2. Objectives
To understand classifications of different construction drawings.
To recognize elements and symbols of construction drawings.
To recognize various drawing tools.
To understand how to develop and design a building plan.

3. Main Menu Types of Construction Drawings Elements & Symbols
Design Tools
Project Planning & Development

5. Construction Drawings
Have a purpose to show what is going to be built
Describe in detail:
the extent of the work
locations
dimensions
relationships of various construction elements
Are also called blueprints or plans

6. Construction Drawings
Show the correct ways of meeting the functional requirements of the design
Are drawn to scale

7. Construction Drawings
Are used to plan and design industrial, commercial and residential structures
Are also used in landscaping

8. Scale Drawings
Are drawings showing a real object with accurate dimensions reduced or enlarged by a certain amount
known as the scale
which is represented as a ratio
Example includes:
a blueprint with a scale of 1:5 means the object drawn is a fifth of its actual size, or the object is five times larger than shown on the drawing

9. Types of Construction Drawings
Include:
site plans
foundation plans
floor plans
interior or exterior elevation drawings
section drawings
interior or exterior detail drawings
lighting and electrical floor plans
mechanical plans
plumbing plans
roof plans

10. Site Plans
Are architectural plans of proposed development of a given area
Are a graphic representation shown as an aerial view
Are drawn to scale

11. Site Plans Can show the following: property lines
outline of existing and proposed buildings/structures
distance between buildings
parking lots
driveways

12. Site Plans Can show the following: surrounding streets
landscaped elements
easements
utilities

13. Foundation Plans Are sketches of the baseline of the entire structure
Are plans which are drawn up before the building process begins
Are used primarily by the construction crew
Are drawn to scale

14. Foundation Plans Include the following: footings foundation walls
piers and columns
partial walls
doors, windows, vents
beams and pilasters
floor joists
drains
electrical features

15. Floor Plans
Are aerial views horizontally cut approximately four feet above the floor of a building or structure
Are the most important architectural drawing
Present a significant amount of information on the design and construction
Are drawn to scale

16. Floor Plans Include the following: walls doors windows stairs
appliances
equipment
cabinetry
built-in interior elements

17. Interior or Exterior Elevation Drawings
Are vertically projected surfaces of the inside or outside of a building or structure
Provide information of vertical elements which cannot be shown on a floor plan
Are drawn to scale

18. Interior or Exterior Elevation Drawings
Include the following:
vertical location of doors, windows and other openings
wall mounted equipment
vertical dimensions

19. Section Drawings Are vertical cuts through a space
May be an entire building, individual interior space or object
such as a built-in cabinet
Primarily intend to show construction of wall, floor and ceiling
rather than items attached to walls
Are drawn to scale

20. Section Drawings Include the following: walls windows doors floors
ceilings
other observable structural elements

21. Interior or Exterior Detail Drawings
Illustrate small portions of a space or object at a larger scale
Are intended to accurately show materials and finish applications
May include an enlarged drawing of a floor plan or elevation
Are drawn to scale

22. Interior or Exterior Detail Drawings
Include the following:
partitions
doors
ceilings
paneling
cabinets
seating

23. Lighting & Electrical Floor Plans
Deal mainly with circuits
Show all exterior walls, interior partitions, windows, doors, stairs, cabinets, along with the location of electrical items and their circuitry
May also include a plan view showing what is on the ceiling as though it were reflected onto the floor plan
Are drawn to scale

24. Lighting & Electrical Floor Plans
Include the following:
lighting fixtures
emergency lighting
security lighting/systems
special lighting control
such as motion detectors
electrical outlets
telephone outlets
Ethernet outlets
cable TV outlets

25. Mechanical Plans
Outline equipment, materials, components, ductwork, piping and accessories to convey liquids, gases and air
Control data for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)
Are drawn to scale

26. Mechanical Plans Include the following: control panels
communication devices
water heaters
furnaces
dishwashers
stovetops
AC units

27. Plumbing Plans
Show the system of piping for freshwater going into the building and waste going out
both solid and liquid
Are drawn to scale

28. Plumbing Plans Include the following: plumbing fixtures pipe size
water service locations

29. Roof Plans Show the shape of the structure or building
Can reveal slopes, valleys, ridges and various objects such as heating, ventilation and mechanical structures
Are drawn to scale

30. Roof Plans
Include the following:
pitches
overhangs
chimneys
saddles

32. Title Blocks
Contain all the information necessary to identify the drawing and verify its validity
Are generally placed along the right side of the drawing

33. Title Blocks Include: company name, address and phone number
professional stamp or seal
project or client
identifies the project by company, client, project title or location
drawing name
may be the overall title, such as “floor plan” or “main”

34. Title Blocks Include: scale drawing identification revisions
if a drawing contains multiple pages, for example page 2 of 8
revisions
if needed
date of completion
name of draftsman

35. Title Blocks Include: key plan signature of approval
very small-scale plan of a particular space of a larger building shown by a shaded area
signature of approval
from the supervisor of the design

36. Bold Lines Are used to create primary objects
walls in plan view
outline around the perimeter
3-D objects
Are very dark and have a thick width

37. Medium Lines Are used to create secondary objects doors furnishings
counters
cabinets

38. Light Lines Are used for the following: action lines information lines
door swings
information lines
dimensions
center
leader
fill patterns
indicate type of material used

39. Border Lines
Are used to create a margin on the drawing sheet and to create lines around the title block
Are as dark as and twice as thick as bold lines

40. Solid Lines
Indicate visible objects which can be seen in plan, elevation or 3-D views
Used for leader lines and dimension lines
Are also known as object lines

41. Dashed Lines Show the following: hidden objects or edges
objects below or behind another object
shelving or cabinets above a counter

42. Movement Lines Show movement or imply direction
Show an alternate position of an object which can be moved
Example includes:
bi-swinging doors
space needed for drawer and cabinet openings
sliding door opening direction
hinge points for doors and windows in elevation
May also be known as ghost lines or phantom lines

43. Leader Lines
Are used to connect notes or references to objects or lines in a drawing
Start as solid lines and ends in an arrow
May be drawn at an angle or curved

44. Break Lines
Are used when the extent of a drawing cannot fit on the size of paper being used for the drawing
Can also be used when illustrating a portion of a design or partial view

45. Center Lines
Are used to indicate the center of a plan, object, circle, arc or any symmetrical object

46. Dimension Lines Are used to show the measurement of an object
dimensions are listed in feet and inches
Are used to indicate length, width, diameter, etc.
18 ‘ 4”

47. Architectural Symbols
Interior Doors
Exterior Doors
Sliding Doors
Double Doors

48. Architectural Symbols
Cased opening
Window
Stairs
Fireplace

49. Architectural Symbols
Pounded cement
Brick
Framing lumber
Concrete block

50. Electrical Symbols
Double outlet
Switched outlet
TV outlet
Switch

51. Electrical Symbols Thermostat Wall light/sconce Ceiling light
Ceiling fan

52. Electrical Symbols
Range
Phone jack

53. Plumbing Symbols
Bath tub
Shower
Toilet
Sink

54. Plumbing Symbols
Double sink
Dishwasher
Hot water heater
Furnace

56. Design Tools Are used by architects to draw buildings or structures
Help draw buildings or structures to scale
Are also known as drafting instruments

57. Design Tools Include the following: pen and pencil drawing board
drafting paper
drafting tape
drafting machine
scales
compass
drafting triangle
T-square
French curve
template
lettering guide
blueprint measuring tool
protractor
caliper
CAD

58. Pen & Pencil Includes: mechanical pencils with standard lead thickness
are used before pens
radiograph pens
marker pen which draws lines of consistent width

59. A Drawing Board
Is a large flat board which may be used to attach paper to keep it still and straight for accuracy
May swivel and height may be adjusted

60. Drafting Paper
Is paper which has been specifically prepared for use in technical drawings
Comes in a range of sizes and styles to meet specific needs
Is smooth, erasable and made from different materials including vellum and film

61. Drafting Tape
Is a specially-prepared tape used to adhere drawing paper to a working surface
Is easily removed and does not leave a sticky residue when removed

62. A Drafting Machine Is mounted to the drawing board
Has rulers whose angles can be adjusted with a controlling mechanism
Allows for easy drawing of parallel lines

63. A Scale
Is a tool which enable engineers, architects and contractors to obtain measurements of buildings and structures from scaled drawings and maps
Has multiple units of length which are in proportional increments
Is three-sided or beveled
Includes architectural and engineering

64. A Compass Is used to draw circles and arcs
May also be used to measure distances between points

65. A Drafting Triangle
Is a tool used for drawing lines at specific angles
May be used to draw vertical or sloping lines
Can be used as a straight edge to connect points
May also be known as a set square

66. A T-square Is used for horizontal lines and parallel lines
May align other drawing instruments
May be used as a straight edge
Uses the edge of the drawing board for support
Is commonly used for drawing or measuring right angles

67. A French Curve Is a template for drawing smooth curved lines
Is used for drawing curves which cannot be drawn with a compass

68. A Template
Contains pre-dimensioned holes in the correct scale to accurately draw a symbol or a sign
May be used when standard symbols are to be drawn repeatedly
Uses standard symbols, such as:
circles
triangles
squares

69. A Lettering Guide
Is a type of template placed against a straight edge and used to draw horizontal guidelines for letter height

70. Blueprint Measuring Tools
Are used by tracing the perimeter of an object with a wheel, while the tool calculates the traced distance
Are useful for setting the scale of an object
May give area calculations

71. A Protractor Is a device used to measure angles
Is available in half circle and full circle varieties

72. A Caliper
Is a device used to accurately measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object
May be used as a straight edge

73. Computer Aided Drafting (CAD)
Refers to software programs offering a wide variety of applications which make the design and drafting process efficient
include customized screen menus to fit specific problems or needs
processes and capabilities vary based on software type
Fun Fact: For example, one of the top CAD
programs is TurboCAD, which has numerous
custom tool palettes, giving lots of design space.

74. Computer Aided Drafting (CAD)
Includes the following customization and feature options:
customizing and creating personal palettes
adding more objects to palettes
renaming images
adding free-floating tabs to allow quick access to common symbols, commands and other tools while drafting

75. Computer Aided Drafting (CAD)
Include applications to do the following:
work more efficiently with precision
complete plans, section and elevations
create 2-D or 3-D images
generate interior and exterior architectural and structural detail
easily modify drawings
create a database for manufacturing
construct photorealistic renderings for presentation and marketing

77. Project Planning, Design & Layout
Can begin once all site information and data has been collected and analyzed
first step is creating a site plan, showing the layout of a project

78. The Design Process Includes: collecting information schematic design
design development
construction documents
bidding
construction administration
construction

79. Collecting Information
Is when architects gather information to help understand the neighborhood, the site, the users of the building and any existing buildings
Includes taking photographs, sketching and interviewing the client

80. Collecting Information
May also include gathering data on the following:
path of sun around the site
direction of the wind
the climate
plant life around the site

81. Schematic Design
Focuses on creating the general framework to build the project on
Includes:
defining the general scope and conceptual design of the project
scale
relationships between building components
developing preliminary sketches
for client approval
gathering information on the construction site
site plan

82. Schematic Design Considerations include: zoning laws distribution
circulation
lighting
ventilation
sizes, areas and shapes
orientation
height
electrical layout
location of doors and windows
line of sight

83. Zoning Laws
Refer to the physical development of land and the types of uses of each property
Include:
regulations limiting the height, bulk and location of buildings
determining the area of yards or other open spaces
regulating the density of population in a given area

84. Distribution
Refers to the placement, location and arrangement of each room in relation to other rooms, such as:
the kitchen and dining room should be next to each other to facilitate easy food service

85. Circulation Refers to the roads and highways around the structure
Also refers to the inside traffic which must be considered in planning
circulation and movement of occupants inside the structure should not be hampered by obstacles or be detoured as a result of poor planning
functional space is important

86. Lighting Refers to the general illumination of any space
Should be one of the initial parts of any construction plan
Includes:
ceiling fixtures
wall sconces
skylights

87. Ventilation Refers to the air flow through the building or structure
Removes heated air, smoke and gases from a structure with fresh air
Sites include:
roof
skylights
roof vents
ridge vents

88. Sizes, Areas & Shapes
Should be planned to scale to provide ample areas to accommodate the following:
furniture
appliances
pathways for movement inside the house
facilities

89. Orientation Refers to the position and direction of sunrise and sunset
may be useful for energy consumption
Includes the wind direction in the area

90. Height Limitations depend on: Includes: type of building material used
dimensions of the stud
stud spacing
allowable deflection limit
Includes:
wall height
ceiling height
Deflection – turning aside or deviating from a straight line

91. Electrical Layout Should be planned based on codes and standards
Includes:
location of outlets
light switches
location of appliances

92. Location of Doors & Windows
Is an important aspect of improving ventilation, natural light and the architectural style
Considerations include:
rain
noise
outdoor temperature
orientation

93. Line of Sight
Refers to the openness of an area within the building or structure
May create a continuous flow of space from the open interior to the exterior
Considerations include locations of:
walls
wall openings
pony walls
windows and doors

94. Design Development Occurs after schematic design Includes:
refining drawings with the use of drafting tools or computer aided drafting
specifying requirements of a design
analyzing current design goals

95. Construction Documents
Are the actual presentation drawings
Include:
building plans or blueprints
include architectural drawings and elevations, as well as structural, mechanical and electrical drawings
specifications
covers materials and methods which should be used when constructing the project
supporting documents
used to add supplemental instructions and help resolve minor issues in the construction documents

96. Bidding
Is the process of submitting an offer to manage the responsibility of a construction project
Process starts with basic information taken from a blueprint
cost estimates
specifications
site information

97. Construction Administration
Must ensure the plans comply with all relevant building codes and regulations
Deals with clarifications and administers revisions if necessary
Protects the interests of the client and the integrity of the design

98. Construction May include many changes to the blueprints
Is completed using the construction plans as a guide
once the project is completed, the designer uses the construction drawings to check that the building or structure matches the design exactly

99. Resources
Construction Drawing Basics
Blueprint Reading
Reading and Interpreting Construction Drawings
Types of Drawings in a Typical Set of Construction Documents
camp/uploads/files/dwg_001_lines_and_symbols_instructor.pdf

100. Resources
Drafting Equipment
Anatomy of a Construction Project
Blueprint Reading Line Standards Drawing Symbols

101. Acknowledgements
Production Coordinator Stevi Huffaker Graphic Designer Melody Rowell Assistant Brand Managers Mike Barley Amy Hogan V.P. of Brand Management Clayton Franklin
Executive Producer
Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D.
CEV Multimedia, Ltd.
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