Slide 1

Chapter Two
Introduction to
Construction Drawings

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 2 Objectives

Upon completion of this lecture, you will be able to:

1. Recognize and identify basic construction drawing terms,

components, and symbols.
2. Relate information on construction drawings to actual
locations on the print.
3. Recognize different classifications of construction
drawings.
4. Interpret and use drawing dimensions.

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 3

Introduction

• Construction drawings are architectural or working

drawings used to represent a structure or system.
• They are traditionally called blueprints because the lines
on drawings were white on a blue background
• Today most are created by CAD – computer-aided
drafting – blue or black lines on a white background
• A set of construction drawings almost always includes six
major types of drawings.
National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 4 Figure 1 – Types of construction drawings

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 5

…cont
• Most drawings are laid out in a similar format. There
are usually five parts to a construction drawing
• Title Block
• Border
• Drawing area
• Revision block
• Legend

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 6

Title block
• Normally in the lower right hand corner or across the
right edge of the paper
• Most title blocks include – Company logo
• Sheet title – identifies the project
• Date – date the drawing was checked and issued for
construction
• Drawn by – who drafted the drawing
• Drawing number – code assigned to the project
• Scale – ratio of the size of the object
• Revision block – info on revisions

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 7 Figure 2 – The title block of a construction drawing

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 8

Border – Drawing area

• Border - A clear area about half an inch around the edge
of the drawing. Mainly there so that the drawing can be
reproduced on printing machines and no information is
lost
• Drawing area – shows the information for constructing
the project – floor plan, elevations of the building,
sections, and details

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 9

Revision block - Legend

• Revision block – usually located in the lower right
corner inside or near the title block – in the drawing
area
• Used to record any changes in the drawings – contains a
revision number, a brief description, the date, and the
initials of the person who made the revisions
• Legend – each line on a drawing has a specific design
and thickness that identifies it – the identification of
these lines and other symbols is called the legend – they
are usually specific to the set of drawings in which they
are contained

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 10 Figure 3 – The revision block of a construction drawing

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 11 Figure 4 – Sample legend

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 12

Civil Plans
• Are used for work that has to do with construction in or
on the earth
• May be called site plans, survey plans, or plot plans
• Show the location of the building on the site from an
aerial view
• Show the natural contour of the earth represented by
contour lines
• May include a landscape plan that shows trees, walks,
driveways, utilities, the dimensions of the property

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 13 Figure 5 – Civil plan, aerial view

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 14 Figure 6 – Landscape plan

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 15

Architectural Plans
• Show the design of the project
• Floor plan – plan view – aerial view of the layout of
each room – provides the most info about the project –
show exterior and interior walls, doors, stairways, and
mechanical equipment
• Roof plan – a view of the roof from above the building
– shows the shape of the roof and the materials used to
finish it

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 16

Architectural drawings
• Elevation drawings – side views – are called elevation
because they show height – there are standard names for
each elevation – example the side that faces south
would be called the south elevation – they show the size
of the building, style of the building and placement of
doors, windows, chimneys, and decorative trim
• Section drawings – shows how the structure is to be
built – cross-sectional views that show the inside of the
building – they show what materials to use and how the
parts are to be put together

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for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 17

Architectural drawings
• Detail drawings – enlarged views of some special
features of a building, like floors and walls – enlarged
to make details clearer
• Architectural plans show the finish schedules to be used
for the doors and windows – finish schedules for
windows and doors tell the sizes and other information
about the types of windows and doors to be used –
finish schedules may also tell hardware and fixtures

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 18 Figure 7 – Roof plan

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 19 Figure 8 – Exterior elevations

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 20 Figure 9 – Section drawing (wall section).

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 21 Figure 10 – Detail drawing (ceiling detail)

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 22 Figure 11 – Window schedule and window detail

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 23

Structural Plans
• Set of engineered plans to support the architectural
design – first part is the notes that give details of the
materials to be used and the requirements to be
followed
• Foundation plan – shows the lowest level of the
building(concrete footings, slabs, and foundation walls)
– may show in detail how the foundation is to be
reinforced
• Structural plan also shows the materials that are to be
used for the walls as well as the roof-framing plan

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 24 Figure 12 – General notes for structural plans

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 25 Figure 13 – Foundation plan (foundation/slab-on-grade plan)

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 26 Figure 14 – Structural section drawing (foundation details)

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Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 27

Mechanical Plans
• Engineered plans for motors, pumps, piping systems,
and piping equipment – tells what the contractor is to
provide as well the location of grills and registers
• Piping and instrumentation drawings are schematic
diagrams of a complete piping system –they are not
drawn to scale
• Some jobs have a HVAC plan to tell the layout of the
HVAC system

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 28 Figure 19 – HVAC drawing (1 of 2)

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 29

Plumbing/Piping plans
• Engineered plans that show the layout for the plumbing
system that supplies hot and cold water, for the sewage
disposal system, and for the location of plumbing
fixtures
• Some have a plumbing isometric drawing (3-D type
drawing) to show the plumbing system

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 30 Figure 21 – Plumbing plan

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 31 Figure 22 – Plumbing isometric drawing (sanitary riser diagram).

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 32

Electrical Plan
• Engineered drawings for electrical supply and
distribution
• They may appear on the floor plan itself
• They show locations of the meter, distribution panel,
switchgear, convenience outlets, and special outlets
• Usually start out with a set of general notes telling about
transformers and underground penetrations to the
building
• May include location of lights and receptacles

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 33 Figure 24 – Power plan (first floor)

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 34 Figure 26 – Electrical symbols list

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 35

Specifications & RFI

• Specifications are statements that are provided to the
general contractors defining the quality of work to be
done and the materials to be used
• Request for Information – RFI – a form to fill out if
there is a discrepancy in the plans – worker – foreman-
superintendent-general contractor-architect/engineer

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 36 Figure 29 – Sample RFI

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 37

Lines of construction
• The lines commonly used on drawings are called the
alphabet lines
• Dimension lines – establish the sizes of parts if a
structure – may end in 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 – used with words,
abbreviations, symbols, or keynotes
• Property lines – show land boundaries

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 38

Lines of Construction
• Cut lines – lines around part of a drawing that is to be
shown in a separate cross-sectional view
• Section cuts – shows areas not included in the cutting
line view
• Break lines – show where an object has been broken off
to save space on the drawing
• Hidden lines – identify part of a structure that is not
visible on the drawing – may be drawn somewhere else
• Centerlines – show the measured center of an object
• Object lines – identify the object of primary interest or
the closest object
National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 39 Figure 30 – Lines of construction (Alphabet of Lines)

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 40

Abbreviations,symbols,keynotes
• Keep plans uncluttered, making them easier to read
• Each trade has its own symbols
• Always written in capital letters
• Should be noted on the title sheet or legend page
• Symbols – tell what material is required for certain parts
of the project
• Keynotes – a number or letter(usually in a circle or
square) with a leader and arrowhead used to identify a
specific object

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 41 Figure 31 – Abbreviations

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 42 Figure 32 – Architectural symbols

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 43 Figure 36 – Keynotes

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 44 Figure 37 – Grid

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 45 Figure 38 – Exterior and interior dimensions on pipe

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 46

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 47

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 48

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 49

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 50

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 51

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 52

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 53 Supplemental Art

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.
Slide 54 Supplemental Art

National Center
for Construction
Education and Core Curriculum Copyright © by NCCER,
Research Module 00105-09 Published by Pearson Education, Inc.