FLOOR PLANS CHAPTER 7 – PART 1

FLOOR PLANS Are the most significant architectural drawings. Contain a tremendous amount of information Usually serves as the primary drawing to which many other drawings are keyed to.

PRODUCING A FLOOR PLAN A floor plan is an orthographic view of a building or space produced when an imaginary cutting plane is passed through it about 4 feet (1219 mm) above the floor line.

GRAPHIC & TEXT NOTATION ON FLOOR PLANS A presentation drawing (left) includes furniture and other items, whereas a construction drawing (right) indicates dimensions and more details.

FLOOR PLANS in construction drawings These drawings show walls, doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, and other built in features.

DRAWING DOORS & SIZES In this plan, doors are noted in size & swing. Note that 3 means 3 feet in width. The other door is 2 feet 6 inches. Another way to denote door sizes is to number them and list in a door schedule – see Chap. 12.

LINE WEIGHTS & TYPES OF LINES In this plan, a line symbol is used to denote a high ceiling & changes in the ceiling planes. Dashed lines also show wall cabinetry above the kitchen/utility base cabinets. A grid pattern on the floor represents the floor treatment in the kitchen and utility room.

FLOOR PLANS IN MODULAR UNITS A designer should strive to design with the modular unit in mind – as most building components are manufactured on common standard sizes. This can create efficiency and minimize waste. In the English system, a 12, 16, 24, and 48 inch size is used for elements and spacing. Dimensions should also be rounded off to the same module where possible. Strive for 10 feet, 0 inches 3,05m) vs. 9 feet-10-1/8 inches (3.03m)

MODULAR SPACING OF COLUMNS AND WINDOWS Windows in this commercial building are set in a 5’-0” module. This will influence the spacing of interior wall partitions that might reach to the window wall.

MODULAR SPACING OF COLUMNS A structural column grid is established in this building, using a system of column reference grids. Numbers are used in one direction and letters in the other.

WALL & PARTITION TYPES The 3 types of interior wall construction, as seen in different views. Wood Steel frame Masonry

SOME COMMON ACOUSTICAL WALL PARTITIONS & STC RATINGS

WALLS IN PLAN VIEW A minimum of three distinct line weights should be used in floor plan drawings. HEAVY THICK LINES The walls are drawn the darkest MEDIUM LINES Represent the objects LIGHT LINES Represent the textures and minor elements

DOORS Are classified by their action and shown in plan view

DIMENSIONING DOORS IN PLAN Doors (and windows) are generally dimensioned to the centerline. This allows the designer to locate the door, but leave the details of the rough opening, frame, and trim to the builder.

DIMENSIONING DOORS IN PLAN In masonry walls, the door (and window) assembly is dimensioned to the rough opening (R.O.) masonry size This dimension allows for the door, frame, & clearances to install the door unit.

LOCATING DOORS IN PLAN When a door hinge is close to a wall, it is not necessary to dimension to the center of the door. The builder knows the door is to be tight to the wall, and will allow the proper clearances for operation and trim work.

WINDOWS IN FLOOR PLANS If the floor plan drawing is at a small scale, such as 1/8”=1’-0” (1:100 metric) or smaller, a single line and a symbol (refers to the window schedule) are used.

WINDOW TYPES Window types are often defined by their operation. See page 107

ROOM NAMES If the room is small, the name can be written just “outside” the room and a leader pointing to the room.

NOTES ON THE FLOOR PLANS Notes are added to the floor plan to convey specific information that is not apparent on the drawings. Such as handrails, soffits above, floor-level changes, furniture specifics, etc.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NOTES ON A FLOOR PLAN DRAWING

ARCHITECTURAL FLOOR PLANS The floor plan contains perhaps more information than many other drawings that make up a set of construction drawings.

ENLARGED FLOOR PLANS If the scale of the floor plan is too small to place all the details within a small space, an enlarged floor plan is created. A broken line is placed around the area to be enlarged, and a symbol gives the enlarged plan a number. The lower number tells what sheet this new drawing can be found on.

ENLARGED FLOOR PLANS The enlarged plan allows for placing more detailed information.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS Floor plans are carefully dimensioned to locate walls, columns, doors, windows, stairs, and other particulars for construction. Some reproduction methods of copying a floor plan might introduce a slight enlargement or reduction of the drawing. A note is often added that says “do not scale drawing – follow written dimensions.”

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS All dimensions on this plan are to one face of the stud, except for the wall separating the closets. It is to the centerline of the wall, which allows the builder to balance the closet widths.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS As mentioned in Chapter 5, dimensioning is done in a hierarchical manner. Elements are dimensioned in decreasing size order. Number of dimensions on the plan depends on how much latitude the designer affords the contractor. A lot of dimensions gives the builder little room for deviation. A few dimensions leaves it up to the builder to determine exact locations.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS Dimension lines are arranged in a hierarchal manner, where possible.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS Another example of continuous dimensioning.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS The dimension extension line begins slightly away from the object. It never touches it. The extension line extends slightly beyond the leader lines (when using “ticks” or “dots”.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS Most professional firms use the 45-degree tick mark. They are drawn darker than the extension line and dimension line.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS Numerals can be placed slightly above and centered on the dimension line, or within the dimension line as seen here.

DIMENSIONING FLOOR PLANS If an area is too small to place the dimension, the numbers are placed to the side and a leader points to the dimension line.

DESIGNATION OF MATERIALS ON FLOOR PLANS In design drawings, a lot of floor materials might be shown – as dimensions and other items may not need to be added.

DESIGNATION OF MATERIALS ON FLOOR PLANS Floor materials are shown in the large scale drawing of a residence. Note the ceramic tile on the floor of several areas.

DESIGNATION OF MATERIALS ON FLOOR PLANS Care must be taken to not let the floor textures make the symbols, notes, and dimensions unreadable. Hatching with computer software will automatically “go around” these features.

DESIGNATION OF MATERIALS ON FLOOR PLANS See chapter 13 for further explanation of making finish plans.

Developing your plans Turn off floor patterns Hatch new and existing wall differently Add room tags Indicate changes in materials with Model Lines and notes Dimension all NEW walls, doors, windows, and openings Use tiers of dimensions: overall, major divisions, minor divisions

Partition types Add wall tags (and change wall construction as needed) File>Insert from File>Views… to import standard drawings Modify for each your project Use your fonts, arrow types Copy view for new wall type