Introduction to Construction Plan Reading & Specification Documents
Introduction to Construction Plan Reading & Specification Documents
Monday, October 12, 2026 4:00 PM - Monday, November 9, 2026 6:30 PM (CDT)
Description
Build the skills and confidence to navigate construction drawings and specifications more effectively.
This in-person, five-session course introduces participants to the fundamentals of reading and understanding commercial construction plans and specification documents. Using a current commercial construction drawing set, participants will learn how the different disciplines work together and how to locate, interpret, and coordinate information across a complete set of construction documents.
Classes will be held on five consecutive Mondays: October 12, 19, 26, November 2 and 9, 2026.
Course Objectives
Through instructor-led discussion and hands-on plan-reading exercises, participants will learn how to:
- Understand the organization and purpose of construction drawings and specifications
- Navigate a complete commercial construction document set
- Recognize common drawing symbols, abbreviations, scales, legends, callouts, and references
- Read and interpret civil/site, structural, architectural, and MEP drawings
- Understand how drawings, details, sections, schedules, and specifications work together
- Become familiar with the organization of the CSI MasterFormat® divisions
- Locate information within the project manual and technical specifications
- Coordinate information across multiple drawing disciplines
- Apply a practical, step-by-step approach to reading construction documents
The course progresses from foundational concepts to hands-on application, concluding with practical exercises that require participants to navigate and interpret information across the construction document set.
Target Audience
This course is designed for entry-level and early-career construction professionals, as well as individuals who work with construction documents and want to strengthen their plan-reading skills.
Ideal participants include:
- Project Engineers
- Assistant Project Managers
- Assistant Superintendents
- Estimators
- Preconstruction Staff
- Project Coordinators
- Interns
- Subcontractor Personnel
- Craftspeople
No prior plan-reading experience is required.
Presenter: Don Kerl
Images
AGC Houston Member
$250
Non-AGC Houston Member
$500
Cancellation Policy
Failure to cancel or reschedule prior to the start of a class, program, or event without at least two business days written notice will result in the forfeiture of your registration fee. For complimentary classes, programs, or events, a $25 administrative fee will be assessed for no shows who do not provide advanced notice.
3825 Dacoma St.
Houston, TX 77092 United States
Each in-person class session will be held on Mondays for five consecutive weeks: October 12, 19, 26, November 2 and 9, 2026
