• Quick-dry inks that enable immediate handling, folding, and packaging of prints
• Multi-roll capabilities that allow different sizes to be printed without changing paper

These time-saving features combine to facilitate faster preparation and delivery of construction submittal prints. They're particularly useful when last-minute changes are required, allowing teams to respond quickly without missing deadlines.

Construction drawings contain intricate details that will be lost if high-precision tools aren't used to print them. Modern large format plotters are excellent at producing high-resolution prints. This ensures:

• Line clarity that makes complex details easily readable
• Accurate colour representation for any colour-coded information
• Consistent scaling across all drawings, preventing measurement errors
• Sharp text legibility for notes, dimensions, and specifications
• High contrast for highlighting important design elements

The quality improvements enable reviewers to clearly see every detail in the documents, empowering them to make better-informed decisions more quickly. This also limits the back-and-forth clarification necessary when documentation isn't clear. The result is faster approvals and fewer errors after the fact.

A high degree of collaboration is needed in the construction industry. There are several stakeholders in both the design and construction phases, and they all need to be on the same page regarding the various processes. Large format plotters help improve collaboration by:

• Producing multiple copies quickly for distribution to various team members
• Creating digital archives that can be shared alongside physical submittals

- Producing presentation-quality prints for client and stakeholder meetings

By enabling stakeholders to print and manage their documents more efficiently, large format printers help to keep all parties aligned throughout the submittal review process. When everyone has access to high-quality documentation, communication improves, and the chance of uncaught errors decreases.

To fully realise the benefits of large format plotters, you must choose a quality device that fits all of your needs.

The features below are all things that every construction company should consider when choosing a plotter. However, how you weigh these factors should be adjusted to your specific needs and workflows.

• Print speed and throughput capacity relative to project volume
• Print resolution capabilities for technical drawing detail
• Media handling flexibility (paper types, sizes, and thicknesses)
• Connectivity options and workflow integration capabilities
• Total cost of ownership, including ink and maintenance requirements
• Space requirements and mobility features for job site deployment
• Security features for protecting proprietary design information

HP plotters are designed with the needs of industry in mind. This includes the AEC industry. Several features in HP large format plotters make them exceptional choices for AEC professionals:

• Fast printing speeds that can produce A0/E-size technical drawings in seconds
• Precision ink systems that print sharp lines and text with high accuracy
• Cloud connectivity for connectivity with document management systems
• Robust security features that keep sensitive project information secure
• Durable construction for reliability in demanding environments

Several HP plotters are accurate to within 0.1%. This means, for example, a line that is supposed to be 100 mm would be printed between 99.9 mm and 100.1 mm. This is quite accurate, easily surpassing the quality provided by desktop printers and rivalling that of commercial offset printing.

The quality of your construction submittal prints directly affects project outcomes. Large format plotters are great tools for ensuring that all data in these submissions are clear and accurate, speeding up approvals and reducing the chances of costly errors during construction. HP's DesignJet series offers best-in-class features so your AEC company can get all of the advantages large format plotters have to offer. To get a great deal on a new plotter for your construction submittal print operations, check out our HP DesignJet Promo.