Interpreting Technical Drawings and Plans

This module covers the knowledge, skills and attitudes on

analyzing and interpreting symbols, data and work plan based on

the required performance standard.

Engineering drawings are typically used as visual tools in

the creation of homes, bridges, and other buildings. While these

drawings can be quite straightforward to individuals who are

skilled in the field of engineering or architecture, they can be

quite difficult to interpret for laypeople. Knowing how to read

engineering drawings will help provide you with a better idea of

the building plans.

LO1. ANALYZE SIGNS, SYMBOLS AND DATA

 Drawing Symbols and Signs

Drawing symbols provide a common language for draftsman all

over the world. However, if symbols are not drawn according to

relevant standards or conventions they are considered worthless.

Below are the illustrations of common drawing symbols in floor

plan.

Different Door Symbols

 Sliding Door

Sliding doors are designed and either constructed inside or

outside of the wall. It is installed on tracks so that they

can slide in horizontal direction.

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 Pocket Door

Pocket doors are designed, constructed and installed in-

between of two walls or inside a wall and they are slide

horizontally on tracks.

 Swing Door

Swing doors are designed, constructed and installed in a door

jamb. They are hinged either left or right side of the door so
that they open in or out.

 Bi-fold / Accordion Door

Bi-fold doors are designed and constructed of an assembly of

two or more panels hinged together so they can open or closed

in a confined space.
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Different Window Symbols

 Casement: Swing Window

Swing windows are designed and constructed within a frame and

it is hinged in upper and lower portion of the frame. It is

either hinged on the left or right side and opens out.

 Casement: Sliding Window

Sliding windows are designed and constructed within a frame

and it is installed in window jamb so that they slide

horizontally. To open and closed, as opposed to opening, in or

out, on a hinge.

 Casement: Hung Window

Hung windows are designed and constructed of upper and lower

window sash that slide vertically past one another in a single

casement.

 Casement: Fixed Window

Fixed windows are designed and constructed that do not have

sashes of the window that are built to open or close.

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 Casement: Awning Window

Awning windows are designed and constructed within a frame and

it is hinged on the upper part of the frame that is connected

to the window jamb. It opens outward from below.

 Casement: Hopper Window

Hopper windows are designed and constructed within a frame and

it is hinged on the bottom part of the frame that is connected

to the window jamb. It opens inward from the top.

 Casement: Centered-Pivot Window

Centered-Pivot Windows are designed and constructed that

rotates horizontally about its center line. The pins of a

window sash are centrally located in the frame.

 Jalousie Window

Jalousie windows are designed and constructed within a set of

movable glass slats. When the window is closed, the slats rest

against each other and they are opened, they separate.

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Different Stair Symbols

 I-staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed in single way

up or down.

UP

 L-staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed with single

station or landing and formed like letter L.

UP

 U-staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed with single

station or landing and formed like letter U.

UP
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 T-staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed with single

station or landing and formed like letter T. It has two single

ways up or down.

UP UP

 Arc Staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed in single way

up or down with an arc shape designed.

UP

 Spiral Staircase Design

This type of stair is designed and constructed in a spiral

single way up or down.

UP
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Different Column Symbols

 Rectangular Column

This type of column is designed and constructed with a shape

of rectangle or square.

 Circular Column

This type of column is designed and constructed with a shape

of circle.

 Measurement and Dimensions

Measurement is the assignment of numbers to objects or

events. It is a cornerstone of most natural sciences, technology,

economics and quantitative research in other social sciences.

(en.wikipedia.org)
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  Dimensions can be defined as the measurement of distance

between two points. Since two points define a line, the units of

distance are sometimes called linear units or dimensions. Some

linear units are centimeters and inches, meters and feet,

kilometers and miles, to name a few. Dimensioning and its

guidelines have been discussed from the previous module.

Definition of Terms

 Arrowhead – it is usually place at the end of dimension

line.

 Dimension line – is a thin line, broken in the middle (or

sometimes solid line) to allow the placement of the

dimension value, with arrowheads at each end.

 Dimension value – is the number that is written between or

above dimension line.

 Extension line – extends a line on the object to the

dimension line. 

 Offset from dim line – it is the space between the dimension

line and dimension value.

 Offset from origin – it is the space between the extension

line and the object.

 Extend beyond dim line – it is the expansion of extension

line from dimension line.

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Arrowhead9 (Archite
Dimension Line
 Leader – it is a thin line used to connect a dimension withValue
Dimension
Extension Line
a particular area.
Arrowhead (Architectural Tick)
Dimension Line
Dimension Value
Extension Line
2.00

Leader

2.00
R0.25
Unit conversion Leader

Conversion is the process of alteration between different

R0.25
units of measurement for the same quantity, typically through

multiplicative conversion factors.

Units of Conversion: Linear Measure

Essential to the understanding of unit conversion is the

understanding equivalence, the understanding of the

multiplicative identity of 1, and how the two are related.

LINEAR MEASURES
1 mil 0.001 inch
1 inch 1,000 mils
12 inches 1 foot
3 feet 1 yard
5.5 yards or 16.5 feet 1 rod (or pole, or perch)
1 mile 5280 feet
40 rods 1 furlong
8 furlongs 1 mile
3 miles 1 league
1 millimeter 0.03937 inch
10 millimeters 1 centimeter
10 centimeters 1 decimeter
10 decimeters 1 meter
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10 meters 1 decameter
10 decameters 1 hectometer
10 hectometers 1 kilometer
10 kilometers 1 myriameter