Construction Print Reading is a key skill for techinical students & is an absolute basic requirement for
any contractor or even a novice looking to get into construction. The Builders Construction Print Reading
Training Manual will teach you how to read and interprete all types of construction prints & drawings.

This manual is written as a basic reference for all personnel whose duties require the reading and interpretation of engineering construction drawings and prints. The text explains the language of engineering drawings- lines, sections, symbols, dimensions, notes, specifications, and titles- and also contains a general discussion of the kinds and uses of construction prints. It covers architectural, utilities, and machine drawings together with heating, air conditioning and refrigeration plans, and bills of materials

Chapter 1: PRINCIPLES & METHODS 
 

1. LINE CONVENTIONS: 
 Interpret the established line conventions & symbols used on engineering drawings.

2. PROJECTIONS:
 Explain the principles of orthographic projections, perspective drawings, & isometric projections.

3. ORTHOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS:
  Describe the fundamentals of orthographic drawings, & how they are used to construct objects.

4. SPECIAL VIEWS:
  List and describe the various special views used to supplement an orthographic drawing, including sections & auxiliaries.

5. REPRODUCTION OF CONSTRUCTION PRINTS:
  List and explain the different methods used to reproduce construction prints.

6. CONSTRUCTION PRINT FORMAT:
  Describe the format of a construction print.

7. FUNDAMENTALS OF INTERPRETATION:
  Interpret simple orthographic drawings by relating them to the isometric views of the objects.

Chapter 2: ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

1. WORKING DRAWINGS:
 List the components of a set of construction working drawings.

2. SYMBOLS & CONVENTION:
 Identify common architectural symbols and conventions used on construction prints.

3. TYPES OF DRAWINGS:
 Describe and explain the purpose of site plans, elevations, floor plans, & foundation pans.

4. FRAMING DRAWINGS: 
 Explain the framing methods used in wood construction & how they are shown on framing drawings for floors, roofs, walls, sections, & details.

5. CONCRETE & MASONRY:
 Describe concrete and masonry methods & how they are depicted on construction drawings.

6. STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS:
 Explain types of steel structural members used in military construction, methods of fabrication and assembly, and the types of structural drawings used for steel construction.

Chapter 3: UTILITIES DRAWINGS

1. WATER SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION:
 Discuss the elements of a typical water supply waste and distribution system used in military field installations.

2. PLUMBING SYMBOLS: 
 Identify the symbols used on plumbing plans for piping, fittings, valves, and fixtures for water distribution and waste disposal.

3. SEWERAGE SYSTEM PLANS:
 Describe and interpret simple plumbing and sewerage system plans.

4. ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM:
 Explain power transmission & distribution systems as used in military installations.

5. INTERIOR WIRING:
 Identify the components of an interior wiring system and the symbols used for them on wiring diagrams.

6. ELECTRICIAL PLANS:
 Describe and interpret simple electrical plans.

Chapter 4: HEATING, AIR-CONDITIONING, & REFRIGERATION DRAWINGS

1. ELEMENTS OF HEATING SYSTEMS:
 List the basic elements of hot-water and warm-air heating systems & explain their functions.

2. HEATING ELEMENT SYMBOLS:
 Identify the graphic symbols used for heating system elements & interpret the heating elements symbols used on plumbing or heating system plans.

3. Air-Conditioning System Units:
 Describe the units which make up an air-conditioning system & how they function.

4. Air-Conditioning System Symbols:
 Identify common symbols for air-conditioning system components & interpret the meaning of these symbols as used on plans to indicate air-conditioning.

5. Refrigeration Elements Symbols:
 Identify symbols used for elements of refrigerated structures & interpret the representation of refrigeration systems on drawings.

Chapter 5: BILLS OF MATERIALS

1. Terminology:
 Define the term "bill of materials."

2. Organization of Bills of Materials:
 Describe the organization of a bill of materials.

3. Reading Bills of Materials
 - Read a bill of materials for a construction project to determine quantities needed for each type of material.

Chapter 6: Blue Print Symbols, Conversion Tables
 
Chapter 7: Detailed Examination of Various Builder Construction Prints

CONSTRUCTION BUILDING COST  ESTIMATES MANUAL   (315 Pages)

Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTION
- Purpose, Applicability, References, Scope, Arrangement,
- Program Specific Requirements

Chapter 2 - BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES
- Estimating Philosophy
- Responsibility for Preparation & Review
- Work Breakdown Structure
- Estimating Methodology
- Degree of Detail
- Parametric Estimates
- Accuracy & Completeness
- Rounding Figures
- Price Level/Escalation Adjustment
- Safeguarding Cost Estimates
- Security & Disclosure of Government Estimate
- Team Involvement
- Work Breakdown Structure by Program

Chapter 3 - BASICS FOR PREPARATION OF ESTIMATES
- General, Planning the Work
- Quantities
- Types of Cost
-  Price Sources
- Costs & Pricing
- Cost Estimate Format & Supporting Documentation
- Civil Works Program Specific Requirements

Chapter 4 - COMPOSITION OF GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES
- General
- Government Estimate of Contract Cost
- Narrative of Contract Costs
- Government Estimate Backup Data
- Miscellaneous Support Data
- Requirements for Revision to a Government Estimate for bidding

Chapter 5 - LABOR
- General
- Crews
- Wage Rates
- Overtime & Shift Differential
- Taxes & Insurance
- Fringe Benefits & Travel/Subsistence
- HTRW Program Specific Requirements

Chapter 6 - LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
- General
- Productivity Adjustment Consideration
- Civil Works Program Specific Requirements
- Table of Contents

Chapter 7 - CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT & PLANT
- General
- Selection of Equipment
- Estimating Methodology
- Production Rate
- Mobilization & Demobilization
- Equipment Ownership & Operating Expense Cost Rates
- Plant Cost
- Small Tools

Chapter 8 - MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
- General
- Sources of Pricing Data
- Waste Allowance
- Foward Pricing
- Freight
- Handling & Storage
- Taxes
- Materials or Supplies Manufactured or Produced at the site

Chapter 9 - SUBCONTRACTED WORK
- General
- Use of Quotations
- Civil Work Program Specific Requirements

Chapter 10 - OVERHEAD COSTS
- General
- Job Office Overhead
- General Home Office Overhead
- Duration of Overhead Items
- Sources for Pricing
- Distribution of Overhead

Chapter 11 - PROFIT
- General
- Weighted Guidelines Method

Chapter 12 - SURETY BONDS
- General
- Purpose of Bonds
- Amount of Required Surety Bonds
- Rules Governing the Application of Bond Rates
- Cost of Performance & Payment Bonds
- Civil Works Program Specific Requirements

Chapter 13 - OTHER COSTS
- General
- Contractor Competition & Market Analysis
- Other Project Costs
- Cost Escalation
- Contingencies
- Application of Contingencies

Chapter 14 - CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS & OTHER NEGOTIATED PROCUREMENT
- General
- Directives
- Negotiated Procurement & Contract Modifications
- Preparation of Cost Estimates & Negotiation
- Cost Considerations
- Timeliness of Preparation
- Impact Costs
- Support for the Negotiations

Chapter 15 - PREPARATION OF DREDGE COST ESTIMATES
- General
- Definitions
- Development of Dredging Estimate
- Project Overview
- Selection of Equipment
- Production
- Monthly Costs
- Fixed Costs
- Pay Items

Chapter 16 - PROTESTS OR LITIGATION CONCERNING  THE GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE
- General
- Preparation of Technical & Cost Analysis by Cost Engineer
- Review of the Government Estimate
- Security & Disclosure of Government Estimates
- Mistake in Bids

Chapter 17 - STANDARD ESTIMATING FORMS
- General
- Standard Forms