Quick Summary
- Constructability review catches issues that are technically correct but practically problematic
- Focuses on sequence conflicts, access issues, and coordination problems that cause field delays
- GCs use constructability review to identify bidding risks and pre-construction issues
- AI can identify constructability issues by cross-referencing all project documents
"Can we use this for constructability review too?" It's one of the most common questions from general contractors. Constructability review goes beyond code compliance and coordination errors—it asks whether what's drawn can actually be built efficiently. A detail might be code-compliant and properly coordinated but still create sequencing conflicts, access problems, or field installation challenges that cost time and money.
What Is Constructability Review?
Constructability review evaluates construction documents from the perspective of field execution. It asks: Can this be built as shown? In what sequence? With what equipment? Where will conflicts occur during installation? What access is needed that isn't addressed?
Constructability vs Code Compliance
- Code Compliance Review
"Does this meet code requirements?" Checks dimensions, materials, and specifications against building codes.
- Constructability Review
"Can this actually be built?" Evaluates sequencing, access, equipment requirements, and practical installation considerations.
A design can pass code compliance but fail constructability. For example, a structural connection might be code-compliant but impossible to weld due to access constraints.
Common Constructability Issues
Based on AI review of construction documents and feedback from GC partners, these are the most common constructability issues found in drawings:
Sequencing Conflicts
Issue: Work in one area must be complete before work in another can begin, but the drawings don't reflect this dependency.
Example: Structural steel details require welding from both sides, but one side will be inaccessible once adjacent walls are installed. The drawings show final condition, not installation sequence.
Access Constraints
Issue: Equipment or materials can't physically reach the installation location.
Example: Mechanical equipment shown in a ceiling cavity that has no access for installation or maintenance. The equipment fits in the space but can't get to the space.
Trade Coordination Conflicts
Issue: Multiple trades need to work in the same space at the same time based on the schedule, but there isn't room.
Example: Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing all route through the same corridor ceiling. Technically they fit, but there's no sequence that allows installation without rework.
Material Availability Issues
Issue: Specified materials have long lead times or limited availability that will impact the schedule.
Example: Custom storefront system with 16-week lead time on a 12-week schedule. The design is buildable—just not in the available time.
The Hidden Cost of Constructability Issues
Constructability issues don't generate plan check comments—they pass permit review. They surface during construction as RFIs, change orders, schedule delays, and rework. By then, the cost is 10-100x what it would have been to catch during preconstruction.
The GC Perspective
For general contractors, constructability review serves multiple purposes:
Pre-Bid Review
Identify risks before bidding to price them in or clarify with the owner.
- • Scope gaps that will become change orders
- • Unrealistic schedule assumptions
- • Coordination issues between specs and drawings
Preconstruction Planning
Identify issues early enough to resolve before field work begins.
- • Sequencing requirements
- • Long-lead item identification
- • RFI questions before mobilization
Field Preparation
Prepare superintendents for known challenges before they encounter them.
- • Access and staging requirements
- • Trade coordination checkpoints
- • Critical path dependencies
Documentation
Create record of issues identified for change order support if needed.
- • Pre-construction issue log
- • Design deficiency documentation
- • Risk allocation evidence
How AI Supports Constructability Review
AI doesn't replace field experience, but it can systematically identify potential constructability issues that warrant expert review:
AI Constructability Analysis
- 1Cross-reference all disciplines. Identify where multiple trades occupy the same space or have installation conflicts.
- 2Check for access constraints. Flag equipment in locations without clear installation access paths.
- 3Identify spec-drawing conflicts. Catch mismatches that will become field conflicts (e.g., 8" slab in spec, 6" in drawing).
- 4Flag incomplete or ambiguous information. Identify missing details that will require RFIs to resolve.
Change Order Constructability Review
Constructability review isn't just for initial documents. When change orders are issued during construction, they introduce new potential conflicts:
Change Order Risks
- Coordination with existing work: Changes designed without full knowledge of what's already installed.
- Cascading impacts: Changes in one area affecting multiple other systems not addressed in the change order.
- Unintended consequences: Changes that introduce new code violations or coordination conflicts.
AI review of change orders against the full project document set can catch conflicts before the change order is executed.
Real-World Constructability Examples
The Incompatible Metals
Situation: Two different metals specified for a roof connection that don't weld together properly.
Impact: Would void the warranty of the roofing system if installed as specified.
AI Catch: Cross-referenced material specifications against manufacturer requirements.
The Misread Dimension
Situation: Project manager read "T/4" as "1/4" for concrete cover. T means slab thickness.
Impact: For a 6" slab, T/4 is 1.5"—not 0.25". Building to 1/4" cover would cause cracking within 2-3 years.
AI Catch: Identified ambiguous notation that could be misinterpreted in field.
Review Documents Before You Build to Them
Constructability issues don't fail permit review—they fail in the field. AI review catches coordination conflicts, access issues, and material incompatibilities before they become expensive field problems. Whether you're bidding or building, know what you're working with.
Conclusion
Constructability review bridges the gap between design intent and field reality. Drawings that are code-compliant and properly coordinated can still create installation nightmares if sequencing, access, and practical construction constraints aren't considered.
AI doesn't replace the field experience that identifies these issues—but it can systematically flag potential problems across thousands of pages of documents, ensuring that experienced project managers and superintendents can focus their attention where it matters most. The goal isn't perfect documents—it's identifying problems before they become expensive.