Intro to

Construction
Drawings
MR. WARREN
 Introduction
Construction drawings are
architectural or working drawings used
to represent a structure or system.

They were traditionally referred to as

blueprints, because years ago the lines
on a blueprint were white and the
background was blue.
 Introduction
Today most prints are created by computer-
aided drafting (CAD), and they have black or
blue lines on a white background.

Various kinds of drawings, including

residential drawings, commercial drawings,
landscaping plans, shop drawings, and
industrial drawings are used in construction.
 Introduction
Inthis module you will learn about
some basic types of drawings.

Construction drawings, together with

the set of specifications (specs),
detail what is to be built and what
materials are to be used.
 Five Parts of
Construction drawings.
Titleblock
Border
Drawing area
Revision block
Legend
 Title Block.

When you look at a drawing, the first

thing to look at is the title block.

The title block is normally in the lower

right-hand corner of the drawing or
across the right edge of the paper.
 Title Block.

The title block has two purposes.

First it gives information about the
structure or assembly.

Second, it is numbered so the print

can be filed easily.
 Title Block.
Different companies put different
information in the title block. Generally, it
contains the following:
Company logo usually preprinted on the
drawing.
Sheet title Identifies the project
Date Date the drawing was checked and
readied for seal, or issued for
construction.
 Title Block.
Drawn by Initials of the person who drafted
the drawing.
Drawing number Code numbers assigned to
a project.
Scale The ratio of the size of the object as
drawn to the objects actual size.
Revision blocks Information on revisions,
including the date and initials of the person
making the revisions.
 Border
The border is a clear area of
approximately half an inch around
the edge of the drawing area.
It is there so that everything in the
drawing area can be printed or
reproduced on printing machines
with no loss of information.
 Drawing Area
The drawing area presents the
information for constructing the
project: the floor plan, elevations of
the building, sections, and details.
 Revision Block
A revision block is located in the
drawing area, usually in the lower right
corner inside the title block or near it.
The block is used to record any
changes to the drawing.
All revisions must be noted in this
block and dated and identified by a
letter or number.
 Legend
Each line on a construction drawing
has a specific design and thickness
that identifies it.

The identification of these lines and

other symbols on a construction is
called the legend.
 Six Types of Drawings
Civil
Architectural
Structural

Mechanical
Plumbing
Electrical
 Civil Plans
Civil plans are used for work that has to
do with construction in or on the earth.
Civil plans are also called site plans,
survey plans, or plot plans.
They show the location of the building
on the site from an aerial view.
Civil plans also show the contours of
the earth, represented by contour lines.
 Civil Plans
Civilplans can also include a
landscape plan that shows any trees
on the property; construction features
such as walks, driveways, or utilities
and the dimensions of the property.
This is where it all starts. If the site is
not acceptable, there is no reason to
continue building!
 Architectural Plans
Architectural plans show the design of
the project.

One part of an architectural plan is a

floor plan, also known as a plan view.

Any drawing made looking down on an

object is commonly called a plan view.
 Architectural Plans
An architectural plan also includes a roof
plan, which is a view of the roof from
above the building. It shows the shape of
the roof and the materials that will be
used to finish it.
Elevation (EL) is another element if
architectural drawings. Elevation
drawings are side views that show
height.
 Architectural Plans
Even more detail is shown in detail
drawings, which are enlarged views
of some special features of a
building, such as floors and walls that
are enlarged to make details clearer.
 Architectural Plans
Another element of the architectural
plan is section drawings, which show
how the structure is to be built.
They show what construction
materials to use and how the parts of
the object or building fit together.
They normally show more detail than
plan views
 Architectural Plans
Even more detail is shown in detail
drawings, which are enlarged views
of some special features of a
building, such as floors and walls.

They are enlarged to make the

details clearer.
 Structural Plans
Structural plans are a set of engineered
drawings used to support the
architectural design.
The first part of the structural plans is
the general notes.
These notes give details of the materials
to be used and the requirements to be
followed in order to build the structure.
 Structural Plans
The notes for instance, might specify
the type and strength of concrete
required for the foundation, the
loads that the roof and stairs must be
built to accommodate, and the codes
that contractors must follow.
 Structural Plans
Structural plans also include a
foundation plan, which shows the
lowest level of the building, including
concrete footings, slabs, and
foundation walls.
 Mechanical Plans
Mechanical plans are engineered
plans for motors, pumps, piping
systems, and piping equipment.

Piping and instrumentation drawings

or P&IDs are diagrams of a complete
piping system that show the process
flow.
 Mechanical Plans
Formore complex jobs, a separate
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning
(HVAC) plan is added to the set of plans.

The mechanical plans include the layout

of the HVAC system, showing specific
requirements and elements for that
system.
 Plumbing/Piping Plans
Plumbing plans are engineered plans
showing the layout for the plumbing
system that supplies the hot and cold
water, for the sewage disposal
system, and for the disposal system,
and for the location of plumbing
fixtures.
 Electrical Plans
Electrical plans are engineered
drawings for electrical supply and
distribution.
Electrical plans include locations of
the electric meter, distribution panel,
switchgear, convenience outlets, and
special outlets.
 Fire Protection Plans
Another important drawing that may
be included in a set of drawings is the
fire protection plans.

This drawing shows the piping,

valves, heads, and switches that make
up a buildings fire sprinkler system.
 Specifications
Specifications are written statements that
the architectural and engineering firm
provides to the general contractors.

They define the quality of work to be done

and describe the materials to be used.

They also clarify information that cannot

be shown on the drawings.
Request for Information
(RFI)
A request for information is used to clarify
any discrepancies in the plans. If you
notice a discrepancy, you should notify the
foreman who will write up the RFI.

The RFI is submitted to the

superintendent, who passes it to the
architect of engineer, who then resolves
the discrepancy.
 Scale
The scale of a drawing tells the size of the
object drawn compared with the actual size
of the object represented.
The scale is shown in the title block,
beneath the drawing itself, or in both
places.
On a site plan, the scale might read SCALE:
1=20 this means that every inch on the
drawing represents 20 feet.
 Scale
The scale used to develop site plans is an
engineers scale.

On a floor plan, the scale may read SCALE:

= 1. This means that every inch on the
drawing represents 1 foot.

Floor plans are developed using an architects

scale. This scale is divided into fractions of an
inch.
 Scale
Some drawings are not drawn to
scale. A note on these drawings read
not to scale (NTS)
 Lines of Construction
It is very important to understand the
meanings of lines on a drawing. The
lines are sometimes called the
Alphabet of Lines.
 Lines of Construction
Dimension lines Establish the dimension
(sizes) of parts of a structure. These lines
end with arrows, dots, or slashes at a
termination line drawn perpendicular to
the dimension line.

Leaders and arrowheads Identify the

location of a specific part of the drawing.
They are used with words, abbreviations,
symbols, or keynotes.
 Lines of Construction
Property lines Indicate land boundaries.
Cut lines Lines around part of a drawing
that is to be shown in a separate cross-
sectional view.
Section cuts Show areas not included in
the cutting line view.
Break lines Show where an object has
been broken off to save space on the
drawing.
 Lines of Construction
Hidden lines identify part of a structure
that is not visible on the drawing.

Centerlines Show the measured center

of an object, such as a column or fixture.

Objectlines identify the object of

primary interest or the closest object.
Abbreviations, Symbols,
& Keynotes
Architects and engineers use systems of
abbreviations, symbols, and keynotes to
keep plans uncluttered, making them
easier to read and understand.

Each trade has its own symbols, and you

should learn to recognize the symbols
used by other trades.
Abbreviations, Symbols,
& Keynotes
Forexample, if you are an electrician,
you should understand a carpenters
symbols. Carpenters should understand
plumbers symbols and so on.

Then no matter what symbol you see

when you are working on a project, you
will understand what they mean.
Abbreviations, Symbols,
& Keynotes
Abbreviations used in construction
drawings are short forms for common
construction terms.
For example, the term On Center is
abbreviated O.C.
Abbreviations should always be
written in capital letters.
Abbreviations, Symbols,
& Keynotes
Abbreviations for each project should
be noted on the title sheet or other
introductory drawing page such as
the legend page.

Symbols are used on a drawing to tell

what material is required for that
part of the project.
Abbreviations, Symbols,
& Keynotes
Some plans use keynotes instead of
symbols. A keynote is a number or
letter (usually in a square or circle)
with a leader and arrowhead that is
used to identify a specific object.
 Gridlines
The gridline system shown on a plan
is used like the grid on a map. On a
drawing such as a floor plan, a grid
divides the area into small parts
called bays.

A gridline system makes it easy to

refer to specific locations on a plan.
 Gridlines
To avoid confusion, certain letters and
the symbol for zero are not used.

Omitted from the gridline system are

letters I, O, and Q; and numbers 1and 0

A gridline system makes it easy to refer

to specific locations on a plan.
 Dimensions
Dimensions are the parts of the drawings
that show the size and the placement of
the objects that will be built or installed.

The dimension is a measurement written

as a number, and it may be written in
inches with fractions (6 ), in feet with
inches (1-2), in inches with decimals
(3.2), or millimeters (9mm) if the metric
system is used.