INTRODUCTION TO

DRAWINGS TYPES, VIEWS &

PERSPECTIVES
CATEGORIES OF DRAWINGS
The previous module reviewed the non-
drawing portions of a print. This module
will introduce the five common categories
of drawings. They are 1) piping and
instrument drawings (P&IDs), 2) electrical
single lines and schematics, 3) electronic
diagrams and schematics, 4) logic
diagrams and prints, and 5) fabrication,
construction, and architectural drawings.
PIPING & INSTUMENT
DRAWINGS
P&IDs are usually
designed to present
functional information
about a system or
component. Examples
are piping layout,
flowpaths, pumps, valves,
instruments, signal
modifiers, and controllers,
as illustrated in Figure 6.
PIPING AND INSTRUMENT
DRAWINGS
As a rule P&IDs do not have a drawing scale and
present only the relationship or sequence between
components. Just because two pieces of equipment are
drawn next to each other does not indicate that in the
plant the equipment is even in the same building; it is
just the next part or piece of the system. These drawings
only present information on how a system functions, not
the actual physical relationships.
Because P&IDs provide the most concise format for how
a system should function, they are used extensively in
the operation, repair, and modification of the plant.
ELECTRICAL SINGLE LINE AND
SCHEMATICS
Electrical single lines and
schematics are designed to
present functional information
about the electrical design of a
system or component. They
provide the same types of
information about electrical
systems that P&IDs provide for
piping and instrument systems.
Like P&IDs, electrical prints
are not usually drawn to scale.
Examples of typical single
lines are site or building power
distribution, system power
distribution, and motor control
centers. Figure 7 is an
example of an electrical single
line.
ELECTRICAL SINGLE LINE AND
SCHEMATICS
Electrical schematics provide a
more detailed level of
information about an electrical
system or component than the
single lines. Electrical
schematic drawings present
information such as the
individual relays, relay
contacts, fuses, motors, lights,
and instrument sensors.
Examples of typical
schematics are valve actuating
circuits, motor start circuits,
and breaker circuits. Figure 8
is an example of a motor start
circuit schematic

ELECTRICAL SINGLE LINE AND
SCHEMATICS
Electrical single lines and schematics
provide the most concise format for
depicting how electrical systems should
function, and are used extensively in the
operation, repair, and modification of the
plant.
ELECTRONIC DIAGRAMS AND
SCHEMATICS
Electronic diagrams and
schematics are designed
to present information
about the individual
components (resistors,
transistors, and
capacitors) used in a
circuit, as illustrated in
Figure 9. These drawings
are usually used by circuit
designers and electronics
repair personnel.
LOGIC DIAGRAMS AND PRINTS
Logic diagrams and prints can be
used to depict several types of
information. The most common
use is to provide a simplified
functional representation of an
electrical circuit, as illustrated in
Figure 10. For example, it is
easier and faster to figure out how
a valve functions and responds to
various inputs signals by
representing a valve circuit using
logic symbols, than by using the
electrical schematic with its
complex relays and contacts.
These drawings do not replace
schematics, but they are easier to
use for certain applications.
FABRICATION, CONSTRUCTION
AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS
Fabrication, construction, and architectural drawings are
designed to present the detailed
information required to construct or fabricate a part,
system, or structure. These three types of drawings differ
only in their application as opposed to any real
differences in the drawings themselves. Construction
drawings, commonly referred to as "blueprint" drawings,
present the detailed information required to assemble a
structure on site. Architectural drawings present
information about the conceptual design of the building
or structure. Examples are house plans, building
elevations (outside view of each side of a structure),
equipment installation drawings, foundation drawings,
and equipment assembly drawings.
FABRICATION, CONSTRUCTION
AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS
Fabrication drawings, as
shown in Figure 11, are
similar to construction
and architectural drawing
but are usually found in
machine shops and
provide the necessary
detailed information for a
craftsman to fabricate a
part. All three types of
drawings, fabrication,
construction, and
architectural, are usually
drawn to scale.
DRAWING FORMAT
P&IDs, fabrication, construction, and
architectural drawings can be presented
using one of several different formats. The
standard formats are single line, pictorial
or double line, and cutaway. Each format
provides specific information about a
component or system.
SINGLE LINE DRAWINGS
The single line format is most
commonly used in P&IDs.
Figure 12 is an example of a
single line P&ID. The single
line format represents all
piping, regardless of size, as
single line. All system
equipment is represented by
simple standard symbols
(covered in later modules). By
simplifying piping and
equipment, single lines allow
the system's equipment and
instrumentation relationships
to be clearly understood by the
reader.
PICTORAL OR DOUBLE LINE
DRAWING
Pictorial or double line drawings
present the same type information
as a single line, but the equipment
is represented as if it had been
photographed. Figure 13 provides
an example illustration of a
pictorial drawing. This format is
rarely used since it requires much
more effort to produce than a
single line drawing and does not
present any more information as
to how the system functions.
Compare the pictorial illustration,
Figure 13, to the single line of the
same system shown in Figure 12.
Pictorial or double line drawings
are often used in advertising and
training material.
ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS
Assembly drawing are a
special application of pictorial
drawings that are common in
the engineering field. As seen
in Figure 14, an assembly
drawing is a pictorial view of
the object with all the
components shown as they go
together. This type pictorial is
usually found in vendor
manuals and is used for parts
identification and general
information relative to the
assembly of the component.
CUTAWAY DRAWINGS
A cutaway drawing is another
special type of pictorial
drawing. In a cutaway, as the
name implies, the component
or system has a portion cut
away to reveal the internal
parts of the component or
system. Figure 15 is an
illustration of a cutaway. This
type of drawing is extremely
helpful in the maintenance and
training areas where the way
internal parts are assembled is
important.
VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES
In addition to the different drawing formats,
there are different views or perspectives in
which the formats can be drawn. The most
commonly used are the orthographic
projection and the isometric projection.
ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
Orthographic projection is
widely used for fabrication and
construction type drawings, as
shown in Figure 16.
Orthographic projections
present the component or
system through the use of
three views, These are a top
view, a side view, and a front
view. Other views, such as a
bottom view, are used to more
fully depict the component or
system when necessary.






















Figure 16. Orthographic view
ORTHOGRAPHIC PROJECTIONS
Figure 17 shows how each of
the three views is obtained.
The orthographic projection is
typically drawn to scale and
shows all components in their
proper relationships to each
other. The three views, when
provided with dimensions and
a drawing scale, contain
information that is necessary to
fabricate or construct the
component or system.
ISOMETRIC PROJECTION
The isometric projection
presents a single view of the
component or system. The
view is commonly from above
and at an angle of 30. This
provides a more realistic three
dimensional view. As shown
on Figure 18, this view makes
it easier to see how the system
looks and how its various
portions or parts are related to
one another. Isometric
projections may or may not be
drawn to a scale.
DRAWING TYPES, VIEWS AND
PERSPECTIVES
Summary
The five engineering drawing categories are:
P&IDs
Electrical single lines and schematics
Electronic diagrams and schematics
Logic diagrams and prints
Fabrication, construction, and architectural
drawings