Blueprint Reading- Introduction

BLUEPRINT READING

PART 1- INTRODUCTION

ARCHITECTURAL PLANS:• Plans are used for a number of purposes:

• To develop a design idea into a coherent proposal

• To communicate ideas and concepts

• To enable the RBC to construct the project

• As a record of the completed work

WHAT WE WILL LEARN:• We will lean how to read the following:

• Site Plans and Civil Drawings

• Architectural Drawings

• Structural Drawings

• Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Drawings

• Elevations

• Sections

• Details

• Foundations

• Exterior closure and finishes

• Interior finishes

FORMAT OF ARCHITECTURAL PLANS

• The Plans consists of multiple different views, such as:

• Site Plan Drawings: The “AS” sheets.

• Architectural Drawings: The “A” sheets.

• Structural Drawings: The “S” sheets.

• Mechanical Drawings: The “M” sheets.

• Electrical Drawings: The “E” sheets.

• Plumbing Drawings: The “P” sheets.

ARCHITECTURAL PLANS MORE DETAILS

• The Architectural Plans contain many other details as follows:

• Floor Plans.

• Elevations.

• Cross Sections.

• Detail Drawings.

• Specifications and Notes.

THE SITE PLAN A Site Plan is a specific type of plan, showing the whole context of a building or group of buildings. A site plan shows property boundaries and means of access to the site, and nearby structures if they are relevant to the design. Within the site boundary, the site plan gives an overview of the entire scope of work. It shows the buildings (if any) already existing and those that are proposed, usually as a building footprint; roads, parking lots, footpaths, hard landscaping, trees and planting. For a construction project, the site plan also needs to show all the services connections: drainage and sewer lines, water supply, electrical and communications cables, exterior lighting etc.

EXAMPLE OF A SITE PLAN DRAWING

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS: THE “A” SHEETS.

An architectural plan is a plan for the design, and the documentation of written and graphic descriptions of the architectural elements of a building project including sketches, specifications drawings and details.

EXAMPLE OF AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING

STRUCTURAL DRAWINGS: THE “S” SHEETS.

• These drawings establish the structural elements of a building:

• The footings, walls, masonry, concrete slabs, structural columns, tie beams, etc.

EXAMPLE OF THE STRUCTURAL DRAWING

MECHANICAL DRAWINGS: THE “M” SHEETS.

Mechanical systems drawings are a type of technical drawing that shows information about heating, ventilating, and air conditioning. That is the HVAC section of the drawings.

EXAMPLE OF THE MECHANICAL DRAWING

ELECTRICAL DRAWINGS: THE “E” SHEETS.

An electrical drawing, is a type of technical drawing that shows information about power, lighting, and communication for an engineering or architectural project. Any electrical working drawing consists of "lines, symbols, dimensions, and notations to accurately convey an engineering's design to the workers, who install the electrical system on the job.

EXAMPLE OF THE ELECTRICAL DRAWING

PLUMBING DRAWINGS: THE “P” SHEETS.

A plumbing drawing, a type of technical drawing, shows the system of piping for fresh water going into the building and waste going out, both solid and liquid.

EXAMPLE OF PLUMBING DRAWINGS

ELEVATIONS !

THIS VIEW IS CALLED AN ELEVATION. ELEVATIONS SHOW HOW THIS PART OF THE STRUCTURE LOOKS FROM EYE

LEVEL. THE ELEVATIONS ARE FOUND ON THE “A” SHEETS.

ELEVATIONS- 2

FLOOR PLAN !

THIS VIEW IS CALLED A FLOOR PLAN OR PLAN VIEW. THE FLOOR PLAN SHOWS WHAT THE STRUCTURE WOULD LOOK LIKE IF

YOU WERE DIRECTLY ABOVE IT LOOKING DOWN AND THE TOP WAS CUT

SECTION !

THIS VIEW IS CALLED A SECTION. THE SECTION VIEW IS A DISSECTION OF THE STRUCTURE, AS IF IT WERE SLICED THROUGH VERTICALLY THAN OPENED UP SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IS INSIDE.

DETAIL !

THIS VIEW IS CALLED A DETAIL. A DETAIL IS GENERALLY A CLOSE UP OF SOME PART OF THE SECTION. A DETAIL HELPS SHOW EXACTLY HOW

CERTAIN PARTS CONNECT TOGETHER.

EXAMPLE OF A FOOTING DETAIL

EXAMPLE OF A BASE OF WALL DETAIL

This is an example of a “detail” from the plans. It takes a section of the building, (i.e., the base of the block wall), and gives you all the details of what you need to start the masonry wall including “notes” and “specifications.” The PC must read these notes and understand them or get help from the journeyman. This would be the same procedure for every “detail” and every “note” on the plans.

EXAMPLE OF A CONCEPTUAL WALL SECTION DETAIL

This wall section gives you an idea of the purpose of a wall section and with the person there you can see it in perspective.

CONCRETE SLABFOOTING

SHOWS WINDOW

ROOF CONNECTIONPARAPET WALL

EXAMPLE OF A PARAPET WALL SECTION DETAIL

!

A Detail takes a part of a section of the building and gives you all the details and notes needed to complete that element of the building. The PC must read all the notes and understand them. If he does not understand the details, that is OK. (No one knows the technical aspects of every trade). However, he then must go over the notes with the journeyman of that trade so they both recognize the specifications and complete the building according to the criteria of the plans.

All the detailed notes

EXAMPLE OF AN INTERIOR WALL SECTION

EXAMPLE OF A ELECTRICAL BLUEPRINT SYMBOLS

These notes will be found on the “Electrical” section of the plans. (The “E” sheets). Here you will find all the symbols relating to the electrical work for the project.

EXAMPLE OF A GENERAL STRUCTURAL NOTES

These notes will be found on the “Structural” section of the plans. (The “S” sheets). Here you will find all the structural notes relating to the block work, filling cells, the concrete, etc.

EXAMPLE OF A INTERIOR ELEVATIONS DETAILS

EXAMPLE OF A WINDOW SCHEDULE