Graphic

Building communication

Drawings
and Symbols
Name: ………………………………………………………… Class:……………… Teacher:
…………………………………………..
Building Drawings
Introduction Location Plan

A building project requires a complete set of The location plan identifies the location of a
specialised drawings known as a Project ‘new’ building related to other buildings and the
Set. surrounding area. It also helps the builders to
These drawings are used by a range of plan the layout of the building. An example of a
different people like architects, builders, location plan is shown below:
plumbers, electricians and joiners.
Plot2

A Project Set includes:

Me
Play

r li
nS
Area
Location Plans Elevations

tre
e
Site (or block) plans Schematic diagrams

t
Floor plans Illustrations Harlow Road North
facing
Sectional views arrow

As a result of many different companies and

As you can see, neighboring building, their
professions using the project set, all the
boundaries, and roads and street names are
drawings must be in a standardised format
among the information shown. A direction arrow
using the same symbols and conventions.
will also be given and indicating where north is.
You will learn about all of these throughout
The scale of the drawing depends on the size of
this unit.
the whole building scheme, but is normally
1:1000 or 1:1250 2
Building Drawings
Site or Block Plan Floor plan

Site plans show the site boundary and This type of view shows the internal layout of a
the outline of the proposed development. building. It allows us to see the arrangement of
Other information can include, trees, the rooms, the position of windows and doors as
drainage well as the thickness of internal and external walls
the north pointing arrow and contour etc. Floor plans are used by builders, plumbers,
lines. The scale of a site plan depends on
North pointing electricians and joiners to help plan the
the size of the building, but is usually 1:
arrow construction work and cost of materials. The scale
200. of this type of view depends on the size of the
building, but is usually around 1:50.

Kitchen En-Suite Master

Bedroom
Door
96

Hall
Play Dining
Room
Bathroom

Area 94
C/board

Plot 2
Bedroom 2

Living Room
Window
92

Contour lines Tree

(A full range of symbols is on page 6) 3
Building Drawings
Elevations Sectional Views

As you know, Elevations are orthographic A cross section through the side of a building
projections of a building which are produced like the one shown below, gives builder, joiners
by an architect or a designer. They are used and roofers all the information about how the
to show what style the building is, eg if it’s a building should be constructed.
bungalow or villa. Elevations are also used to For example, details
show the external appearance and details of like the choice of
a building, for the style of roof to the position materials, the design
and style of windows and doors. of the foundations and
how all the different Sawn
wood
parts fit together
Insulation
should all be shown
on this type of view. Window

As there may be many Brickwork

different people or Cavity
wall
Elevation End Elevation working with these Outsid
Views, it is important e Flooring
groun with
that the correct d level Insulation
symbols and
conventions are used
throughout. Foundatio
ns

(A full range of symbols is on page 6) 4

Building Drawings
Illustrations Schematic Diagrams

It is common to buy a house these days, before Heating engineers, electricians and [plumbers
the construction of the house is complete. all work from drawings called schematic
Rendered illustrations, like the ones shown below, diagrams. They are used to present complex 3D
are produced by an architect or graphic designer installations in an easy to read 2D format.
to promote the house and give potential buyer an
idea of what it will look like when it’s complete.
The aim is to make the image look realistic and An example of a simplified
attractive to clients; this can be done by creating solar power heating
a pleasant surrounding. system is shown as a pictorial
view on the left and as a basic
These illustrations are schematic diagram below.
easier for the public
to understand as there
are no technical
graphics to
over complicate
them.

Nowadays, technology
has advanced to allow
3D animation ‘walk
through’ videos, to
give an even clearer
representation of a 5
Building.
 Revision Sheet
Floor Plan

EN-SUITE
KITCHEN MASTER
BEDROOM

DINETTE
Used by builders, plumbers,
bricklayers, electricians and joiners.
BATHROOM
C/BOARD

BEDROOM 2

LIVINGROOM HALL

Scale 1:50
Location Plan Two Point perspective View
North Pointing
Me

Arrow
rlin
S
tre

Harlow Road
et

Scale 1:1000 or 1250

Site Plan Used to promote
Shows the surrounding housing and sell a house
and environment in the immediate
area close to the proposed site. 96

94
Shows trees, contour lines
Plot 2
and boundaries related to
92 the proposed plot site.
6
Scale 1:200