Universal System of Measurement

Dimensions specify measures of straight and curved lines, surfaces, areas, angles, and
solids in construction drawings.

On drawings, dimensions are shown in either feet or meters.

On the triangular architect's scale, there are 11 scales:

 1/16” =1’-0”
 1/8” = 1’-0”
 1/4” = 1’-0”
 3/8” = 1’-0”
 3/4” =1-’0”
 1/2” =1’-0”
 1” =1’-0”
 1 ½” = 1’-0”
 3” =1’-0”
 3/32” =1’-0”
 3/16” =1’-0”

Dimension Conventions

Both feet and inches are shown, even if the dimension has no inches, the zero remains part of
the dimension.

When dimensions are small (less than 1 foot), only inches are used. •

Dimensions are actual building sizes regardless of the scale used

Study the contract documents carefully before deciding regarding the dimensions in question.

Steel section: W8 x 32

Using Drawing Scales

Everyone working in the construction project uses scales to rapidly compare the true
dimension of an object to how it is depicted in a drawing.

When the scale of a drawing differs from that stated in the title block, it is normally noted in
the title block or right below the view.

When sketching buildings to a given scale, a simple ratio is used to maintain the drawings'
link to the real size of the building or object.
Some drawings in a set may not have a scale, and are noted “NTS” or “Not to Scale”

Architect’s Scale

Most engineering scales are physically like architectural scales and are founded on the same
principles, with the exception that measures are divided into tenths, twentieths, and so on.

The engineer's scale is always employed as a ratio scale, with one inch equaling a certain
value.

There are six scales on the engineer's scale: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60.

Every unit on the engineer's scale is divided into ten equal parts, as is the case with any
decimal-based system.

Civil Engineer’s Scale

For engineering scales, one inch on the drawing (or map) is always the standard.

It's worth noting that all engineer's scales refer to a power of 1 through 6; in other words, an
engineer's drawing will be confined to scales like:

1" equals 5'

1" equals 50'

1" equals 500'

You must always decide what one inch on the scale represents when using an engineer's
scale.

You might potentially measure a line at 1"=6' using the engineer's scale marked "60." 1"=60',
1"=600', and a variety of additional "ratio" scales in which the second number starts with a 6.
1 inch is divided into equal decimal units of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 80 on the civil
engineer's scale. Plans created in 10 scale may include scales such as 1-inch equals 10 feet
and 1-inch equals 100 feet. For scales like 1 inch = 2 feet, 1 inch = 20 feet, and 1 inch = 200
feet, the 20 scale is utilized. The values grow by multiples of 10 whether you choose a 10
scale, a 20 scale, or a 50 scale. For example, in a 50-scale design, 1-inch equals 5 feet, 1-inch
equals 50 feet, and 1-inch equals 500 feet.

Architect’s Scale

Smaller Dimensions

Major Unit= 1 Foot

Divisions= inches

Civil Engineer’s Scale

Larger Dimensions

Major unit 1 inch= 10’s of feet

Divisions= 10th

Metric Scale

Architectural Lettering

On construction drawings, lettering is utilized to add information that assists comprehension

and expresses intent.

Without writing, a construction design or drawing rarely conveys an accurate description of

the product.

Additional labels, annotations, and dimensions are nearly always required to clarify the
component's size, type of materials, and position.

As a result, drawings are a means of communicating information to others, and language is

one of the most common media for transmitting information in the form of notes, titles,
dimensions, and so on.

Architectural Lettering
Although many various styles can be utilized, these are the most used lettering styles for
technical drawings.

Techniques for Lettering

Letter spacing should be sufficient to distinguish between words.

Throughout the text, the spacing should be consistent.

Using a Scale and Reading a Scale Assignment

1. Draw 14-inch guidelines with 1/8-inch spacing between lines, then write the alphabet,
your name, and digits 0-9.

2. Draw one set of 1/8" guidelines with a space between them of 1/16" guidelines and write
the same as above.

3. In #1, repeat the 14-inch letters with 1/8-inch spacing.