Issuing a Field Set: 8 Checks Before Drawings Go to the Job Site
A crew builds from whatever paper is on the table in the trailer. If an old sheet is mixed in, or a sheet is missing, the mistake shows up in concrete or steel. A few minutes of checks before a field set goes out is the easiest fix on the job.
Short answer: before you print and send drawings to the site, confirm the set is marked for construction, the revision log matches every title block, old sheets are pulled and voided, the sheet index matches the stack, seals are where they need to be, and each sheet appears only once. Then decide how many sets, who gets them, what size, and ship them straight to the site.
This checklist is about issuing the set. Getting the PDF itself ready (page size, scale, line weights, fonts) is covered in how to prepare a PDF plan set for printing.
1. The set is marked for construction
Check the issue label in the title block. It should say Issued for Construction, or whatever your owner or firm uses for the build set, not “for review,” “for permit” or “for bid.” Sheets stamped “preliminary” or “not for construction” don’t go to the field. More on the labels in what “issued for construction” means.
2. The revision log matches every sheet
Open the revision list on the cover or sheet index and compare it with the revision number and date in each title block. If the log says sheet A-201 is at revision 3, the sheet you print should say revision 3. Any mismatch means either the log or the PDF is out of date. Sort it out with the design team before printing, not after.
3. Superseded sheets are pulled and voided
When a revision comes out, the old sheets on site need to leave the set. Collect them, mark them “VOID” or “SUPERSEDED,” or recycle them. Many teams keep one voided copy in the office for the record and none in the field. If only a few sheets changed, print just those. See printing revised sheets.
4. The sheet index matches the set
Count the sheets in the PDF and tick them off against the sheet index. Look for:
- A sheet listed in the index but missing from the file
- A sheet in the file that isn’t in the index, often a leftover from an earlier issue
- Sheets out of order, which slow everyone down on site
5. Seals and stamps are in place
If your state or project needs sealed drawings on site, make sure the seal is on the sheets you’re printing. A printer prints what’s in the PDF and can’t add a seal or signature. A digitally sealed PDF prints the seal image, but the digital signature itself lives in the file. If someone needs a wet-stamped original, that’s a step for the engineer or architect after printing. See wet stamp vs digital seal.
6. Each sheet appears once, at one revision
A field set should hold exactly one copy of each sheet number, at the newest revision. Two versions of the same sheet in one stack is how a crew ends up building from the wrong one. If you merged PDFs from several issues, search the file for duplicate sheet numbers before you upload.
7. You know how many sets, and who gets them
Make a short distribution list before you order. A typical list:
- The superintendent’s set
- The trailer or plan table set
- One set for each trade that works from paper (often just their own sheets plus the architectural plans; see print only your trade’s sheets)
- A set kept on site for inspections, if your building department expects the approved plans there
Write down who got which revision. When the next revision comes out, that list tells you whose sheets need replacing. More on field set counts in construction drawing printing for job-site sets.
8. Full size or half size, and where it ships
- Full size is the safe default for anyone who measures from the drawings. Print at the size in the title block so the scale stays true. See how to print a PDF to scale, and check the page size first with the free PDF page size checker.
- Half size is handy for a foreman’s truck set. An 18×24 print of a 36×48 sheet is an exact half, so every scale is halved (1/4″ = 1′-0″ becomes 1/8″ = 1′-0″). Write that on the set, or rely on the graphic scale bar. See half-size vs full-size plan sets.
- Delivery: ship the sets straight to the site address or trailer, and put the job name or a contact on the label so they reach the right person. See ship plans to a job site.
What a field set costs to print
Printing only, before shipping, at $1.95 per sheet in black and white and $3.75 in color, the same price at all sizes (18×24 to 36×48), on 20 lb bond paper:
| Example | Sheets | Printing | With code WELCOME20 (20% off your first order) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-sheet field set, 1 copy, B&W | 30 | $58.50 | $46.80 |
| 30-sheet set, 3 copies (super, trailer, inspections) | 90 | $175.50 | $140.40 |
| 30-sheet set, 2 copies at 36×48 + 2 truck copies at 18×24 | 120 | $234.00 | $187.20 |
| 4 revised sheets for 5 set holders | 20 | $39.00 | $31.20 |
WELCOME20 takes 20% off printing on a first order. Students get 25% off printing with STUDENT25. One code per order.
What we do and don’t do
We print your PDF exactly as uploaded. We don’t check drawings, track revisions or decide which set governs. Those calls belong to the design team and the contractor. We do make it easy to get the right set to the field fast.
FAQ
What should I check before sending drawings to site?
Check the issue label, the revision log against every title block, that old sheets are voided, that the sheet index matches the set, that seals are in place, and that each sheet appears once. Then confirm how many sets go out and to whom.
What does it mean to void a superseded drawing?
It means marking an old sheet “VOID” or “SUPERSEDED,” or removing it, so nobody builds from it once a newer revision is issued.
How many drawing sets does a job site need?
It depends on the job. Many sites keep one for the superintendent, one on the plan table, and one per trade that works from paper. Ask your building department whether an approved set must stay on site.
Can I send half-size drawings to the field?
Yes, for reference. A half-size set is still to scale at half the drawn scale, so label it. Anyone who measures from the drawings should have full size.
Can a printer add an engineer’s seal?
No. Seals and signatures have to come from the engineer or architect. We print the PDF exactly as it’s sealed.
Can you ship the set straight to the job site?
Yes. Enter the site address at checkout. We ship to all 50 states.
Printing it
When the set passes these checks, upload it on the order page, choose the size, black and white or color, and the number of copies, and check out. Orders placed before 3 PM ET on business days ship the same day, to all 50 states. If we make a mistake, we reprint and ship it free of charge.
