Why Are Some Plans Only Available for Viewing in the Plan Rooms? Why Are Some Projects Only Available Online?

While the vast majority of plans are made available for viewing and printing in each of The Construction Update Plan Room Network’s ten Physical Plan Rooms, there are a few plans which differentiate from this standard. On occasion, the Physical Plan Rooms may only receive a set of plans on CD. Typically in this circumstance, electronic files are sent to iSqFt for uploading and made viewable online. Although these projects are not viewable in the Physical Plan Rooms, many of the Plan Rooms have the capability to print plans and specification pages that you may need.

The Physical Plan Rooms may also receive project documents by email without receiving a hard copy of the plans and specifications. In this case, the Plan Room Reporter will forward the email to iSqFt so that plan and specification files, in turn, can be uploaded directly to iSqFt. Instead of assigning a bin number to the project, you will see the verbiage “online only”, indicating that the plans and specifications will only be made for viewing on iSqFt. While the bid documents are not available for viewing in the Physical Plan Rooms, many of the Plan Rooms can nevertheless print what you need.

Other times, it may be the opposite scenario; plans and specifications may be available for viewing in the Physical Plan Rooms, but not available on iSqFt. Some architectural firms, engineering firms, owners, and general contractors do not desire to have their plans and specifications online. That is when the Plan Room Reporter will put in “project details” of the project, including project name, bid date, bid time, project description, CSI codes, and any other pertinent information on a project. These projects are typically made for viewing purposes only in the Physical Plan Rooms and cannot be scanned, copied, or duplicated in any manner.

Below is a reminder of plan copy sizes and charges: