Practical Number: 02

Study of Various of Drawings Required on

Construction Sites
 Bharati Vidyapeeth
Deemed To Be University, Pune, India
College of Engineering

Report On:
Study of Various of Drawings Required on
Construction Sites

Name: Kamal Kumar Marbal

Class: B. Tech. Civil Sem-(IV)
Roll No.: 12 PRN: 2114110741
Subject: CPCE
Guided By: Prof. P. D. Pawar
Introduction:
Drawings required in construction sites or simply the Construction drawing is the
general term used for drawings that form part of the production information that is
incorporated into tender documentation and then the contract documents for
the construction works. This means they have legal significance and form part of
the agreement between the employer and the contractor.

The main purpose of construction drawings is to provide a graphic representation of

what is to be built. Construction drawings should be concise and coordinated to
avoid, wherever possible, ambiguity and confusion. Delays and misunderstandings
can be minimised by properly coordinating the drawings. For more information,
see Document control.

Specifications will detail the materials, standards, techniques, and so on required to

carry out the works. Construction drawings provide the graphical representation,
indicating the arrangement of components, detailing, dimensions, and so on. They
may sometimes contain some of the information set out in specifications, but this
should be avoided if possible, by referring to specifications rather than
duplicating information. Where there is a crossover, care must be taken to ensure
proper co-ordination so there is no confusion. If there is a disparity between the two,
the specifications will tend to take precedence over the drawings.

A complete set of construction drawings tends to comprise floor

plans, elevations, sections, and detail drawings, that together provide
a complete representation of the building. On many projects, each major trade will
have separate trade drawings, e.g. electrical, plumbing, and so on.

Construction drawings may be prepared by hand, but it is more common for them
to be prepared using computer-aided design (CAD) (or computer-
aided drafting) software.

Different types of drawings is used in construction such as architectural drawings,

structural, electrical, plumbing and finishing drawings. These drawings provides
layout plans and details for construction of each and every part of the building.
Drawings plays an important role in the construction field to convey the ideologies
and perspective of the designer to the layman at site. The drawings may be used to
indicate the overall appearance, inside or outside the structure, or they may be used
to indicate precise measurements and other details for construction.
Types of Construction Drawings:

There are different type of drawing used for the construction process. Depending
upon the purpose they serve, construction drawings are divided into 5 types:-
1. Architectural Drawing
2. Structural Drawing
3. Electrical and Plumbing Drawing
4. HVAC Drawing
5. Finishing Drawing

Architectural Drawing:-
An architectural drawing or architect's drawing is a technical drawing of a building (or
building project) that falls within the definition of architecture. Architectural
drawings are used by architects and others for a number of purposes: to develop a
design idea into a coherent proposal, to communicate ideas and concepts, to
convince clients of the merits of a design, to assist a building contractor to construct
it based on design intent, as a record of the design and planned development, or to
make a record of a building that already exists.
Architectural drawings are made according to a set of conventions, which include
particular views (floor plan, section etc.), sheet sizes, units of measurement and
scales, annotation and cross referencing.
Historically, drawings were made in ink on paper or similar material, and any copies
required had to be laboriously made by hand. The twentieth century saw a shift to
drawing on tracing paper so that mechanical copies could be run off efficiently. The
development of the computer had a major impact on the methods used to design
and create technical drawings, making manual drawing almost obsolete, and opening
up new possibilities of form using organic shapes and complex geometry. Today the
vast majority of drawings are created using CAD software.
Size and Scale:
The size of drawings reflects the materials available and the size that is convenient to
transport – rolled up or folded, laid out on a table, or pinned up on a wall. The
drafting process may impose limitations on the size that is realistically workable.
Sizes are determined by a consistent paper size system, according to local usage.
Normally the largest paper size used in modern architectural practice is ISO A0
(841 mm × 1,189 mm or 33.1 in × 46.8 in) or in the USA Arch E (762 mm
× 1,067 mm or 30 in × 42 in) or Large E size (915 mm × 1,220 mm or 36 in × 48 in).
Architectural drawings are drawn to scale so that relative sizes are correctly
represented. The scale is chosen both to ensure the whole building will fit on the
chosen sheet size and to show the required amount of detail. On the scale of one-
eighth of an inch to one foot (1:96) or the metric equivalent of 1 to 100, walls are
typically shown as simple outlines corresponding to the overall thickness. At a larger
scale, half an inch to one foot (1:24) or the nearest common metric equivalent 1 to
20, the layers of different materials that make up the wall construction are shown.
Construction details are drawn to a larger scale, in some cases full size (1 to 1 scale).
Scale drawings enable dimensions to be "read" off the drawing, i.e. measured
directly. Imperial scales (feet and inches) are equally readable using an ordinary
ruler. On a one-eighth inch to one-foot scale drawing, the one-eighth divisions on the
ruler can be read off as feet. Architects normally use a scale ruler with different
scales marked on each edge. A third method, used by builders in estimating, is to
measure directly off the drawing and multiply by the scale factor.
Dimensions can be measured off drawings made on a stable medium such as
vellum. All processes of reproduction introduce small errors, especially now that
different copying methods mean that the same drawing may be re-copied, or copies
made in several different ways. Consequently, dimensions need to be written
("figured") on the drawing. The disclaimer "Do not scale off dimensions" is
commonly inscribed on architects' drawings, to guard against errors arising in the
copying process.

Standard Views Used in Architectural Drawings:

Floor plan-
A floor plan is the most fundamental architectural diagram, a view from above
showing the arrangement of spaces in a building in the same way as a map, but
showing the arrangement at a particular level of a building. Technically it is a
horizontal section cut through a building (conventionally at four feet / one metre and
twenty centi-metres above floor level), showing walls, windows and door openings,
and other features at that level. The plan view includes anything that could be seen
below that level: the floor, stairs (but only up to the plan level), fittings, and
sometimes furniture. Objects above the plan level (e.g. beams overhead) can be
indicated as dashed lines.
Geometrically, plan view is defined as a vertical orthographic projection of an object
onto a horizontal plane, with the horizontal plane cutting through the building.

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. For
a development on an urban site, the site plan may need to show adjoining streets to
demonstrate how the design fits into the urban fabric. 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.
Site plans are commonly used to represent a building proposal prior to detailed
design: drawing up a site plan is a tool for deciding both the site layout and the size
and orientation of proposed new buildings. A site plan is used to verify that a
proposal complies with local development codes, including restrictions on historical
sites. In this context the site plan forms part of a legal agreement, and there may be a
requirement for it to be drawn up by a licensed professional: architect, engineer,
landscape architect or land surveyor.

Elevation-
An elevation is a view of a building seen from one side, a flat representation of
one façade. This is the most common view used to describe the external appearance
of a building. Each elevation is labelled in relation to the compass direction it faces,
e.g. looking toward the north you would be seeing the southern elevation of the
building.[5] Buildings are rarely a simple rectangular shape in plan, so a typical
elevation may show all the parts of the building that are seen from a particular
direction.
Geometrically, an elevation is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building onto
a vertical plane, the vertical plane normally being parallel to one side of the building.
Architects also use the word elevation as a synonym for façade, so the "north
elevation" is the north-facing wall of the building.

Cross section-
A cross section, also simply called a section, represents a vertical plane cut through
the object, in the same way as a floor plan is a horizontal section viewed from the
top. In the section view, everything cut by the section plane is shown as a bold line,
often with a solid fill to show
objects that are cut through,
and anything seen beyond
generally shown in a thinner
line. Sections are used to
describe the relationship
between different levels of a
building. In the Observatorium
drawing illustrated here, the
section shows the dome which
can be seen from the outside, a
second dome that can only be
seen inside the building, and
the way the space between the
two accommodates a large
astronomical telescope: relationships that would be difficult to understand from
plans alone.
A sectional elevation is a combination of a cross section, with elevations of other
parts of the building seen beyond the section plane.
Geometrically, a cross section is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building
on to a vertical plane, with the vertical plane cutting through the building.

Isometric and axonometric projections-

Isometric and axonometric projections are a simple way of representing a three
dimensional object, keeping the elements to scale and showing the relationship
between several sides of the same object, so that the complexities of a shape can be
clearly understood.
There is some confusion over the distinction between the terms isometric and
axonometric. "Axonometric is a word that has been used by architects for hundreds
of years. Engineers use the word axonometric as a generic term to include isometric,
diametric and trimetric drawings. This article uses the terms in the architecture-
specific sense.
Despite fairly complex geometrical explanations, for the purposes of practical
drafting the difference between isometric and axonometric is simple (see diagram
above). In both, the plan is drawn on a skewed or rotated grid, and the verticals are
projected vertically on the page. All lines are drawn to scale so that relationships
between elements are accurate. In many cases a different scale is required for
different axes, and again this can be calculated but in practice was often simply
estimated by eye.

• An isometric uses a plan grid at 30 degrees from the horizontal in both

directions, which distorts the plan shape. Isometric graph paper can be used to
construct this kind of drawing. This view is useful to explain construction details
(e.g. three dimensional joints in joinery). The isometric was the standard view
until the mid twentieth century, remaining popular until the 1970s, especially for
textbook diagrams and illustrations.
• Cabinet projection is similar, but only one axis is skewed, the others being
horizontal and vertical. Originally used in cabinet making, the advantage is that a
principal side (e.g. a cabinet front) is displayed without distortion, so only the less
important sides are skewed. The lines leading away from the eye are drawn at a
reduced scale to lessen the degree of distortion. The cabinet projection is seen in
Victorian engraved advertisements and architectural textbooks, but has virtually
disappeared from general use.
• An axonometric uses a 45-degree plan grid, which keeps the original orthogonal
geometry of the plan. The great advantage of this view for architecture is that the
draftsman can work directly from a plan, without having to reconstruct it on a
skewed grid. In theory the plan should be set at 45 degrees, but this introduces
confusing coincidences where opposite corners align. Unwanted effects can be
avoided by rotating the plan while still projecting vertically. This is sometimes
called a planometric or plan oblique view, and allows freedom to choose any
suitable angle to present the most useful view of an object.

Traditional drafting techniques used 30–60 and 45 degree set squares, and that
determined the angles used in these views. Once the adjustable square became
common those limitations were lifted.

The axonometric gained in popularity in the twentieth century, not just as a

convenient diagram but as a formal presentation technique, adopted in particular by
the Modern Movement. Axonometric drawings feature prominently in the
influential 1970's drawings of Michael Graves, James Stirling and others, using not
only straightforward views but worms-eye view, unusually and exaggerated rotations
of the plan, and exploded elements.
The axonometric view is not readily generated by CAD programmes which create
views from a three dimensional model. Consequently, it is now rarely used.
Detail drawings-
Detail drawings show a small part of the construction at a larger scale, to show how
the component parts fit together. They are also used to show small surface details,
for example decorative elements. Section drawings at large scale are a standard way
of showing building construction details, typically showing complex junctions (such
as floor to wall junction, window openings, eaves and roof apex) that cannot be
clearly shown on a drawing that includes the full height of the building. A full set of
construction details needs to show plan details as well as vertical section details. One
detail is seldom produced in isolation: a set of details shows the information needed
to understand the construction in three dimensions. Typical scales for details are
1/10, 1/5 and full size.
In traditional construction, many details were so fully standardized, that few detail
drawings were required to construct a building. For example, the construction of
a sash window would be left to the carpenter, who would fully understand what was
required, but unique decorative details of the façade would be drawn up in detail. In
contrast, modern buildings need to be fully detailed because of the proliferation of
different products, methods and possible solutions.

Architectural Perspective:
Perspective in drawing is an approximate representation on a flat surface of an image
as it is perceived by the eye. The key concepts here are:

• Perspective is the view from a particular fixed viewpoint.

• Horizontal and vertical edges in the object are represented by horizontals and
verticals in the drawing.
• Lines leading away into the distance appear to converge at a vanishing point.
• All horizontals converge to a point on the horizon, which is a horizontal line at
eye level.
• Verticals converge to a point either above or below the horizon.
The basic categorization of artificial perspective is by the number of vanishing points:

• One-point perspective where objects facing the viewer are orthogonal, and
receding lines converge to a single vanishing point.
• Two-point perspective reduces distortion by viewing objects at an angle, with all
the horizontal lines receding to one of two vanishing points, both located on the
horizon.
• Three-point perspective introduces additional realism by making the verticals
recede to a third vanishing point, which is above or below depending upon
whether the view is seen from above or below.
The normal convention in architectural perspective is to use two-point perspective,
with all the verticals drawn as verticals on the page.
Three-point perspective gives a casual, photographic snapshot effect. In
professional architectural photography, conversely, a view camera or a perspective
control lens is used to eliminate the third vanishing point, so that all the verticals are
vertical on the photograph, as with the perspective convention. This can also be
done by digital manipulation of a photograph taken with a standard lens.
Aerial perspective is a technique in painting, for indicating distance by approximating
the effect of the atmosphere on distant objects. In daylight, as an ordinary object gets
further from the eye, its contrast with the background is reduced, its color saturation
is reduced, and its color becomes more blue. Not to be confused with aerial view or
bird's eye view, which is the view as seen (or imagined) from a high vantage point. In
J M Gandy's perspective of the Bank of England (see illustration at the beginning of
this article), Gandy portrayed the building as a picturesque ruin in order to show the
internal plan arrangement, a precursor of the cutaway view.
A montage image is produced by superimposing a perspective image of a building
on to a photographic background. Care is needed to record the position from which
the photograph was taken, and to generate the perspective using the same viewpoint.
This technique is popular in computer visualization, where the building can
be photo-realistically rendered, and the final image is intended to be almost
indistinguishable from a photograph.

Sketches and Diagrams:

A sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing, a quick way to record and develop
an idea, not intended as a finished work. A diagram could also be drawn freehand
but deals with symbols, to develop the logic of a design. Both can be worked up into
a more presentable form and used to communicate the principles of a design.
In architecture, the finished work is expensive and time consuming, so it is
important to resolve the design as fully as possible before construction work begins.
Complex modern buildings involve a large team of different specialist disciplines,
and communication at the early design stages is essential to keep the design moving
towards a coordinated outcome. Architects (and other designers) start investigating a
new design with sketches and diagrams, to develop a rough design that provides an
adequate response to the particular design problems.
There are two basic elements to a building design, the aesthetic and the practical.
The aesthetic element includes the layout and visual appearance, the anticipated feel
of the materials, and cultural references that will influence the way people perceive
the building. Practical concerns include space allocated for different activities, how
people enter and move around the building, daylight and artificial lighting, acoustics,
traffic noise, legal matters and building codes, and many other issues. While both
aspects are partly a matter of customary practice, every site is different. Many
architects actively seek innovation, thereby increasing the number of problems to be
resolved.

Architectural legend often refers to designs made on the back of an envelope or on a

napkin. Initial thoughts are important, even if they have to be discarded along the
way, because they provide the central idea around which the design can
develop. Although a sketch is inaccurate, it is disposable and allows for freedom of
thought, for trying different ideas quickly. Choice becomes sharply reduced once the
design is committed to a scale drawing, and the sketch stage is almost always
essential.
Diagrams are mainly used to resolve practical matters. In the early phases of the
design architects use diagrams to develop, explore, and communicate ideas and
solutions. They are essential tools for thinking, problem solving, and communication
in the design disciplines. Diagrams can be used to resolve spatial relationships, but
they can also represent forces and flows, e.g. the forces of sun and wind, or the flows
of people and materials through a building.
An exploded view diagram shows component parts dis-assembled in some way, so
that each can be seen on its own. These views are common in technical manuals, but
are also used in architecture, either in conceptual diagrams or to illustrate technical
details. In a cutaway view parts of the exterior are omitted to show the interior, or
details of internal construction. Although common in technical illustration, including
many building products and systems, the cutaway is in fact little-used in architectural
drawing.

Types of Architectural Drawing:-

Presentation drawings
Drawings intended to explain a scheme and to promote its merits. Working
drawings may include tones or hatches to emphasize different materials, but they are
diagrams, not intended to appear realistic. Basic presentation drawings typically
include people, vehicles and trees, taken from a library of such images, and are
otherwise very similar in style to working drawings. Rendering is the art of adding
surface textures and shadows to show the visual qualities of a building more
realistically. An architectural illustrator or graphic designer may be employed to
prepare specialist presentation images, usually perspectives or highly finished site
plans, floor plans and elevations etc.
Survey drawings
Measured drawings of existing land, structures and buildings. Architects need an
accurate set of survey drawings as a basis for their working drawings, to establish
exact dimensions for the construction work. Surveys are usually measured and
drawn up by specialist land surveyors.
Record drawings
Historically, architects have made record drawings in order to understand and
emulate the great architecture known to them. In the Renaissance, architects from all
over Europe studied and recorded the remains of the Roman and Greek
civilizations, and used these influences to develop the architecture of the period.
Records are made both individually, for local purposes, and on a large scale for
publication. Historic surveys worth referring to include:

• Colen Campbell's Vitruvius Brittanicus, illustrations of English buildings by Inigo

Jones and Sir Christopher Wren, as well as Campbell himself and other
prominent architects of the era.
• The Survey of London, founded in 1894 by Charles Robert Ashbee and now
available through English Heritage. A record of notable streets and individual
buildings in the former County of London.
• Historic American Buildings Survey, records of notable buildings drawn up
during the 1930s Depression, this collection is held by the Library of Congress
and is available copyright-free on the internet.
Record drawings are also used in construction projects, where "as-built" conditions of
the completed building are documented to take account of all the variations made
during the course of construction.

Working drawings
A comprehensive set of drawings used in a building construction project: these will
include not only architect's drawings, but structural and other engineering drawings
as well. Working drawings logically subdivide into location, assembly and
component drawings.

• Location drawings, also called general arrangement drawings, include floor plans,
sections and elevations: they show where the construction elements are located.
• Assembly drawings show how the different parts are put together. For example, a
wall detail will show the layers that make up the construction, how they are fixed
to structural elements, how to finish the edges of openings, and how
prefabricated components are to be fitted.
• Component drawings enable self-contained elements e.g. windows and doorsets,
to be fabricated in a workshop, and delivered to site complete and ready for
installation. Larger components may include roof trusses, cladding panels,
cupboards and kitchens. Complete rooms, especially hotel bedrooms and
bathrooms, may be made as prefabricated pods complete with internal
decorations and fittings.
Formerly, working drawings would typically combine plans, sections, elevations and
some details to provide a complete explanation of a building on one sheet. That was
possible because little detail was included, the building techniques involved being
common knowledge amongst building professionals. Modern working drawings are
much more detailed and it is standard practice to isolate select areas of the project
on separate sheets. Notes included on drawings are brief, referring to standardized
specification documents for more information. Understanding the layout and
construction of a modern building involves studying an often-sizeable set of drawings
and documents.

2. Structural Drawing:-

A structural drawing, a type of engineering drawing, is a plan or set of plans and

details for how a building or other structure will be built. Structural drawings are
generally prepared by registered professional engineers, and based on information
provided by architectural drawings. The structural drawings are primarily concerned
with the load-carrying members of a structure. They outline the size and types of
materials to be used, as well as the general demands for connections. They do not
address architectural details like surface finishes, partition walls, or mechanical
systems. The structural drawings communicate the design of the building's structure
to the building authority for review. Structural drawings are also included with a
proposed building's contract documents, which guide contractors in detailing,
fabricating, and installing parts of the structure.
The structural drawings set has different subsets: General Notes, Plans, Elevations,
Sections, and Details
General Notes are part of structural drawings and they cover the codes used in
design and the by-laws of the building. Typically there are no details on these
drawings. Structural notes provide information regarding general material properties
(steel or wood grade, concrete strength, etc.) or construction requirements (soil
compaction, weld procedures, etc.). The structural notes also provide information
about design criteria (gravity, seismic, and wind loading).
The structural plan drawings show the foundation, floor, and roof plan of the
building. These plans provide information like size and location of the structural
elements present in the respective plans.
Elevations show the exterior walls of a building or structure. In elevation drawings
you can find the height of building (floors and roof elevations) and structural
properties of elements present in the walls and that cannot be seen in plan drawings.
Sections plans are referenced in the plan view drawings and provide information
about elements that cannot be see in plan drawings. The sections usually are cut
through walls or structural elements that are not typical and the constructor needs to
be aware off.
The details drawings provide particular information on how to construct or connect
the structural elements. The details can be reference in plans, elevations and
sections.
It contains many type of drawing with very minute details and description.

General Note
This is more of a codes and by laws of the buildings. No drawing is found in this, but
the details of all the structural drawings are mention in this such as concrete mix,
lapping length, curing time, abbreviation, codes and other work procedures.

Excavation Drawing
This drawing represents the footing excavation dimension, column position, footing
plan and grid lines of column.
Column Layout
This drawing represents the position and orientation of columns and column
reinforcement details.

Plinth Beam Layout

This drawing represents the dimensions, position and section of plinth beam and the
details of reinforcement in plinth beam.

Lintel Beam Layout

This drawing represents the dimensions, position and section of lintel beam and the
details of reinforcement in lintel beam.
Roof Beam and Shuttering Layout
This drawing represents the details of reinforcement of roof beam, its section and
shuttering details.

Roof Slab Layout

This drawing represents the details of reinforcement of roof slab, its section and
openings in the roof for various purpose such as stairs or skylight.
 3. Electrical and Plumbing Drawing:-

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 design to the workers, who install the electrical
system on the job”.

A complete set of working drawings for the average electrical system in large projects
usually consists of:

* A plot plan showing the buildings location and outside electrical wirings and other
information in combination with construction drawings.

* Floor plans showing the location of electrical systems on every floor.

* Power-riser diagrams showing panel boards.

* Control wiring diagrams Schedule.

Plumbing

* New houses will show the water service location and pipe size on the site /grading
plan.

* Renovations and additions to existing dwellings may continue to use the existing
water service.

* Plumbing riser diagrams are not required, except for unusual features such as solar
water heating systems.

* All projects will show plumbing fixture layouts as part of the architectural plans.

•
Electrical Layout Drawings
 When you are planning any kind of development having a drawing that shows every
last detail will save you money in the long run. When you are planning a new kitchen
for example getting the right number of switch sockets and there exact positions on
the wall above the worktop, behind the fridge or inside a cupboard really should be
designed sooner rather than later. Design changes during any construction are
expensive but in a kitchen where the cables need to be chased into the walls and then
tiled or painted is often very messy and complicated and therefore very expensive. A
simple layout showing location of sockets, switches lights and consumer units can be
an invaluable tool and save you a lot of money and time during the construction.

• Heating & Plumbing Layout Drawings

As with electrical work, plumbing and heating is better carried out during the main
construction. Alterations after completion or changes to the existing layout are often
followed by an expensive invoice. We strongly recommend that any work for your
heating and plumbing is worked out on paper first rather than left to the building
contractor on site. Hiding ugly pipes with boxing in a room is not a great solution when
you consider that pipes could be inserted into a floor or ceiling void if the designer is
instructed to oversee these elements as well. Plumbing and electrical layout drawings
can typically be produced as part of the whole design package or added not too much
later than a few weeks before construction starts on site.

4. HVAC Drawing:-
The mechanical drawings consist of the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning) systems. The details of a complete HVAC system are provided in
HVAC plans. This is a very important part of HVAC training. Let’s see the details
provided at different locations of drawings. Recall that the general notes are provided
on the first page, along with legends and symbols. It consists of instructions followed
during the complete installation of duct, pipes, and equipment. It also provides details
of the owner’s requirement or renovation guidelines.

Recall that every drawing has its symbols with descriptions that are provided in the

legends. HVAC systems are denoted using symbols for various uses such as

equipment, diffusers, piping sizes, and duct layouts.

Legends contain abbreviations with symbols used for equipment, piping, ducts, and

other features shown in a plan view. Floor plans do not include notes or details for

all those symbols used on the plan. The best practice is to refer to legends before

moving on to the plans.

The drawings consist of HVAC ductwork and diffusers, but the names are provided

in abbreviations. As HVAC systems carry water, air, electrical lines, or a

combination of these, names or text for all these items will be mixed-up with the

plan and difficult to read.

The abbreviations or short names are defined on the first page of HVAC drawings.

The HVAC plans are schematic, using symbols and abbreviations to denote the

various parts such as equipment, ducts, control devices, diffusers, and piping.

For example, chilled water and hot water supply lines are denoted as:

• CWS - Chilled Water Supply

• CWR - Chilled Water Return

• HWS - Hot Water Supply

• HWR - Hot Water Return

Wall lines are often drawn lighter and thinner than the HVAC system lines to make

the system particulars stand out clearly. In some instances, the ductwork might be

shaded for easier identification. Special kind of line types is used to indicate fire-

rated wall or equipment sections.

As seen in the image, the HVAC duct lines are darker than the wall lines. The wall

lines and the area names are used as a reference to locate the diffuser position or

HVAC duct routing. The diffusers have a name or code on them, so it is referred to

in the schedules for its details.

Recall that the schedules include manufacture, type, model, size, and details of the

equipment. Schedules help to know details of the required equipment or item

denoted on the mechanical plans. HVAC duct drawings include schedules for

equipment such as AHU, diffuser, fan, heater, and chillers.

The HVAC drawings include equipment and diffusers, which are provided in

symbols on the drawings. This equipment needs to be described as it is used to

estimate, order, and install at the site. The schedules fulfill these requirements.

HVAC plans are generally drawn at the same scale as the floor plans. The scale

helps to measure the size, length, and distance of the plans. The most common scale

is 1⁄4" = 1'-0" (1:50 metric) for residential and small commercial projects, and 1⁄8" =

1'-0" (1:100 metric) for large commercial projects.

The scale at which the HVAC plans are drawn is provided either adjacent to or

directly below the drawing title. Sometimes designers might enlarge the detailed and

related equipment drawings with their respective scales shown below the drawing.
HVAC drawings include details for the AC system, refrigerant pipe connections, and

duct layouts. General notes, abbreviations, legends, and symbols, are found on the

first page of the mechanical drawings. Schedules help to find the details of the

equipment or fixtures provided with reference names on the plans.

HVAC Plans

Engineers, architects, and mechanical contractors are the primary designers of

HVAC plans. This is one of the most important parts of HVAC training. However,

interior designers decide how the HVAC duct, equipment, and pipe routing are

installed. It is also used to check how it will affect the interiors of a building.

A designer needs to coordinate the reflected ceiling plan to provide the correct

location of registers, grilles, thermostats, and appliances with the other construction

trades. HVAC plans include multiple drawings which describe the duct, piping, and

riser layouts in detail.

HVAC duct layout consists of duct routing inside the ceiling. As seen in the picture,

the duct layout is installed while referring to the drawings provided at installation

time. The ceiling is installed once all the ductwork is done.

The details about duct type, diffuser details, installation methods, or any information

necessary to read the drawing are provided in a section of the drawing called plan

notes. For example, the notes might specify duct type and insulation as 1-inch (25

mm) fiberboard or nitrile rubber.

In a water system, copper piping or other materials might be called out in notes as to

their diameter and grade to be used during installation. Consider the first point in

the notes “Field verify thermostat location with the owner representative.” The

thermostat location is provided in the plan but needs to verify the location with the

owner representative.

Section drawings provide more information on how a building, interior space, or

equipment is installed. It may be divided into one or more multiple views through

different angles. Section drawings take such an imaginary slice through an object or

building.

Section drawings of HVAC plans provide details of equipment provided in-between

the floors, ceilings, spaces, height of the walls, and equipment locations above one
another. Two or more sections are often provided at 90 degrees to one another to

give additional information.

The commercial buildings consist of multiple similar areas like apartments and hotel

rooms. The multiple area floor plans are represented on drawings by a code or

reference name on the floor plan. In HVAC drawings, the AC details are found on

these drawings.

It is helpful to identify the correct location of pipes, wires, and connection points

from the main lines. As seen in the image, the unit plan provides the location of AC

units in the floor plan of the respective area. Let us summarize how to read the plan

while utilizing all the sources.

The checklist for referring HVAC plans are:

• Check for the title of the drawing, note its scale, and reference to the

orientation or directions,

• Check for symbols, abbreviations, and legends,

• Readout general notes and respective plan notes for more details,

• Refer to schedules or specifications before referring any equipment on the

plans,

• Check thermostat locations in all the floor plans to coordinate electrical,

furniture, and wall layout,

 • Check the drawings with the reflected ceiling plan(RCP) and other trades

drawings to find proper locations and routings,

• Check the drawings of air-conditioning equipment and plant room drawings

for the line connections and relevant machines,

• Check out for the access panels and connections from the main distribution

board to access the power supply for equipment,

• Check the call out for exhaust vents (bathroom and kitchen equipment) to the

exterior or elevation plans,

• Check the details, sections, riser diagrams, and enlarged plans for more

details, and

• Finally, during maintenance, refer to the final set of drawings As-Built

drawings.

The HVAC drawings provide details for the AC system, refrigerant pipe

connections, chiller, and duct layouts. The HVAC plans include plan notes to

describe the installation details and fixture types. The commercial buildings’ details

of AC layout are available on the enlarged unit plan of respective area.

5. Finishing Drawings:-

Finishing drawings represents the finish type of every component of the building

such as flooring pattern, painting color, false ceiling shape, plastering texture and

elevation design. These details are sometime given in elevation drawings also. There

is no standard rule of drawings required for a project. Depending upon the type of

building and requirement, types of drawings are made and issued .