Chapter 16

Floor Plan Symbols

Introduction• Floor plans for a proposed home:

– Provide the owner an opportunity to evaluate the design in terms of livability and suitability

– Quickly communicate overall construction requirements to the builder

– Reduce likelihood of errors if they are easy to read

Wall Symbols• Opinions vary

with regard to how walls are drawn– Exterior walls– Interior partitions

Wall Shading and Material Indications

• Shading methods make walls stand out– Partial walls– Guardrails

Door Symbol Representations

Window Symbol Representations

Schedules• Numbered symbols on the floor plan key

specific items to charts (i.e., schedules)– Set up many different ways– When doors and windows are described they

must be keyed

Cabinets, Fixtures, and Appliances on Floor Plans

• Floor plans include:– Kitchen– Bathroom– Utility room

• Included on floor plans:– Wardrobe and closets– Laundry chutes

Common Sizes of Architectural Features

• Refer to the text for dimensions of:– Room components– Plumbing fixtures– Appliances– Doors – Windows

Floor Plan Materials• Identified on the

floor plan with:– Notes– Characteristic

symbols– Key symbols

Stair Planning and Floor Plan Representation

Hallways on Floor Plans• Hallways provide access to various areas

– May be long or short – Length and number should be minimal– May be a unique part of the design– Minimum width should be 36" (900 mm)

Fireplaces on Floor Plans• Commonly constructed using masonry

– Other types include:• Steel• Direct vent, self-venting, vent-free, and gas• Gas-burning• Built-in masonry barbeque• Electric• Multilevel

Fireplaces on Floor Plans (cont’d.)• Other considerations include:

– Cleanout– Wood storage– Combustion air

Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances• Include items such as airtight stoves,

freestanding fireplaces, room heaters, etc.– Refer to text for general rules regarding:

• Floor protection• Wall protection• Combustion air• Air pollution

Room Titles on Floor Plans• Rooms are labeled with a name on the floor

plan

Other Floor Plan Symbols• There are many additional symbols

– Hose bibb– Concrete slab– Attic and crawl space– Window well– Floor drain– Cross-section

Conclusion• Floor plans are a key element in a

complete set of architectural drawings– Clients are interested in floor plans so they can

see how the structure is laid out– A large variety of symbols and drawing

techniques go into preparing a floor plan– The challenge is to include all necessary

symbols and notes needed