DESIGN GUIDE

TECHNICAL DRAWING
COMPLETE GUIDE

First In Architecture
DESIGN GUIDE
TECHNICAL DRAWING
INTRODUCTION +
01 LAYOUT

First In Architecture
 The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

© 2022 First In Architecture. All Rights Reserved.

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

01 Introduction

02 Layout

03 Next Steps

04 Thank you!
01

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our new Technical Drawing Series!

Over this series we will be exploring the world of technical drawing for architecture,
construction and interior design.

We will be looking at best practice for producing drawings. The architect or designers
key tool for communication is drawing. Whether it is a quick concept sketch, or a
detailed construction drawing, this is the primary way we communicate. A drawing
can help us develop our ideas, work through solutions and flesh out the details of our
design. As such, drawings are produced in a number of ways according to the stage
of design. For this series we will mainly be focussing on drawings for design and
presentation (ie, for a planning application) and drawings as a guide for construction
(construction drawings).

We could skip straight to construction stage, but I think it is important to understand

how we develop our drawings and the detail and content that they contain in order to
present the correct information at the correct time.

All too often, technical drawings can contain errors and omissions that make it
difficult for the construction team to follow, and can result in costly mistakes and
oversights.

Such errors or omissions may be:

Uncoordinated drawings – poor numbering, different sources of conflict etc
Errors – general errors or incorrect information
Omissions – information left off the drawing that makes the drawing incomplete
or difficult to understand
Poor presentation – drawing is confusing to read, drawing set is inconsistent in
style, numbering, labelling or content

First In Architecture 4
When we produce our drawings we must ask ourselves, who is this drawing for, and
what information do they require.

This simple question can allow us to make sure:

we provide an accurate representation of the design intention
the information is clearly expressed and easy to understand
the drawing has sufficient detail for its purpose

I guess you could say that there are two aspects of the technical drawing, the visual
clarity – ie, how clear is the drawing itself in order for it to be understood. Then you
have the content of the drawing, is it correct, does it provide the information the user
will be looking for etc.

The goal of this series is to help students understand the standards and requirements
of technical drawings, including the conventions, and how to visually present the
drawings in a neat and informative way.

Without further ado, let us dive into part 1 of this super informative series - Layout!

First In Architecture 5
02

LAYOUT
In part one of our technical drawing series, we will look at Layout.
How should a drawing be composed, and what sort of information do we need to
show on our architectural drawings?

Architectural drawings can be produced on varying paper sizes. From A0 all the way
down to A4, paper sizes are assigned according to the information being presented,
office standards, type of project and so on.

No matter the size of the drawing sheet, the drawing layout must fulfill certain
requirements.

Your drawing will require a title block and likely further information and notes. The
layout of our drawings needs to be clear, rational and easy to read.

When creating a set of architectural drawings we must be consistent with the

appearance of each drawing. This includes being consistent with factors such as:
Drawing numbers in a chronological and rational fashion
Title block orientation
Use of fonts and styles through all the drawings
Alignment of drawings

When producing a set of architectural drawings, it is sometimes wise to sketch out

the drawings you intend to produce, how they will appear on the drawing sheet, what
will be included, what the drawing numbers will be and so on.

First In Architecture 6
Sheet composition

The composition of your drawing sheet is important. If you have more than one
drawing on a sheet, make sure they are in line and space well. Leave a margin around
the page of at least 10mm. Traditionally you would use a border line around the
drawing sheet, although now it has become just as common to have no border.

If you are presenting an architectural drawing sheet with many drawings on it –

details for example, make sure there is order. Adopting an invisible grid format might
help you organise the drawing so that everything stays aligned. When presenting
drawings that are related to one another on the same page, for example a window
head and jamb or a plan and elevation, make sure they are lined through so that the
reader can see the relationship between the two drawings.

Image 01 - a clear, easy to read composition

https://www.archdaily.com/882669/nirau-house-paul-cremoux-wanderstok/59f81309b22e3853dd0000ad-nirau-house-paul-
cremoux-wanderstok-section

First In Architecture 7
Image 02 - the main drawing is centred on the page with the small details aligned and evenly spaced.
https://www.archdaily.com/882669/nirau-house-paul-cremoux-wanderstok/59f81309b22e3853dd0000ad-nirau-house-paul-
cremoux-wanderstok-section

Image 03 - drawing sections line through, and neatly centred on the page
https://archinect.com/people/project/30212913/construction-document-work/35006584
First In Architecture 8
Image 04 - Section details line through with finished floor levels
https://archinect.com/people/project/30212913/construction-document-work/35006584

Image 05 - An invisible grid gives these drawings a clear order

https://sketchupbook.com

First In Architecture 9
Title Blocks

Title blocks can be displayed both horizontally and vertically, and can depend on
office standards, aesthetics, or the information displayed on the sheet. It is more
common to see a title block on the right hand side of a drawing displayed vertically.

It is important the the title block remains consistent within your architectural drawing
package, and the format, font and sizing remains the same.

The title block typically contains the following information:

Name of Architecture Practice (address, contact information, email etc)
Practice logo
Revisions list
Notes (this is sometimes separate to the title block)
Key plan
Name of project
Location of project
Client name
Project number
Drawing title
Sheet/Drawing number
Scale of drawing
Date

Title blocks vary from company to company, here are a few examples of title blocks,
some traditional and some more contemporary.

First In Architecture 10
Image 06 - Example of a title block
https://archinect.com/people/project/50110529/construction-documents-partial-set/59094675

Image 07 - Example of a title block

https://sketchupbook.com

First In Architecture 11
Image 08 - Example of a title block
http://portfolios.scad.edu/gallery/47963911/STUDIO-2-Construction-Documents

The key takeaway here is that the information is clear, concise and easy to read.
These title blocks provide suitable information to anyone viewing the drawing so that
they can understand the nature of the drawing, who it has been drawn by, the
location of the project, when it was drawn and so on.

Never produce a drawing, whether for a client or for a student project, that doesn’t
have a title block/ basic information. (This of course excludes presentation boards,
visualisations etc, which is different).

First In Architecture 12
03

NEXT STEPS
RESOURCES

You can find both the series introduction and Layout guide on our website:

SERIES INTRO 01 - LAYOUT

Here is a great article on Architectural Graphics, by Bob Borson for some further
reading:

LIFE OF AN ARCHITECT

So, now that we have our basic drawing layouts and title blocks covered, its time to
move on and start looking at labelling and annotation. Check out the next part of the
series, here:

02 - LABELLING AND ANNOTATION

First In Architecture 13
DESIGN GUIDE
TECHNICAL DRAWING
02 LABELLING AND
ANNOTATION

First In Architecture
 The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

© 2022 First In Architecture. All Rights Reserved.

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01 Introduction

02 Numbering Drawings

03 Drawing Labels

04 Marker Labels

05 Elevation Marker

06 Section Marker

07 Detail Marker

08 Key / Legend

09 Lines

10 Levels and Dimensions

11 Next Steps

12 Thank you!
01

INTRODUCTION
In Part 1 of our technical drawing series we looked at Layout, exploring drawing
sheets, title blocks and the general arrangement of our drawings. In this part of the
series, we will go into more detail, looking at how we label and annotate our
drawings.

It is important to remember the main objective with our technical drawing. That is to
communicate our ideas or design as clearly as possible. Two things to understand
here are:

Does the drawing covey what I want to be built / created?

Does it read easily? It is neat, clearly annotated, good use of line weight, hatches etc.

First In Architecture 4
02

NUMBERING
DRAWINGS
There are many different ways that architects number their drawings. Although there
are standards, may practices adapt the standard numbering system to reflect the
needs of their own office.

You can read more about the standard drawing numbering system here:
https://aecuk.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/aecukmodelfilenaminghandbook-v2-
4.pdf

I tend to use a simpler approach given that most of the projects I work on are
residential and therefore do not have a large number of drawings compared to
commercial projects.

The drawing number prefixed with the discipline designator, A for architect, or I for
Interior Design and so on.
G – General
A – Architectural
E – Electrical
S – Structural
I – Interiors
L – Landscape

Sheet types:
0 – General – notes, legends etc
1 – Plans
2 – Elevations
3 – Sections
4 – Enlarged plans, elevations, sections, interior elevations
5 – Details
6 – Schedules

First In Architecture 5
So, a floor plan drawing would be A100 for example, then if you had a number of floor
plans A101, A102, A103 and so on.

A100 – Site Plan

A101 – Ground Floor Plan
A102 – First Floor Plan
A103 – Roof Plan

A set of elevation drawings may be A200, A201, A202 and so on.

First In Architecture 6
03

DRAWING LABELS
It is important to ensure each drawing on a drawing sheet is labelled.

Beneath each drawing, you should include a title bar that contains the following
information:
title of the drawing
drawing number
scale of drawing
paper size
drawing sheet number of referenced drawing (where applicable, ie sections,
elevations.)

First In Architecture 7
04

MARKER LABELS
Reference markers are labels on a drawing that indicated where the drawing is taken
from and what it is showing. These consist of elevation markers, section markers and
detail markers.

For example, you will use your floor plan to show the reader the points at which you
will take an elevation, or a section line through the building. You will also use a floor
plan (or section) to show junctions or areas where you will reference a detail.

As a rule, the different markers have a standard aesthetic that makes them easy to
recognise.

First In Architecture 8
05

ELEVATION MARKER
The elevation marker is shown as a circle with an arrow pointing toward the elevation.

Inside the circle, there is a reference number or letter referring to the elevation
drawing number or letter, and underneath this, is the drawing sheet number where
that elevation can be found.

Elevation marker labels can be number or letters, or relate to the orientation of the
elevation, ie north south east or west.

The elevation marker does not always show a reference number to the drawing
sheet.

First In Architecture 9
06

SECTION MARKER
The section marker is shown slightly differently to an elevation marker with a larger
arrow. The arrow shows the direction that the section is being taken. The section
marker is attached to a line that runs through the floor plan showing the cut of the
section.

Again, the section marker has two sets of information within the marker circle, the first
is the letter or number that refers to the section, the second number underneath
refers to the drawing sheet number where the section can be found.

Whether you are labelling your elevation or sections with numbers or letters, make
sure you are consistent throughout.

First In Architecture 10
First In Architecture 11
07

DETAIL MARKER
A detail marker is similar to the section and elevation markers in that it has a drawing
reference number or letter, and a reference to the drawing sheet where that detail
drawing can be found.

The marker itself usually includes a box around the area showing the detail.

First In Architecture 12
First In Architecture 13
08

KEY / LEGEND
A Key or Legend is provided to help make the drawing as clear and easy to
understand as possible. A key can be used in a number of ways. It might be to show
the different hatches used to represent materials and what they mean.

A key can also be used as a labelling tool, where numbers are put on the drawing and
the corresponding description is written in the key.

Always keep in mind, annotation and labelling are to ensure clarity of the drawing.
You might consider whether it is better to label each individual item in a drawing, or to
number elements and have a key. Which one is easier to read? This will vary from one
drawing to the next.

Labelling a drawing and having the text on the drawing can clutter the information.
Make sure you keep the labels aligned and slightly away from the drawing to keep
things clear. If you are using arrows, try to keep them all at the same angles. A good
option is vertical, horizontal and 45 degree angle only if possible.

First In Architecture 14
09

LINES
There are a number of standard line types that indicate different things on a drawing.
Lines can be drawn to indicate hidden objects, cutting lines, boundaries and so on.
Lines can be continuous (ie solid) or dashed. They will also vary in thickness or line
weight. It is worth taking note of these line types and understanding when to use
them.

Continuous lines generally represent walls, columns and other major elements, with
different line weights assigned according to hierarchy of the element.

Dotted and dashed lines can indicate hidden items, or ceiling height changes,
wheelchair turning circles and so on.

The following are the most common line types you will encounter.

Boundary line
Cutting line

Object line
Hidden line
Centre line

Dimension line
Leader line
Break line

First In Architecture 15
Line Weights

Line weight is the thickness of the line on the page. A heavy line will represent cutting
planes and contours of an object, like a wall for example. A medium or lighter weight
line is used for secondary emphasis. Thin lines are used for dimension lines, leaders,
door swings and break lines.

First In Architecture 16
10

LEVELS AND
DIMENSIONS
Dimensioning provides accurate sizing on objects in the drawing. Dimension lines are
used to identify exactly where the dimension begins and ends.

Generally dimensions are drawn in order from outside, starting with the overall
dimension or outside dimension, then following with the smaller details in the space.

It is important to keep your dimensioning consistent in terms of both style and format.
Consider why dimensions are being added to the drawing. Dimensions are added to
walls, columns, doors, windows, openings, stairs and other elements of the
construction. Dimensions can be taken from the frame or finished surface, this will
depend on the type of drawing being produced.

Dimension lines are lighter than line weights used for walls and structural elements.
The dimension line is offset slightly way from the object, and does not touch it.
Arrows, dots, or ticks are used to cross the extension line with the dimension line.

Levels are added to both floor plans, sections and elevations to indicate external
ground level, finished floor level, and upper story levels.

First In Architecture 17
First In Architecture 18
11

NEXT STEPS
RESOURCES

You can find this Labelling and Annotation guide on our website:

02 - LABELLING AND ANNOTATION

Now that we have our covered how to label and annotate our drawings, we can move
on and start looking at drawing plans in detail. Check out the next part of the series,
here:

03 - PLANS

First In Architecture 19
DESIGN GUIDE
TECHNICAL DRAWING
03 PLANS

First In Architecture
 The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

© 2022 First In Architecture. All Rights Reserved.

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

01 Introduction

02 Types of Plans

03 The Floor Plan

04 Floor Plan Checklist

05 Next Steps

06 Thank you!
01

INTRODUCTION
In part one of our technical drawing series we looked at Layout, and part 2 explored
Labelling and Annotation. In this part of the technical drawing series, we will look at
Plans.

Depending on the nature and complexity of a project, the floor plan can contain
simple or complex information. It may be that a number of different floor plans are
needed to represent all of the information required, or that just one floor plan will
suffice. It is also worth mentioning, that floor plans are required to show a different
level of information depending on the stage of the project.

For example, at early planning stages, plans tend to be more basic, providing
necessary information to a planning department in order for them to decide whether
they will grant permission for the project. A construction drawing, on the other hand,
will required detailed information on how the building will be constructed, focusing
on many aspects of the project.

When you start drawing your plans it is important to note the stage of your project,
and what information you are conveying, and to whom.

First In Architecture 4
02

TYPES OF PLANS
Architectural planning drawings

Let’s start with the basic floor plan. A planning drawing will be required by a planning
department in order for them to decide whether to approve the application.

The floor plan must contain some standard elements that will help your reader
understand the drawing. Some of these basic requirements are:

Walls
Main openings in walls (window and doors)
Partitions or internal walls
Door swings
Room names
Grid reference if relevant
Stairs
Fixed furniture
Loose furniture suggestion
Sanitary fittings
Cupboards

First In Architecture 5
Separate from the building itself, the drawing must show a north point, which allows
the reader to orientate the building, along with a scale bar. It is also important to note
on the plan the entrance to the building using an arrow and “IN” or “ENTRANCE” label.

The scale at which you present the drawing will dictate how much information will be
shown on the drawing. For example, you could consider including dimensions,
annotations or labels where necessary, hatching or shading, section markers. This
information would most certainly be included in construction drawings, but may not
be required at this stage.

First In Architecture 6
Architectural Construction Drawings

Construction drawings need to provide more detailed information to the reader and
will be used to gain building regulation approval, and later to construct the building.
Due to the amount of information displayed, it is sometimes necessary to divide the
general arrangement floor plan into elements so that the information remains clear to
the reader. For example, services, such as mechanical and electrical services may be
displayed on a separate floor plan for clarity.

A small project can be displayed at a larger scale on the paper, and therefore it is
often possible to keep all of the information on one plan.

If a complex project requires separating into a selection of drawings, the content of

these could be:

Primary elements (walls, frames etc)

Secondary elements (doors, internal walls, window information etc, suspended
ceilings)
Finishes
Services
Fixtures and Fittings
Other

First In Architecture 7
03

THE FLOOR PLAN

A floor plan is considered a horizontal section of the space at about 1 – 1.2m height.
Anything above the 1 – 1.2m height, should be shown as a projected line of the
element above this height, using a dashed line. An example of this may be a kitchen.
A standard floor plan will show the kitchen worktop, sink, hob, but the elements
above the 1m line, ie, wall cupboards, cooker hood etc will be shown as a dashed line,
to indicate their position. It is fair to assume a higher cutting plane in cases where
there is a tall or high window to ensure it is included on the plan.

First In Architecture 8
Let’s take a look at the main elements we are representing on a floor plan:

Structural and non structural walls

At planning stages we may only show the walls as simple thick lines or hatch filled
lines, but in later stages of design, we will show the walls with hatch, denoting the
material used in the construction.

In some cases, a key may be used to demonstrate the different wall build ups, and a
simple number reference added to the plan.

Walls are drawn with heavy lines so that the spaces stand out clearly, built in
furniture, and other objects are drawn with medium lines which shows a level of
hierarchy. In some cases, the furniture can be drawn in a light grey (if using cad) which
gives the suggestion of furniture layout without detracting from the construction
information in the drawing.

First In Architecture 9
Doors and windows

For planning drawings we will display a simple door with swing showing which way
the door will open and which side of the door the hinges will be. Similarly, a window
will be displayed in a simple manner – like the images below.

For construction drawings we require more information about the doors and
windows. These can be represented in a number of ways. Typically, the doors will be
annotated with a door number, and possibly further information. The doors will
correlate with the door schedule, which will list out all of the doors in the project, by
number, and give further details of the door – ie, fire rating, dimensions, glazing,
ironmongery and so on.

First In Architecture 10
Windows will also be displayed with a number and possible additional information
(dimensions or perhaps sill height). The windows will again correlate with the window
schedule, where each window in the project is listed out by number, with further
details. Some window and door schedules include examples of how the window is
displayed in plan, elevation, and in 3d, but we will get to that later.

Stairs

Stairs are shown on floor plans in different ways according to the complexity and
detail required. A stair will show an UP arrow, showing the direction travelled to go up
the stairs. If we are looking at a floor plan at ground level, with a stair going to first
floor level, the lower half of the stair will be drawn using a solid line, at the point we
go above our 1m height, the stair will be drawn as a dashed line, or with less detail.
Break lines are also used to distinguish between different stairs. Some examples of
stairs are shown below.

First In Architecture 11
When showing a stair from the first floor, going down to the ground floor, we still
show the upward arrow. The lower part of the stair is then greyed out.

Ramps

Similar to stairs, ramps are shown with an arrow in the upward direction. The ramp
can also be labelled with the gradient, and any other relevant information.

First In Architecture 12
Levels

Our floor plans will show finished floor levels, changes in levels, and ceiling heights.
These can be demonstrated in a number of ways. An area of the plan that is clear to
annotate, can simply have the word FFL: 0 (finished floor level), or a symbol marker
can be used, see below.

If there is a small level change on the same floor plan, it is good practice to show the
finished floor level for both sides of that level change.

For ceiling heights, it is common to see CH +2400 (ceiling height 2400mm). However
you choose to show the levels, make sure you remain consistent throughout your
drawings.

Dimensions

The floor plan should include dimensions of wall locations, wall thickness, openings
and distances between structural elements.

How these are displayed can very. There is a fine line between providing relevant
dimensions and complicating the plan with necessary information.

Dimensions between walls can be from the structural frame (ie, excluding finishes) or
from finished surface. The structural option gives the builder the exact location of
studs, columns, beams etc. Make sure the dimensioning option used is displayed on
the drawing notes. Centre lines are also used for dimensions.

First In Architecture 13
Dimension lines are drafted in a lighter line weight as not to be confused with
structural elements. Where possible dimension lines should be placed externally, to
keep the inside of the building uncluttered for other information. Internal dimensions
will be placed within the building.

Generally, dimensioning a building will require two or three continuous dimension

lines to locate exterior walls, interior walls, windows, doors, and other elements.
When placing the dimensions on the exterior of the building, the outermost
dimension will give the overall building dimension. The next line, moving inward
toward the plan, will provide wall locations, and doors and windows. If required, a
third dimension line can show other details.

First In Architecture 14
If your dimensions are cluttering the floor plan too much, you could consider having a
separate dimensioned plan, and keep just a few key dimensions on your main plan. It
is not necessary to dimension everything in the plan, make sure you don’t dimension
the same measurement twice or over clutter with unnecessary dimensions.

Items overhead

Similar to the kitchen unit example we used earlier, any items overhead, such as
changes in ceiling height, can be displayed using a dashed line, usually with a label to
provide further information.

Accessibility

Demonstrate wheelchair access / turning circles, where appropriate, showing a

dashed line circle with dimension according to building regulation requirements.

First In Architecture 15
04

FLOOR PLAN
CHECKLIST
General drawing
Drawing sheet title block
Drawing Title
Scale and north point
Doors with directions of swing
Windows
Door and window labels/numbering
Room names / numbers clearly labelled
Stairs clearly indicating ‘up’ or ‘down’ with appropriate dashed lines above 1m
Overhead dashed lines indicating objects or ceiling changes overhead
Accessibility information, such as turning circle for wheelchairs

Annotations and labels

Floor levels
Changes in levels, steps, stairs and ramps
Label main components or reference them to a key/legend
Note ceiling heights / changes in height (if project is small and doesn’t require
reflected ceiling plan)

Dimensions
Dimension wall locations (and note whether the dimension is taken from face of
wall, centre line or other surface)
Dimension walls to structural components
Give angles in degrees if necessary (ie, walls not at right angles)
Give diameter of any circular elements, curved walls or similar
Dimension stairs
Dimension openings
Dimension built in items, cabinetry, partitions (or on separate plan)

First In Architecture 16
05

NEXT STEPS
RESOURCES

You can find this Plans guide on our website:

03 - PLANS
Now that we have our covered how to make our plan drawings, we can move on and
start looking at drawing elevations and sections in detail. Check out the next part of
the series, here:

04 - ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS

First In Architecture 17
DESIGN GUIDE
TECHNICAL DRAWING
04 ELEVATIONS AND
SECTIONS

First In Architecture
 The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

© 2022 First In Architecture. All Rights Reserved.

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

01 Introduction

02 What is the difference between a

section and an elevation?

03 Elevations

04 Checklist for Elevations

05 Sections

06 Checklist for Sections

07 Next Steps

08 Thank you!
01

INTRODUCTION
In part one of our technical drawing series we looked at Layout, and part 2 explored
Labelling and Annotation. In part 3, we looked at Plans.

In this part of the Technical Drawing series we are going to explore elevations and
sections. We will look at the differences between elevations and sections, what
information should be included in them and finish with our drawing checklists.

First In Architecture 4
02

WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
A SECTION AND AN
ELEVATION?
An elevation shows a vertical surface seen from a point of view perpendicular to the
viewers picture plane. For example if you stand directly in front of a building and view
the front of the building, you are looking at the front elevation.

A section, take a slice through the building or room and show the relationship
between floors, ceilings, walls and so on.

In a standard set of architectural plans on a small residential project, the elevations

will most likely be a set of drawings from the main facades of the building. For
example, front, back and two sides – or north, south, east and west.

The sections would most likely be two or more sections cut at 90 degrees of one
another to give information on both directions of the space. We will explore all of
these options in more detail.

First In Architecture 5
03

ELEVATIONS
The elevation can be both an external elevation, like a building facade, or an internal
elevation, like a wall in a kitchen. Elevations are shown as a flat plane, but depth can
be indicated with line weights and shading if appropriate.

Scale of the elevation will be dependent on the information shown. Usually an

external elevation will be the same scale as the floor plans that it corresponds with,
however, an interior elevation, which is usually showing more detail, may be at a
larger scale.

External Elevation

The external elevation will show a vertical surface or plan seen from a perpendicular
point of view. It could be that you only need a set of four elevations, or you may need
many more. For example, the building may have courtyards, a complicated floor plan
that requires more communication of the elevations. Usually the elevations are titled
according to the compass direction they are facing, ie north, south and so on.

The elevation will often show materials and finishes of the building, and possibly
some context to the building depending on the scale. Elevations can show gridlines
and finished floor levels, and depending on the stage of design can show
window/door numbering and dimensions. The elevation needs to show the reader
information that cannot be seen on the plan. For example, a complicated brick pattern
will only be visible on the elevation and cannot be communicated through the plan
alone.

Showing context to the building on the elevation is also useful to the reader. For
example, external landscaping, levels of paths that surround the building and other
key features are useful when reading the elevations.

First In Architecture 6
BIT Sports Centre Atelier Alter Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/946387/bit-sports-center-atelier-alter-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

First In Architecture 7
Wellness Centre DLIM Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/951654/wellness-center-dlim-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects

Tree House Monoarchi

https://www.archdaily.com/898342/treewow-o-a-tree-house-of-curved-round-roof-monoarchi?
ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects

First In Architecture 8
Daniela Betancourt
https://www.behance.net/anadanbetancoarq

Internal Elevations

Internal elevations are drawn to provide further information that cannot be seen in the
floor plans or sections. For example, a floor plan of a kitchen does not show whether
the kitchen units contain cupboards or drawers, and how many. The internal elevation
gives detailed views of the interior, with attention to heights, materials and finishes,
surfaces, cabinetry, doors, objects and dimensions.

Finishes can be demonstrated using hatches and labelled using leaders or a key.
Interior elevations will show dimensions for clarity, particularly heights which may not
be shown on the floor plan.

First In Architecture 9
First In Architecture 10
PRSHNY
https://www.behance.net/prshny

First In Architecture 11
04

CHECKLIST FOR
ELEVATIONS
General drawing
Drawing sheet title block
Drawing Title
Scale
Doors
Windows
Door and window labels/numbering
Show door swing with dashed line
Reference other drawings if necessary

Annotations and labels

Label materials/finishes
Windows and door labels
Finished floor levels
External levels where appropriate
Changes in levels, steps, stairs and ramps
Label main components or reference them to a key/legend

Dimensions
Dimension wall locations (and note whether the dimension is taken from face of
wall, centre line or other surface)
Dimension heights of important items (interior elevations)
Dimension walls to structural components
Give diameter of any circular elements, curved walls or similar
Dimension built in items, cabinetry, partitions (interior elevations – if necessary)

First In Architecture 12
05

SECTIONS
A section is a vertical cut through a space. Sections describe the relationship between
spaces and different levels. The position of the section cut line is important, as this
will need to show the most useful information about the space it is cutting through.
Usually two section cuts are used at right angles to one another so the reader can
see the space in both directions.

The section line of cut is indicated in the floor plan, with an arrow or marker showing
which way the section is looking. The section marker on the plan will reference the
drawing number of the section and the layout sheet it is located on.

Sections will often show an indication of structure, foundations and so on – but the
amount of information shown will depend on the stage of design.

Early stages of design may just show a solid hatch for the cut surfaces like walls and
floors, but later in more detailed design, a more detailed drawing may give an
indication of construction and materials.

Sections can be drawn of a complete building, a small interior space or even an

object. It is important to consider what you are trying to show with the section and
how much information the reader will need in order to understand your design. If your
section is part of a set of construction drawings it will be showing the reader how the
building is constructed, so things like dimensions, floor levels, materials and finishes
will be shown. If it is a section drawing for planning, you may omit some of the more
detailed information for more of a feeling of the space.

Sections can be a great addition to a presentation board, and are often used in visual
displays. However, here we are focusing more on the technical section drawing,
rather than the graphic/visual representations we often see on the likes of Pinterest
or Instagram. So, the examples below are some sections that are more geared toward
construction and planning drawings rather than presentation sections.

First In Architecture 13
BIT Sports Centre Atelier Alter Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/946387/bit-sports-center-atelier-alter-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

First In Architecture 14
Wellness Centre DLIM Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/951654/wellness-center-dlim-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects

First In Architecture 15
Tree House Monoarchi
https://www.archdaily.com/898342/treewow-o-a-tree-house-of-curved-round-roof-monoarchi?
ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects

Baan Priggang Bodinchapa Architects

https://www.archdaily.com/950240/baan-priggang-bodinchapa-architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

First In Architecture 16
Daniela Betancourt
https://www.behance.net/anadanbetancoarq

IAgora Unparelld Arquitectes

https://www.archdaily.com/938463/agora-unparelldarquitectes?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects

First In Architecture 17
06

CHECKLIST FOR
SECTIONS
General drawing
Drawing sheet title block
Drawing Title
Scale
Materials are rendered using recognisable hatches or symbols
Use different line weights to communicate cut objects, depth and hierarchy
Reference other drawings if necessary

Annotations and labels

Label materials/finishes
Windows and door labels
Finished floor levels
External levels where appropriate
Changes in levels, steps, stairs and ramps
Label main components or reference them to a key/legend
Room name labels
Depending on purpose/nature of drawing section, note cabinetry, appliances etc.

Dimensions
Dimension heights of important elements such as floor levels
Dimension any important items that cannot be shown on the plan
Dimension built in items, cabinetry, partitions (if necessary)

First In Architecture 18
07

NEXT STEPS
RESOURCES

You can find this Elevations and Sections guide on our website:

04 - ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS

Now that we have our covered our elevation and section drawings, we can move on
and start looking at construction drawings in detail. Check out the next part of the
series, here:

05 - CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS

First In Architecture 19
DESIGN GUIDE
TECHNICAL DRAWING
05 CONSTRCUCTION
DRAWINGS

First In Architecture
 The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

© 2022 First In Architecture. All Rights Reserved.

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

01 Introduction

02 Construction Drawings - What are they?

03 What is included in a set of architectural

construction drawings?

04 What information is in a construction

drawing?

05 Detail Drawings

06 Schedules

07 Next Steps

08 Thank you!
01

INTRODUCTION
In part one of our technical drawing series we looked at Layout, and part 2 explored
Labelling and Annotation. In part 3, we looked at Plans and part 4 was all about
elevations and sections.

In this final part of the Technical Drawing series we are going to explore construction
drawings.

AD-01 House Diaz Fernandez Arquitectos –

https://www.archdaily.com/910032/ad-01-house-diaz-fernandez-arquitectos?ad_medium=gallery

First In Architecture 4
02

CONSTRUCTION
DRAWINGS – WHAT
ARE THEY?
Working drawings, construction drawings, detailed design drawings…. they are called
many different things, but what are they?

Once a design has been approved at early stages, either by the client or by planning
authorities, it is time to start developing the information into detailed drawings. These
drawings will start to develop the design, look at how the building will go together,
how the services will be implemented into the design, finishes, fixtures, fittings, and
more. Construction drawings form part of the overall documentation that is used for
tender, for the contract between the employer and contractor, and for the
construction itself. The construction drawing provides a graphic representation of
how the building will be built. They will be as clear as possible, and easy for the
construction team to read. It is vital that the drawings do not lead to any
misunderstandings which could cause errors or delays.

Construction drawings are usually accompanied by a specification document.

Specifications detail all the materials, techniques and standards that must be adhered
to in order to construct the building.

A set of construction drawings can vary widely from project to project. A small
residential extension will obviously not need as much information as a new build
school for example.

The set of construction drawings will often contain information from external sources,
such as engineers drawings, M&E (mechanical and electrical) design, interior design,
amongst others.

First In Architecture 5
03

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN
A SET OF
ARCHITECTURAL
CONSTRUCTION
DRAWINGS?
A set of construction drawings usually contains the following drawings at scale:

Floor/roof plans – a GA (general arrangement) drawing will give an overview of

the building plan
Elevations – these give information on the external finishes, windows, and so on
although most detailed information will be in the plans and sections, the
elevations tend to be more of a visual aid.
Sections – show the construction of the walls and floors along with heights, levels
etc.
Details of specific parts of construction – usually connections and junctions and
any other areas that will need attention, windows for example or change in
materials etc.
Window/door schedules – listing the windows and doors, with all associated
information (this is sometimes listed as a text document, and sometimes a
drawing showing each window style, size, information etc.)

First In Architecture 6
Other drawings include (depending on project):

External works and drainage plan

Landscaping plans
Furniture plan
Reflected ceiling plan
Foundation plans
Demolition plan
Finishes plans

First In Architecture 7
04

WHAT INFORMATION IS
IN A CONSTRUCTION
DRAWING?
Construction drawings are used to construct the building, so it is important they
contain everything the contractor needs to build.

This will include information such as structural layout or grid, dimensions, clear
labelling of elements. To give an idea of the general requirements of construction
drawings, the list below looks at each type of drawing and what will usually be
included. This is not an exhaustive list, so if there is anything you would like to add
just drop me an email or please comment below!

Floor Plan Construction Drawing

Names of rooms
Scale
Dimensions
Size and build up of both external and internal walls and partitions (sometime a
key/legend is used for this)
Location of any structural elements such as beams, columns, lintels, etc
Stair information and direction
Any references to section lines and detail drawings
Material details, specifications or notes
Heating and ventilation details (could be a separate drawing)
Electrical information (could be a separate drawing)
Water and drainage information
Fire safety information
Building levels (finished floor level, external ground level etc)

First In Architecture 8
Elevation Construction Drawing

Scale of drawing
Dimensions
Finished floor levels and external ground level
Claddings, finishes etc
Roof shape, slope and materials

Sectional Construction Drawing

Scale
Dimensions
Size and build up of both external and internal walls and partitions (sometime a
key/legend is used for this)
Location of any structural elements such as beams, columns, lintels, etc
Stair information if applicable
Any references to detail drawings
Material details, specifications or notes
Heating and ventilation details if applicable (could be a separate drawing)
Electrical information if applicable (could be a separate drawing)
Fire safety information
Building levels (finished floor level, external ground level etc)
Foundation information

First In Architecture 9
AD-01 House Diaz Fernandez Arquitectos –
https://www.archdaily.com/910032/ad-01-house-diaz-fernandez-arquitectos?ad_medium=gallery

First In Architecture 10
05

DETAIL DRAWINGS
Detail drawings usually at a scale of around 1:20, 1:10 depending on the project and
information. These will demonstrate junctions, complex parts of the build, typical
details and anything else that will assist the contractor in executing the build
effectively. They are sometimes referred to as assembly drawings or component
drawings depending on the specific drawing subject.

The key to drawing details, whether a construction detail or technical drawing of a

piece of bespoke furniture, is clarity. You want the drawing to be as clear to the
reader as possible. This means line weights that show the hierarchy of the drawing,
clear annotations, clear layout of the drawing sheet.

Usually junctions are a focus of detail drawings, as we need to understand how two
different planes, or construction types will join together. Every aspect of the detail
needs to be communicated so that nothing is left to guess work or imagination.

First In Architecture 11
Nursing Home Extension by Studiolada –
https://www.archdaily.com/923858/nursing-home-extension-studiolada?ad_medium=gallery

First In Architecture 12
06

SCHEDULES
Schedules are lists or tables of information that describe exactly what item, product
or element is being specified and all of the accompanying details. The schedule will
clarify sizes, location, finishes and other information related to the project.
A schedule could be created for:

doors
windows
finishes
lintels
fittings
and more

The most common schedules are window and door schedules and finishes
schedules. Some examples below:

Window Schedule 1
https://www.jonathanbraddick.co.uk/linnershwood.php

First In Architecture 13
Door Schedule
http://i-design-ltd.co.uk/index_files/Page380.htm
https://www.wspa.co.uk/j1604-wd-10-a-door-window-schedules/

First In Architecture 14
Window and Door schedules

A door schedule will identify each door by a number or other designation that is
shown on the floor plan. The schedule will show the quantity required, the
dimensions of the door, material, ironmongery, swing direction, and any other
relevant information.

Sometimes the door schedule is a simple list or table, or alternatively it includes

elevation images of each door type. This type of schedule is easy to generate when
working in BIM programs such as Revit or ArchiCAD.

Window schedules are similar, including window number, quantity required,

manufacturer, type, sizes, opening, materials and finishes.

Again, the window schedule can just be a list, or include images of each window type
in elevation.

Finishes Schedules

A finishes schedule is created to show the finish materials to be applied to each wall
and floor surface. These are particularly useful on larger projects.

The schedule usually includes room names, surface, type of finish, and any other
relevant comments. The finishes could be paint colours, tiles, panels and so on.

The finishes schedule often has corresponding reference labels to the plan for clarity.

First In Architecture 15
07

NEXT STEPS
RESOURCES

You can find this Construction Drawings guide on our website:

05 - CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS
Check out the other parts in this series:

01 - LAYOUT

02 - LABELLING AND ANNOTATION

03 - PLANS

04 - ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS

First In Architecture 16
08

THANK YOU!
I hope you have found this guide useful.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

If you have any questions or comments please send me an email at -

[email protected]

Thanks again,
Emma
https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/

HAPPY DRAWING ;)

Author

Written by Emma Walshaw, founder of First In Architecture and the

Detail Library. Emma developed First In Architecture to help students
with their studies. She loves to take complicated topics and break them
down into simple explanations.

First In Architecture 17