Construction packs

A construction pack is the deliverable that goes to the people actually building the network. Drawings, schedules, materials, sequencing — everything a foreman or splicer needs to execute the design without a constant string of clarifications.

We assemble construction packs across fibre, EV charging, and broader infrastructure projects. Format depends on the construction team: lightweight PDFs from QGIS where that’s enough, full AutoCAD packs where the contractor or permit authority requires DWGs. Most projects sit in the middle — GIS-native data with CAD inserts at the points where they matter.

What a construction pack contains

A pack typically includes:

Drawings

• Route or site layout drawings, scaled and annotated
• Detail drawings for civils (trench cross-sections, chamber layouts, duct routes)
• Asset placement drawings (cabinets, closures, chargers, equipment)
• Pole attachment detail (for aerial fibre)

Schedules and registers

• Splice schedule per closure (fibre)
• Drop register per premise (fibre)
• Cable schedule with run lengths and termination points
• Asset register with locations, types, and serial numbers where pre-known

Materials

• Bill of materials at part-number level
• Aligned with the contractor’s preferred supplier catalogue where possible

Method and sequencing

• Build sequence notes — what’s installed in what order
• Civils method statements (trenching, HDD, restoration)
• Splicing method notes

Test and acceptance

• Test criteria — OTDR thresholds, splice loss budgets, pressure tests for ducts
• Acceptance documentation templates

Format choice — PDF, CAD, or hybrid

The right format depends on who uses the pack:

Use case	Format	Why
Field crews working from print	PDF (well-laid-out, scaled)	Easier to print, mark up, photograph
Contractor with CAD-native QC	DWG (AutoCAD)	Layered, editable, integrates with their workflow
Permit authority requiring DWG	DWG	Authority requirement, not optional
Contractor working from tablets	PDF + GIS export	Field tools (Esri Field Maps, Fulcrum) consume GIS-native
Mixed — some elements in CAD, others not	Hybrid pack	Civils in DWG, fibre route in GIS, packaged together

We don’t impose one format on every project. We deliver in what fits the downstream workflow.

Standards we work to

Construction packs are built to whichever construction or operator standards the project falls under:

• UK: Openreach D2.0 / DPA standards, BT and Virgin Media construction standards, NRSWA traffic management requirements
• US: RUS loan design construction specifications, BEAD compliance documentation, NESC for aerial work
• Operator-specific: ILEC and altnet construction standards
• Civil engineering: highway authority, railway operator, utility owner standards

Standards alignment is checked before construction pack production starts, not discovered during contractor mobilisation.

Inputs we need

A construction pack pulls together:

• Approved LLD (for fibre) or approved site design (for EV)
• Survey data and walkout records confirming on-the-ground reality
• Operator standards for drawings, sequencing, and acceptance
• Permit conditions where authority approval has imposed requirements
• Contractor preferences where known — preferred suppliers, drawing formats, sequencing approach

Common pitfalls in outsourced construction pack work

Drawing standards drift. A pack produced without consistent drawing standards (title blocks, layer naming, line weights) gets rejected — by contractors, by permit authorities, by QC reviewers. We build standards templates per project and hold to them.

BOM that doesn’t match procurement reality. A BOM with generic part numbers (“144F SM cable”) forces the contractor’s procurement team to interpret. We use part numbers aligned with the operator’s preferred supplier catalogue.

Splice schedules that don’t account for slack. A splice schedule that ignores slack handling is fine on paper and fails in the field. We design splice schedules that account for installation realities, including future-add capacity.

Sequence ambiguity. A pack that doesn’t clearly state what’s installed in what order produces field improvisation. We include sequencing notes — short, prescriptive, contractor-readable.

Typical timelines

• Small project (single site, under ~500 premises) — 2-4 weeks from approved LLD
• Mid-sized rollout — 4-8 weeks
• Phased programme — rolling delivery aligned with construction phasing

How we deliver

Construction packs are produced through our integrated UK-and-offshore model. Production drafting and BOM build-out runs offshore, with onshore QA on every pack before release. Senior engineers review splice schedules, BOM accuracy against operator catalogue, and standards compliance before the pack goes to the construction team.

Talk to us about a construction pack

Tell us the project shape, what’s been designed already, and what the contractor needs. We’ll scope and price within two business days for typical projects.