PART 2:

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING
FUNDAMENTALS

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4.0 CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Construction drawings (often called working drawings) visually communicate the design and
the information required to bring it into reality to everyone who is involved in the building
process. These drawings generally follow a set of architectural drawing conventions that are
widely accepted in the industry. However, there is not just one right way to do construction
drawings. The office staff and project size, office standards, and the detail needed for
customfabrications can require construction drawings that vary from the conventions.
Working drawing, generally, consists of the following:
i. Title/Cover Sheet
ii. Location Plan
iii. Site Plan
iv. Floor Plan
v. Building Sections
vi. Exterior Elevations
vii. Details
viii. Schedules (if required)
ix. Furniture Installation Plan (if required)
x. Soak away/Septic Tank Plan (if required)

Title Sheet
Title/cover sheet is the first page of construction drawings and it carries information like
project title and location, client name, date and designer’s company name and contact
address.
Location Plan
The purpose of location plan is to relate the proposed site to the environment. It identifies
major roads/streets and physical objects within the vicinity of the site.
Location plan is useful for the town/city planners to be able to locate the site when going for
inspection or for charting.

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Fig. 4.1 A location plan showing how to get to the proposed site

Site Plan

A site plan is a drawing that relates the proposed building to the site layout, and like most plans is a
view looking downwards. It supplies a bird’s eye view of the shape, size and layout of the entire site.

The purpose of a site plan is to provide a general picture of the site, including its shape and extent,
locate the buildings and other elements of the project - e.g. roads, garden walls and landscaping- both
horizontally and vertically, indicate the levels and surface features of the finished site and sometimes,
provide information on external services, especially underground drainage.

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Fig. 4.2 Site Plan of a Building

Floor Plans

Floor plans are generally the most useful, and the most used of the working drawings. They
are really sectional plans because they show the view obtained by cutting horizontally
through a building at some point above the floor level. It is assumed that you move away the
top part of the building and look down at the plan of the remaining bottom part. This plan
view will not only illustrate the arrangement of the rooms and spaces and their shapes, but
will also show the thickness of all the external and internal walls.

In construction drawings, floor plans are drawn to scale and detailed to show walls, doors,
windows, plumbing fixtures, appliances, stairs, cabinetry, and any other built-in or free-
standing interior features. Most of these items are drawn as viewed from above.
The level at which you cut horizontally through a building is commonly assumed to be
1metre above the floor level. This has the advantage of passing through most of the windows
and doors, which means that dimensions giving the positions of all openings can be given. An
example of a floor plan is shown on Fig. 4.3.

The purpose of a floor plan is to indicate the shape and the layout of the building, provide the
setting out dimensions for the building, locate spaces such as rooms, and parts such as doors,
provide references stating where more detailed information can be found.

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Fig. 4.3 Floor Plans

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Guidelines for preparing Floor Plans

1. Thick lines should be used to define the inside and outside faces of external walls, and
both faces of the internal partitions.Walls are either 225mm or 150mm thick.

2. Hatching is often used, particularly on larger scale plans. Where floor plans show
existing walls, they are often filled in solid.

3. Windows will be positioned laterally on the floor plans. Their positions within the
wall thickness will be shown on the assembly drawings if these are provided.
However, where the scale of the floor plan is 1:50 or larger, it is sensible to locate the
windows in approximately their correct positions relative to the wall faces.

4. It is usual practice to number each window - W1, W2, W3 etc. Normal window sizes
are 1200mm, 1500mm, 1800mm and 2400mm.

5. Doors could also be numbered - D1, D2, D3 etc. Sizes could be 900mm or 1800mm.

6. At each door position it should be made clear which way the door is hung.

7. Sanitary fittings, cupboards and other fittings should be shown in outline on floor
plans. It is important however not to repeat information which is given on other
drawing, such as assembly and component drawings. If too much information is
provided, the drawing will become confusing and difficult to read.

8. A name should be given to each room or space. On large projects room numbers will
also be provided.

9. Notes should be kept to a minimum. and duplication of information provided on other

drawings should be avoided.

10. The most important thing is that the lettering should be easy to read.

Scale of Floor Plans

The floor plan tends to be one of the largest single drawings in a construction set and often is
placed on a sheet by itself. However, if space permits, other minor elements might be drawn
around it to fill up the sheet. The sheet size a floor plan is drawn on is often the governing
factor of the scale of that drawing. Floor plans are drawn at a scale that best presents the
information to be conveyed without being too small to read. Residential floor plans are
relatively small in overall square footage and are generally drawn at a scale of 1:50. As
commercial spaces can be quite large, a scale of 1:100 or even 1:200 might be more
appropriate. In these latter examples, auxiliary enlarged plans can be drawn and keyed to the
base floor plan. One should always indicate the scale of the floor plan on the sheet.

Doors and Windows in Plan View

Doors and windows are drawn in the floor plan using various symbols and images, and are
further dimensioned and referenced to schedules in the construction drawings. The symbols
used will depend upon the operating action of the door or window, the specifics needed to
describe it, and the scale of the floor-plan drawing. In hand-drafting, these symbols are
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generated for each new project. However, when using a computer, door and window symbols
can be stored in a symbol library and merely called up and inserted in the proper location.

Fig 4.4 Different types of windows defined by their operation are illustrated in plan view and
elevation.

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Sections
A section is a view of a building or object obtained by making an imaginary cut through it.
The term section is mainly used where the cut is made in a vertical direction, and this is so in
the case of location sections. A vertical section through a building will show details of the
construction of the foundations, walls, floors, roof and other parts. The number of sections
required of a building will depend on its size and complexity. Generally there will be at least
two sections - one of these will be a cross section, across the width of the building. The other
will be a longitudinal section, along the length of the building. Sections are intended to help
the builder construct the building, so the exact position of the section should be chosen to
show as much construction as possible.

The purpose of a location section is to (a) give a vertical view of the building; and (b)
provide overall vertical dimensions and levels.

Though, elevations and floor plans show finish materials, heights, room layouts, and
locations of doors and windows. However, many of the details and subsurface parts of a
building or interior space cannot be completely understood through only these types of
drawings. To gain more information as to how a building, interior space, or object is to be
constructed, one or more slices may have to be cut through the assembly in a vertical
direction.Section drawings take such an imaginary slice through an object or building, as
illustrated in Figure 4.5. They give information on heights and relationships between floors,
ceilings, spaces,walls, and in some instances details of the specific construction techniques
used. Sections can be cut on a vertical (most common) or horizontal plane. In fact, a floor
plan is really a horizontal section drawing. Two or more sections are often cut at 90 degrees
to one another to give additional information, unless the space or object is very simple.
Sections should ideally be cut in a continuous, straight plane, without many jogs. This slice
should be taken where it will best illustrate the relationships between significant components
of an object or interior space.
The location of this cut is indicated
on the floor plan or elevation(very rare)
with a graphical symbol, as seen in Figure 4.3.
This symbol gives the section an identification
number with an arrow that shows the direction
the person is looking when viewing the
final sectional drawing.

Fig 4.5 A section drawing takes an imaginary

Vertical slice through a structure, showing its
materials and components.

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Fig. 4.6 Sections A-A & B-B of House in Fig. 4.3

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Elevations

An elevation is a view you get if you look in a horizontal direction at the vertical side, or
face, of a building or object. When drawing an elevation you need to take the horizontal
dimensions from the plans and the vertical dimensions from the sections. An example of a
elevation is shown in figure 4.7

The purpose of a location elevation is to (a) show the external faces of the building; and (b)
locate the door and window openings and other features of the building.

Fig. 4.7 Elevation of floor plan in Fig. 4.3

An elevation is a scaled drawing that shows a vertical surface or plane seen from a point of
view perpendicular to the viewers’ picture plane. The various elevation views include the
front, sides, and rear. Planes perpendicular to the picture plane are seen on edge, and other
angles are seen foreshortened. Elevations are drawn as straight-on views, so there is no
distortion as in a perspective or isometric drawing. Architectural elevations illustrate the
finished appearance of an exterior wall of a building, as shown in Figure 4.7.
Elevations serve as a primary source to show heights, materials, and related information that
cannot be seen in floor plans, sections, or other drawings.
Exterior elevations illustrate the finished appearance of an exterior wall of a building. They
convey the types of materials proposed, types of doors and windows, the finished grade, roof
slope, foundation, and selected vertical dimensions. Elevations assist the designer in
visualizing how proposed door and window types and locations on the floor plan will
influence the appearance and style of the structure (Figure 4.7).
Elevations are identified with a title and scale. Generally, elevations are titled according to
the compass direction they are facing, either North Elevation, East Elevation, South

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Elevation, or West Elevation. If a building is not facing true north, the side that is oriented the
most nearly north is identified as such. Then the other elevations are titled according to the
compass direction most closely related to them. However, in some cases, exterior elevations
are titled Front, Rear, Left, and Right.

Renderings and Perspective Drawings

Renderings are three-dimensional pictorial drawings used to illustrate the project. Frequently
it is necessary for architects to prepare pictorial drawings that can be easily understood by
persons without technical training. The primary purpose of such drawings is to show
buildings as they will appear to an observer after the buildings are completed. Some firms
even construct scale models of the project to define more clearly the intended end result of
the construction.
A perspective drawing is a type of single-view drawing that is more realistic-looking than an
elevation drawing. In a perspective drawing, objects appear to diminish in size as they recede
into the distance, and lines that are parallel in the actual object appear to converge at some
distant point on the horizon(termed the vanishing point). Perspectives are used primarily as
presentation drawings to portray a finished object, building, or interior space (Figure 4.8).
Perspectives most closely duplicate what our eye or a camera sees.

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Fig 4.8 Examples of Building Renderings

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ROOF PLAN
While the roof plan is usually one of the simplest drawings to make, certain essential details
must be properly illustrated to ensure a weather-tight construction. A waterproof roof is
absolutely necessary for the building since it is the ultimate weather shield or umbrella; if the
roof fails, so does the building. The result of a poorly designed and constructed roof is more
obvious than almost any other element of the building. A roof plan is required for all but the
simplest structure, except residences, and similarly sloped roof buildings.
The roof plan is usually drawn at the same scale as the floor plan and is the view as seen from
above the roof. This drawing usually shows all equipment on the roof, including mechanical,
electrical, etc., but the details and descriptions are included on those plans made by the
various other professional disciplines.
Roofing materials and methods of installation may be included on the drawing or included in
notes or in the specifications. Some drawings indicate in phantom the structure below the
roof, such as joists, beams and columns, for information only. Joists and beams are usually
partially shown to indicate location and not the complete length of the roof. Roof plans
should not be confused with roof framing plans; these are separate drawings and show the
structural framing as it appears beneath the roof.
Roof plans usually show overall dimensions and dimensions to specific features such as
hatches (scuttles), expansion joints, penthouses, water tanks, skylights, roof ventilation,
walkways, scuppers, etc. These plans also show all roof penetrations and all equipment on the
roof. Most frequently, equipment and materials that penetrate or are on the roof are indicated
by symbols or abbreviations because they are described on other drawings or in schedules,
details, or specifications. On small projects, where there is only one roof plan drawn by the
architect, the equipment may be fully described on that plan or by notes on the same drawing.
One major concern is the method of terminating the roof at parapets, expansion joints,
equipment curbs, and at the various penetrations. These details are usually drawn at an
enlarged scale on the same sheet, space permitting, to ensure proper construction methods at
these points. The amount and number of details depend upon office practice and the
complexity of the work. The methods used must agree with manufacturer's recommendations.

2 nos.
1500ltr
water
tank

void

2 nos.
1500ltr
water
tank

R00F PLAN

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 DETAILS
Details are enlarged drawings that provide essential specific information. They are used to
describe and define areas that require additional emphasis. The best way to visualize a detail
drawing is as a close-up photograph. Take for example, a typical window installation:
1. The plan shows the window's horizontal location and its dimensions; it is keyed to the
window schedule by a symbol.
2. The elevation then provides additional information, such as appearance and vertical
dimensions. This view should also use the symbol for identification.
3. The section through an elevation at a window shows still another picture. It shows,
generally, in simple form the window relationship to the wall and more specific dimensions.
Details are usually not provided for standard manufactured windows in simple wall
construction. When the wall construction at the window sill jamb and the head is unusual, a
detail is required.
4. This area is usually circled up on the section view and that portion of the construction is
enlarged sufficiently to describe every minute detail, hence the name, detail.
Details are also provided for areas that are too small on plans to describe fully and dimension
accurately. These areas include toilet rooms, locker rooms,kitchens, stairs, mechanical rooms,
etc. The areas are usually identified on the plan views (or elevations) by a simple note SEE
DETAIL A-7. These details are generally combined on the sheet entitled DETAILS.
Detail drawings are drawn at a 1:20 or 1:10 scale, or even larger if necessary.This
information is primarily for the contractor's benefit. Most contractor's questions, possible
errors, and construction delays are the result of poorly detailed drawings. A well-designed
building with all required details reduces the total involvement of the engineer or architect
during the construction phase.
Details may be cut or indicated on plans, elevations, and sections. Some of the more common
areas where detailing should be used are as follows:
1. Building framing connections, including columns, beams, joists, and walls.
2. Roof openings and terminations at walls showing flashing details, gravel stops, and cant
strips.
3. Poured concrete foundations, floor and footing connections showing reinforcement, water
stop insertion, sealant application, vapour barrier and insulation attachment, and expansion
joints around columns.
4. Stairs to describe framing, connections to stair wells, riser and run dimensions, and railings
and its method of attachment.
5. Door and window sill and lintel installation.

Details are identified similar to sections cuts. When detail drawings are not in close proximity
to their cut location where a leader can be used to connect the detail to the cut, the two-
number system is used. To repeat, the top number identifies the detail and the lower number
identifies the drawing sheet where the detail appears.
Details are sometimes identified by circling up the specific area intended to be enlarged. This
circle is then identified by a leader and the numbers. Where details are cut through another
drawing, the cut and direction of view are indicated.
Some firms, depending upon the scope of the detailing required, frequently cluster all details
on one drawing identified as the detail drawing. On small and less complex projects, it is
more common to place the detail on the same sheet where it applies.

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 Fig. 4.9 Details of a Roof Edge

Stairs and Ramps

Stairs, ramps, elevators, and escalators provide access to different floor levels within or on
the exterior of a structure. Stairs and ramps are often used in buildings three stories in height
and less,whereas elevators and escalators are employed on buildings of four floors or more.
However, in buildings such as shopping centers,which have high floor-to-floor dimensions
and must accommodate a great number of people, escalators are commonly used. The design
of stairs should place the least amount of physical strain on the people who use them, while
reinforcing the design character of the space and structure of the building. Designs can range
from major or monumental stairways to stairways that are strictly for utilitarian purposes.
Stairs are usually constructed from wood, steel, or concrete. Their design and construction
must meet a number of building code requirements for configuration, width, risers, treads,
landings, and handrails. In many cases, a stair is augmented by a ramp that provides vertical
transit for physically impaired individuals or ease of moving heavy objects.

Stairway Configurations and Terms

Stairs may be designed in a number of configurations to suit the amount of space available,
the geometry of the layout, and thevertical/horizontal distance they must traverse. The most
common stair configurations are shown in Figure 4.9. Their basic arrangements can be
described by the following categories: straight run, right-angle run, reversing run, and some
form of circular run. Figure 4.10 illustrates some of the most commonly used stair terms,
defined below:
Baluster — the vertical components that hold the handrail. These are spaced to prevent
people from falling through. These are governed by building codes and are usually a
maximum clearance to prevent a 100mm sphere from passing through.
Guardrail — a rail that is used on the landings or floor levels to prevent people from falling
between floor levels. It is usually a minimum of 900mm high in residential and
1050mm high in commercial buildings.
Handrail — a continuous section of railing adjacent to a stair for a person to grasp as an aid
when ascending or descending. Building codes closely control whether the railing is
on one or both sides of the stair, its height above the floor, and other specifics.
Headroom — the minimum clearance between the edge (or nose) of the tread and any part of
an obstruction above.
Landing — the floor or platform at the beginning or end of a stair, or between two or more
stair runs.
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Nosing — the part of the tread that overhangs the riser, reducing the problem of a person
accidentally kicking the riser as they ascend the stair.
Rise — the total vertical distance that is traveled on a stair. It is the perpendicular
measurement between floor levels and the sum of all the riser heights.
Riser — the vertical part of a stair between the treads.
Run — the total horizontal depth of a stair, which is the sum of the treads.
Stringer — the structural support for the stair treads and risers. This is also referred to as a
carriage. It might be exposed on a utilitarian stair, or hidden with various finishes on
more decorative stairs.
Tread — the horizontal part of a stair that the foot bears down upon.
Newel — the terminating baluster at the bottom or top of a stair, which is usually larger than
the other balusters.
Winder – the wedge-shaped tread in a turn of the stairway run – found mostly in residential
work, because commercial building codes restrict these.

Fig 4.9 Typical parts of a stair

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Fig 4.10 Stairs can be constructed in a number of different configurations, depending
on the amount of space available and the distance between floors.

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