1. DIMENSIONING & DRAWING GRAPHICS 2011

2. “It is first important to stress the ultimate goal, clear and concise drawings. Every visible line, number, word or symbol contained within a drawing should and does provide some type of information to the user”.

3. “Contractors believe that each morsel of graphic information on a drawing means something, and there is also a cost attached to it. That should be our approach when producing documents. We must constantly ask ourselves what each bit of graphic information on a drawing tells the user and does it say what it is intended”.

4. Each project should establish a Project Graphic Standard.
As graphic issues come up during the course of the class project, keep up the standard.
Specific line types should appear the same on each different scale drawing in which it appears. A good example would be column centerlines.
The goal for each project is to make each drawing, each sheet of drawings and each project look as close as possible the same.

5. THE ARCHITECT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL DIMENSIONAL CONTROL ON A PROJECT
Know what the dimension will be prior to creating them with the computer
We must know the dimension when we draw it
Provide the dimensions which affect other disciplines ASAP

6. TIE ALL DIMENSION STRINGS LOCATING ITEMS SUCH AS PARTITIONS AND EDGE OF SLAB TO COLUMN GRIDLINES
Each time a dimension string crosses a gridline it should tick to it
These dimensions are the backbone of the documents linking different drawing types together such as: plans to wall sections and plan details, wall sections to section details

7. ALWAYS GIVE ADA AND CODE REQUIRED DIMENSIONS PRIORITY
Clearly indicate these required dimensions on the plans to avoid code review comments
required space at strike and pull side of the door
required accessibility spaces
exit widths
Avoid wherever possible dimensioning to code minimums – provide for contactor tolerances

8. WHEREVER POSSIBLE DIMENSION TO ONLY ONE FACE OF A PARTITION
Most partitions have one face which is more critical than the other – once determined stick with it
If both faces are critical such as plumbing chase walls or shaftwalls at mechanical chases then dimensioning both faces is acceptable

9. HAVE A HIERARCHY AND A GRAPHIC PLAN FOR HOW DIMENSIONS ARE TO BE PLACED ON FLOOR PLANS AND REMAIN CONSISTENT
Cartoon your dimension string locations on a print prior to the computer task – this will promote organization and thoroughness
Remember neat and organized documents instill confidence in the contractor

10. CLOSING DIMENSIONS COLUMN TO COLUMN IS NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY
Not closing dimensions where practical gives the contractor an area to accommodate layout tolerances

11. BE MINDFUL OF IMPORTANT ITEMS NEEDING DIMENSIONS
Overall building face dimensions
Minor and major building offsets
Exterior wall rough openings,
Brick shelves and brick coursing
Deflection joint size and location
Building expansion joint size and location

12. WITH REVIT MASONRY SHOULD BE DRAWN TO ACTUAL DIMENSIONS
This is a significant historical change
With AutoCad this was our strategy – “When dimensioning block or brick use nominal dimensions vs. actual dimensions and clearly note this in the general plan notes on each floor plan sheet”

13. WE MUST LOCATE WORK POINTS FOR RADIAL AND ANGULAR DIMENSIONS
Provide included angels
Clearly note what these dimensions are dimensioning such as: Face of building, Face of mullion, Outside face of glass

14. DIMENSION GRAPHICS
Dimension text wherever possible should read from the bottom and or the right or title block side of the sheet
Dimension text wherever possible should sit above the dimension line
Use centerline line style when dimensioning to centerline of an object
Be mindful of dimension lines and text locations to avoid conflicting with other drawing objects

15. OBJECT LINES:
Always be aware of the lines we place on drawings
Avoid placing lines on top of other lines
Learn how to gap lines so they read graphically

16. DIMENSION LINES:
Should never occupy the same location as another line
Should be sufficiently gapped from other lines
Always be the same lineweight regardless of the drawing scale (applies to extension lines as well)

17. EXTENSION LINES
Should closely relate with the proper offset to the object or point being dimensioned
Override the standard offset any time the end of the extension line is coincidental with another line or in some other way may create confusion.

18. SHEET FORMAT
Drawings are to be placed and numbered from the lower right corner moving upward then left
Elevations and horizontal sections being the exception

19. DRAWING ORIENTATION
Unless there is an overwhelming reason the drawings should be oriented vertically
Drawing orientation should remain the same from smaller scale to blow-ups to details

20. Utilize the appropriate drawing scale for the information at hand
PROPER SCALE:
Utilize the appropriate drawing scale for the information at hand
Focus on the purpose for the drawing or detail avoiding unnecessary information
as an example our primary floor plans are 1/8” scale (your 1:100) with blow-ups only for important information intensive areas
details need to clearly illustrate materials and their interface with other elements

21. DRAWING NUMBERS & TITLES:
All drawings need a title and number
Drawing titles need to be as descriptive and unique as possible
Just detail or section doesn’t leave much to work with
Make every effort to keep the numbering regimen intact on each sheet of the set

22. DRAWING TEXT:
Drawing text should be limited to a minimum number of sizes with the bulk of drawing text being the same size
This predominate text size should be consistent regardless of the scale
Avoid using lowercase text

23. DRAWING NOTES:
Notes should be clear, concise and use as few words as possible to get the job done.
Same font and same text size throughout documents
Always left justified
Extension lines start at the beginning of the note when extending to the left and from the end of the note when extending to the right

24. Coordinate material and product language with the specifications
DRAWING NOTES(cont.):
Coordinate material and product language with the specifications
Anytime you abbreviate use only abbreviations from the list contained in the specifications
Drawing note extension lines:
terminate with appropriately scaled arrowheads – just like the text, arrowheads should be the same size on each drawing and sheet of drawings throughout the set
wherever possible avoid using acute angles

25. REFERENCING:
Wall sections are drawn with the exterior to the left - references point in a clockwise direction
Wall sections are to be referenced on floor and roof plans and elevations
The length of the reference extension line should match the scope of the wall section
The area of a plan or section detail reference should match the scope of the enlarged drawing
Reference text should read from bottom or right

26. REFERENCING(cont.):
As much as possible limit references to the primary floor plans or elevations rather than the blow-ups
If a similar reference is used – a description of the similar condition is required
Using opposite hand is acceptable as long as it is truly opposite hand
Avoid the use of opposite hand-similar. Just use similar and the rules of using a similar reference still apply.

27. DETAIL REFERENCES:
Section cuts for details should follow rules of wall section cuts
QM prefers that the bubble portion of the reference to be a dashed linestyle and the leader or extension line be solid
Area or blow-up bubbles as with wall sections should closely emulate the extent indicated on the detail drawing
Care should be taken when placing bubbles - don’t obscure other drawing information
Area or blow-up bubble reference numbers should always be read from the bottom of the sheet

28. MISCELLEANEOUS:
Cutlines are only needed when there is a break in a drawing not at the termination of a drawing
If crosshatching or poche’ is to be used, start with the materials legend first before employing a different crosshatching
Elevation or Floor targets should be the same scale on each drawing regardless of the scale.

29. THANK YOU

31. WHEREVER POSSIBLE DIMENSION TO THE NEAREST INCH – WHEN LAYING OUT PARTITION LOCATIONS BE MINDFUL OF THIS GOAL FOR DIMENSIONING EASE
With Revit partitions are drawn exact which will lead to more fractions
If fractions are necessary do not use any smaller than an 1/8 of an inch

32. BE CAREFUL OF THE USE OF EQUAL-EQUAL
We must tie down the starting point
We must provide the overall dimension containing the equal-equal
We must avoid having equal-equal inside another equal-equal
Avoid equal 1,equal 2, equal 3