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TECHNICAL DRAWING: ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS

Technical Drawing: Elevations and
Sections
Table of Contents 

1. Technical Drawing: Elevations and Sections

1.1. What is the difference between a section and an elevation?
1.2. Elevations
1.2.1. External Elevation
1.2.2. Internal Elevations
1.2.3. Checklist for Elevations:
1.3. Sections
1.3.1. Checklist for Sections:
1.4. You Might Also Be Interested In:
1.5. Image Credits
1.5.1. Elevations
1.5.2. Sections

In Part 4 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.
 

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.
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.
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.
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)

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.

​
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)

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Image Credits
Elevations
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
 
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
 
Daniela Betancourt
https://www.behance.net/anadanbetancoarq
 
Sections
Baan Priggang Bodinchapa Architects
https://www.archdaily.com/950240/baan-priggang-bodinchapa-
architects?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all
 
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
 
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
 
Agora Unparelld Arquitectes
https://www.archdaily.com/938463/agora-unparelldarquitectes?
ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_projects
 
PRSHNY
https://www.behance.net/prshny
 
Daniela Betancourt
https://www.behance.net/anadanbetancoarq
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