Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re having trouble using any part of our website, accessing downloads, or understanding our products and services, we’re here to help.
Below are the most common questions we receive — if you don’t see yours here, feel free to get in touch with our team.
Our support hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm GMT. Thank you for supporting First in Architecture!
📦 General Questions
Are your books suitable for readers outside the UK?
All of the Understanding Architectural Details books, along with Understanding Passivhaus and House Extension Details, are based on UK construction methods and standards.
Residential Construction Details is based on US construction methods.
While many readers outside these regions still find the books useful for understanding principles of detailing, materials, and design intent, we generally don’t recommend our resources if you need guidance that strictly matches local regulations or construction practices.
How will I receive my ebook or digital purchase?
After purchase you’ll receive an email with your download link. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see it.
Are the books available in hard copy?
Yes, most of our books can be bought in print version either from our online store, your local Amazon, or other UK book retailers. To see print purchase options, please visit our Print Books page.
With the exception of House Extension Details, the hardcopy books don’t include any digital files. We always recommend that our customers purchase the digital bundles as they offer better value for money. However, we do understand that it is nice to have a physical copy to flip through. If you’re interested in purchasing both a print copy and the associated digital files, you can get in touch with our team so we can arrange a discounted price for the associated digital bundle after purchasing the print book.
What if I lose my digital files?
It’s your responsibility to back up digital downloads once you’ve saved them to your device. While we’ll help wherever we can, we’re not always able to replace files after loss so please ensure you keep your downloads safe!
🧱 Detail Library & FIA Books
Detail Library vs First In Architecture Books
Detail Library memberships and First In Architecture books are separate products that offer different types of content.
A Detail Library membership gives you access to an online library of downloadable construction details in CAD, Revit, and SketchUp formats. These files are designed to be used directly in your drawings and are updated regularly, with new details and resources added each month.
First In Architecture books and book bundles focus on learning and reference. They include curated drawings, explanations, and guidance to help you understand construction principles, detailing approaches, and design intent. The details included in the books and bundles are not the same as those available in the Detail Library, and purchasing a book or bundle does not provide access to the full Detail Library.
Likewise, a Detail Library membership does not include access to our books or their digital downloads.
Which option is right for me?
Our books are primarily aimed at students and recent graduates, although they are used by people across the architectural profession. They combine explanatory content with a selected set of drawings and are ideal if you’re looking to build understanding and confidence in construction detailing.
Please visit our digital bookstore to learn more about each individual package.
The Detail Library is designed for working professionals who need a wider range of editable details to use in live projects. It includes some content from our books, alongside many additional details that aren’t available elsewhere, plus regular updates and technical guides. You can subscribe for unlimited access.
The Detail Library includes details from:
Understanding Architectural Details: Residential (4th Edition)
Understanding Passivhaus
Understanding Loft Conversions
Selected details from Understanding Architectural Details: Basements
Selected details from House Extension Details (approximately 70 details)
Please visit our pricing page to learn more about the membership options available.
If you are looking for maximum options in terms of details and resources you can use in your projects, then the library is probably better for you. If you’re looking for structured explanations and learning-focused content, our book bundles may be more suitable.
Many people choose to use both. If this sounds like you, please get in touch before purchasing — we offer a discount for customers buying both books and a Detail Library subscription.
📥 Download Issues & Software Compatibility
If you are purchasing a book or digital download such as CAD block or template, please check what the download will include and confirm compatibility with your own software.
Software Compatibility
CAD: The CAD blocks are in .dwg format, saved in AutoCAD 2010. We cannot guarantee compatibility with any other software apart from AutoCAD.
Revit: The Revit files are in .rvt format. We cannot guarantee compatibility with any other software apart from Autodesk Revit.
SketchUp: The SketchUp files are in .skp format, saved in SKP 2015. We cannot guarantee compatibility with any other software apart from SketchUp.
Photoshop: The Photoshop files are in .psd format. We cannot guarantee compatibility with any other software apart from Adobe Photoshop.
Download Link Not Received
Please check your junk or spam folders if you cannot find the order confirmation, this should be sent to your email as soon as you place your order. If you haven’t received your link after about 10 minutes, please contact us and we will be able to help.
Download Link Not Working
If you are having problems with downloading the files, rest assured that our team will be in touch shortly to assist with this. Meanwhile, please could you ensure the following prior to download:
- Make sure you have a good internet connection as some of the files are large and take a while to download.
- Download onto a desktop or laptop computer and not a tablet or mobile device.
Chrome Download Issues
Chrome has increased security in their browsers and are marking some downloads as dangerous. This is happening everywhere and not just for our files. It appears to be only Google Chrome that are blocking downloads and not other browsers such as Safari or Firefox. There are numerous articles online explaining how to disable this feature in order to access your downloads. Here are a couple:
Sorry for the inconvenience, unfortunately this situation is out of our control but please rest assured that our team will do everything possible to help with the problem.
Windows/PC File Extraction Issues
If you experience a ‘Path too long’ error when extracting the Building Safety Act Toolkit on Windows, try extracting the files directly to your Drive or Documents folder. For step-by-step download instruction, please feel free to download our guide.
💳 Payment & Return Options
What alternative payment options are there?
At the moment, we are only able to accept credit/debit card payments and PayPal on our site. This includes Apple Pay and Google Pay, where available. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to arrange a BACS payment. If this applies to you, please get in touch with our team and we’ll do our best to help.
What is your return policy?
Due to the digital nature of our products, we are unable to accept returns or provide refunds for any ebook or other digital items once the purchase has been downloaded. Please read the product description carefully before making a purchase.
If you want to return your print book, you have 14 days from receipt to contact us and the book needs to be posted back to us within 14 days once a return has been arranged. To be eligible for a refund, the book must be unused and in the same condition you received it.
You can see our full returns policy here, and full terms and conditions here.
💬 Still Have Questions?
If your question isn’t covered here, please reach out to our team — we’re here to help! You can email us at hello@firstinarchitecture.co.uk.