What is a construction drawing?

It is a pictorial representation of the various building components viewed from different angles, detailing all the views along with the dimensions providing a holistic technical draft of the actual project. A construction drawing is the in-depth understanding of the construction project applied on a smaller scale and thus comprises a variety of categories.

Procedure to create drawings

Block Plan

It provides the site layout of the interior project as well as around the area to the scale. A basic overview of elements like boundaries, roads, and other details when seen through an aerial view. Recommended scales with respect to Ordinance Survey Maps are 1:2500, 1:1250 and 1:500

Architectural drawing

They are useful for portraying the specific building’s layout and all the building components with a brief description of each acting as a blueprint for assistance to the engineers to construct the same in reality. Types of architectural drawings are foundation plans, floor plans, sectional and elevation drawings.

Production drawings

It indicates the functional operations of the engineers and laborers. It explains the equipment required, dimensions, and other information during the construction stages. It involves some things related to the process of meeting the standard requirements.

Structural Drawings

The structural Drawings are also an integral part of civil engineering drawings. They convey the physical structural framework of the building and work as the structural design manual to the on-site people. General types of structural drawings are as follows:

• General Note: This section contains different codes, abbreviations, processes, rules and regulations, and so on for an overall view for completion of the work assigned of the proposed project. Some parts of the general note are mixed design calculations, structural details, and types of construction elements. 
• Excavation Drawing: Before the actual work starts, the excavation drawing mentions the locations and their measurements for the procedure of excavation and specifications like soil removal, tunneling, plans, and so on for beginning the groundwork.
• Column Layouts: Column structural drawings place columns appropriately for the contractors to visualize the building layout and mark the positions and intervals between the columns.
• Beam Layouts: Inclusive of all the beam structures like holding roof and windows or for toughness.
• Roof slab layouts: It comprises the precise measurements of all slabs necessary for rooftops. The plan can be generated on AutoCAD software for further accuracy.

Electrical drawings

The power outlets, wiring system, electrical appliance fixtures, and so on are all essential for proper planning of electrical units beforehand. It also contains generators, layout for cable trays, protection of circuits from external damage, and danger or caution area signboards.

Plumbing drawings

For pipe fittings and sanitary ducts, along with correct planning of the drainage disposal is crucial to avoid future issues. Determining material, outlets, and positions of pipelines are created in plumbing drafts.

HVAC drawings

The heating and ventilation systems need to be allocated prior and the framework, central cooling, vents are worked out efficiently.
Other major types of drawings are environmental plans, finished and firefighting drawings.

Techniques necessary for drawing plans

Recent technical transformations like 3D software design, CAD, and BIM permit drawings to be created virtually and faster with precision on computers. But hand drawings hold equal importance due to deep understanding and minute detailing of components.

• Line weights are utilized for delivering the sketch depth using a variety of stationary with varied thicknesses like technical drawing pens. They convey the importance of the particular element with respect to the thickness of the line used.
• Varying line weights of different length measurements give a sense of expression.
• Hatching or shading gives the surface a different identity when observed as a 3-D perspective sketch. 
• Contrast varies with the foreground having higher contrast and lower contrast being in the background for a sense of depth.
• Some drawing sections may be more detailed and have higher contrast than others to attract the eye of the viewer to the most vital section.
• A tracing paper is used to place one drawing over the other either to redraw it or keep it as guidelines for making a more detailed sketch above it following the lower drawing capable of having as many iterations as possible.
• Several conventional projections represent 3-D objects in 2-D planes.
• Items like stencil, T-square, set square, drafters, rolling scale, HB pencils are a few conventional items useful for symmetrical lettering, detailing, and precise measurements for neat, clean, and aesthetically pleasing drawing.
• Ink can be taken off from tracing paper with a razor blade, and transparent tapes are used that do not appear when the draft is produced again.

Conclusion

Drawing plans takes immense effort and accuracy. However, with the upcoming software technology in the market, the task has become easier. Nowadays, real estate development has become fast-paced and demand for new construction projects has increased because of many people migrating to urban places in search of a better livelihood. Thus, the industries, ventures, and companies need to meet the people’s and community’s expectations and open newer opportunities. The drawing techniques need to be adopted for attracting the client’s attention and convincing them to invest in the property. Although BIM and CAD present the drawing virtually and are much hi-tech in terms of almost everything, manual drawing in the initial stages gives a better understanding and analysis which is a traditional practice, yet followed to date.

Context and Application

This topic is taught in courses like:

• Bachelors of Technology (Civil Engineering)
• Masters in Science (Computer Aided Drafting)
• Masters in Science (Structural Engineering)
• Masters in Science (Building Information and Technology)

Practice Problems

Q1. What is the full form of HVAC?

1. Heating and Ventilation System
2. Heating and Violation System
3. Hammering and Ventilation System
4. Heating and Ventilation Synchronization

Correct Option: a

Explanation: The full form of HVAC is the Heating and Ventilation System.

Q2. Which of the following is/are the type(s) of technical drawings?

1. Production drawings
2. Architectural drawings
3. Structural drawings
4. All of these

Correct Option: d

Explanation: Production drawings, Architectural drawings, and Structural drawings all are types of technical drawings.

Q3. The drawing technique that lets us use the below drawing as a reference and draw on a different surface is

1. By using a technical pen
2. By using tracing paper
3. None of these
4. All of these

Correct Option: b

Explanation: The drawing technique that lets us use the below drawing as a reference and draw on a different surface is by using tracing paper.

Q4. Which is one of the recommended scales is with respect to the Ordinance Survey Maps?

1. 1:100
2. 1:250
3. 1:500
4. 1:750

Correct Option: c

Explanation: 1:500 is one of the recommended scales is with respect to the Ordinance Survey Maps.

Q5. Which of the following is false?

1. Varying line weights of different length measurements give a sense of expression.
2. Construction uses the actual dimensions as on the site
3. Ink can be taken off from tracing paper with a razor blade
4. None of these

Correct Option: b

Explanation: A construction uses the actual dimensions as on the site.

Related Concepts

• Manual drafting
• T-scales
• Structural drafting
• Construction drawing principles