From Michael Byng's CV (Byng’s blueprint, QS News, 7 October) it would appear that he has spent most of his career outside mainstream UK construction.

Perhaps that explains his lack of knowledge regarding SMM7.

IT may have been different when SMM7 was drawn up, but it was designed to be IT friendly and has continued in use on IT based systems for nearly 20 years.

Far from “going its own way” and there not being “real recognition of other design consultancies”, SMM7 was introduced as a fundamental part of the Co-ordinated Project Information Initiative (CPII). This included project drawings and project specifications. All documents were to use the Common Arrangement of Work Sections (CAWS) which replaced the trade-based divisions that were in use prior to 1987. Despite Byng's view, virtually all the other design disciplines were involved in and signed up to CPII and CAWS.

By the way, I just cannot believe his claim that there is an Irish SMM called ARM3 which is more commonly used than SMM7. Could be true of Ballykissangel I suppose, but in the real world?

Terry King, Dearle & Henderson

Source

QS News