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CPCCBC4014
Prepare simple building sketches and
drawings
Application
This unit of competency specifies the skills and knowledge required to
establish estimated costs associated with the acquisition of materials and
labour for building and construction projects. It includes factoring in relevant
overhead costs and margins.
Pre-requisite Unit
NIL
Competency Field
NIL
Unit Sector
Building and Construction
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Table of Contents
1 Introduction...........................................................................1
2.3 Consider purpose and presentation of drawings and sketches and the
intended audience
41
2.3.1 Purpose of drawings and sketches........................................................41
2.4 Determine format of information and select and inspect equipment for
serviceability
43
2.4.1 Determine format of information...........................................................43
3.1 Establish and record measurements, information and details required for
drawing and sketches
55
3.2 Transfer vital information into two-dimensional and three-dimensional
drawing and sketches
57
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3.3 Create sketches and drawings using standard drawing conventions to
detail vital information
59
3.3.1 Scales.............................................................................................59
3.3.2 Dimensions......................................................................................60
3.3.3 Use scales and dimensions to detail vital information................................61
3.4 Produce sectional drawings to clearly identify and label elements and
components
63
4.1.2 Symbols..........................................................................................68
4.1.3 Abbreviations...................................................................................71
4.2 Include drawing, job title, scale and sheet number in the title block........73
4.3 Produce completed drawings in an appropriate form for presentation....75
5 References...........................................................................79
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1 Introduction
Construction plans, drawings and sketches are important parts of the
construction process. Building plans provide technical specifications in a format
that is understandable by professionals working in the building and construction
industry.
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Clearly establishes the dimensions of each and every space present in the
building.
Helps to plan various phases of the project right from installation of footings
to setting up of roofs.
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Apart from that, there are other elements that are to be considered in the
preparation phase to help in creating sketches and drawings. These elements
include knowing the purpose of the drawings and how drawings will be
appropriately presented to the intended audience. This requires one to
determine the format of the information to be presented and inspect the
equipment that will be used to create and present the sketches and drawings.
In this chapter, let us learn how to prepare to make sketches and drawings,
including:
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Some of the terminologies and their descriptions essential for this chapter are listed
below:
Site plan
Floor plan
Elevations
Sectional views
Architectural plan
Structural plan
Mechanical plan
Electrical plan
Presentation drawing
Isometric drawings
Orthographic drawings
Perspective drawings
Legislation
Acts
Regulations
Standards
General Requirements
Performance Requirements
Intended audience
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Format of information
Hardcopy prints
Project schedules
Methodologies
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Key features refer to drawing elements that are typically included in construction
plans. It is essential for a construction professional to know and understand
them since each key feature functions differently in terms of the information it
provides. Key features of a construction plan include the following:
Site plan
A site plan is a drawing that provides an overview of the entire property. It shows
all site elements to be considered in the construction of a building and gives an
idea of the entire scope of work involved in the project. Additionally, a site plan
is usually drawn at a smaller scale to make sure that all the required information
is placed in the drawing sheet. A sample site plan can be seen on the next page.
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A site plan can be used for purposes such as identifying adjacent roads,
identifying the location of the project site, determining structures to be retained
or demolished, and determining the building layout and orientation. Below are
the key features of a site plan, according to the Department of Training and
Workforce Development (2016). Note that the numbers below correspond with
the labels in the sample site plan.
4. Verge – refers to the portion of land between the block and the road, which
usually has services running beneath it. Since this is not part of the block, it
must not be built on or modified in any way.
5. North point – shows where the north direction is. This dictates the orientation
of the building and the entire site.
7. Finished floor level – refers to the finished floor level of the building to be
constructed
11. Existing trees – refers to the trees that exist in the site. They are specified as
site elements to be retained in the sample site plan.
12. Contour lines – refers to imaginary lines, which describe the profile of land.
In the site map sample shown, block is sloping down from north to south.
13. Contour level – refers to the ‘reduced level’ of the contour. In the site map
sample show, the contour lines are in one-metre intervals.
14. Datum – refers to a reference point on or near the block upon which all site
elevations are measured from.
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17. Boundary length – refers to the length of the boundaries of the block
18. Setback – refers to the distance from the front boundary to the nearest part
of the building
19. Offset – is a distance from side boundaries to the nearest part of the building
21. Crossover – refers to the continuation of the driveway across the verge
23. Clothes hoist – refers to the positioning of the clothes hoist in the site
Floor Plan
Refer to the floor plan when identifying the different furniture and appliances to
be used for the building. Additionally, use it to identify the function of the
different building spaces and their dimensions. Other types of information that
can be acquired include, but are not limited to, the following:
Location of appliances
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Layout of walls
Width of stairs
Arrangement of furniture
Sub-Floor Plan
Elevations are views that show the vertical projection of the building as it can be
seen on the outside. In other words, it shows how the building façade looks like
at the front (front view), back (rear view), and sides (right side and left side view).
This allows one to analyse the relationships of components found only on the
building exterior (e.g. wall finish). Other details that can be obtain from
elevation views include the floor-to-ceiling height and roof height.
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On the other hand, sections are views showing how a structure looks like with
respect to an imaginary vertical plane that cuts through it. This imaginary cutting
plane allows one to see through the interior of the structure, which is otherwise
concealed by the exterior walls. Since section views allow one to look at the
building interior, one can analyse the relationships among and integration of
building interior elements. Additionally, section views allow one to identify any
variations in a floor level. Other details, which can be obtained from section
views, include but are not limited to the following:
Floor-to-ceiling height
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Details
Generally, plans are drawn in the appropriate scale for a drawing sheet to cover
the necessary information. However, there are instances when one needs to look
deeper into a certain part or component of a building for the purpose of
examining it. This is when detail drawings come into play.
Details are drawings that provide large scale views of parts or components of a
building in order to examine and analyse intricate details and any complex
configuration. For example, let us assume that the width and thickness of the
stair tread and the measurement of the stair rise should be identified. To identify
them, look into the stair detail drawings.
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Figure 12: Schematic layout of wiring
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Ceiling height is the clear distance between the top of any floor to the bottom
roof or slab. The standard ceiling height for most houses in Australia is 2.4m.
However, you can pay extra for it to be higher at 2.55m, 2.7m or 3m when
building.
The dimensions shown on drawings for internal walls always refer to the dimensions of
structure. Structure means masonry and timber framing and does not include
finishes such as plasterboard, render and skirtings. The internal room sizes will
be different when thicknesses of internal finish materials taken into account.
Ceiling height dimensions are said to be defective if they do not comply with the
requirements of the BCA. Within the first 12 months from completion of the
work, ceiling height dimensions are defective if the variations in ceiling height
does not comply with the contract and such deviation adversely affects the safe
use of the building.
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Wall penetrations
Drawings show that internal walls have a plaster finish, but specification tells the
plasterer how to – ‘bring walls to a reasonable flat surface by the application of a
cement render float coat while the plaster is setting’. Moreover, constructions
shall be immune to all types of penetration within the service life of the structure.
Failure to prevent penetrations will hamper the working as well as aesthetics of a
building.
An electrical plan consists of drawing of power supply wirings and light fittings
along with a legend for understanding the purpose of the part or object.
Services
Every building and construction drawing must include services like water supply,
power; means of communication etc. For instance, in case of natural calamities
like earthquake, floods, hurricanes etc., occupants of that building should be able
to reach to a point of safety. Along with, secure communication with task
response force for emergency evacuation of the occupants.
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In a building project, there are different types of plans that serve different
purposes and contain specific technical details regarding the different areas of
construction. They can be used to visualise how the finished project will look like.
Refer to the table below for a summary of the different types of construction
plans and their corresponding descriptions and information provided.
Type of
Construction Description Information Provided
Plan
Perspective view
Detail views of
architectural elements
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Mechanical Drawings that contain the Size, and layout of
specifications related to type,
mechanical equipment and ducting
processes, such as heating,
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Schedule of loads
Plumbing Also known as, plumbing and Sizes of water supply
and draining drainage plans, these drawings
provide visual representations of pipes Pump capacity
elements related to plumbing
Quantity of pumps
systems. These plans serve as a
guide in the installation of water
Layout of piping for
supply and drainage
potable and non-potable
components such as pipes,
water
fixtures, valves, sanitary ware, etc.
Manhole schedule
While the types of construction plans consist of the key features discussed in the
previous section, they are also composed of the different types of construction
plan drawings.
Refer to the table below for the types of construction plan drawings and their
respective description.
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Situation 1
The client intends to see all the spaces or rooms in the building, including their
corresponding positions and dimensions.
Identify the correct type of plan, which provides information regarding building
spaces and their corresponding positions and dimensions, which in this case is
the architectural plan. Refer to the details in the architectural plan and select the
floor plan. By selecting the floor plan, one can now see and obtain the necessary
information regarding the building spaces and their positions and dimensions.
Situation 2
The client intends to visualise how the building looks like at the front, sides, and
Identify the correct type of plan, which in this case, is the architectural plan. Refer
to the details in the architectural plan and select the elevations view. Now,
through the elevations view, the front, sides, and rear view of the building can
be seen.
Situation 3
The client intends to visualise the position of the building with respect to other
structures or elements that can be found in the property or block.
Identify the correct type of plan, which in this case, is the site plan. Refer to the
details in the site plan and select the drawings which show the outline of the
perimeter of the building. Based on that outline, the building position and
orientation, as well as the location of other site elements such as trees, fences,
shrubs, etc can be seen.
It is essential to confirm that the construction plan complies with build and
construction regulations, standards, and codes. While the next section defines
the meaning of regulation, codes, and standards, the following sentence
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discusses a
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brief overview of the difference between them. Regulations set out the specific
requirements of a particular act, while codes of practice and standards provide
practical information on how to meet these requirements. Failure can cause
delays to the project, safety issues, possible fines and the possibility of the
construction plans rejected by the building authorities.
It is essential to understand the difference between acts and regulations, defined as:
Regulations Regulations
Act (Class 2, 3, Act (Class 5, 6,
State/Territory (Class 2, 3, and (Class 5, 6,
and 9) 7, and 8)
9) 7,
and 8)
Building Building
Australian
Building (General) Building (General)
Capital
Act Regulation Act Regulation
Territory
2004 2008 2004 2008
Building Building
Northern Building Building
Regulations Regulations
Territory Act Act
1993 1993
1993 1993
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Building Building
Building Building
Queensland Regulation Regulation
Act Act
2006 2006
1975 1975
Supported
Supported
Residential Health Care
Residential Health
South Australia Facilities Regulations
Facilities Act Care Act
Regulations 2008
1992 2008
2009
Building Building
Building Building
Tasmania Regulations Regulations
Act Act
2016 2016
2016 2016
Residential
Tenancies
Public Health
Residential (Rooming Public Health
and Wellbeing
Victoria Tenancies Act House and
Regulations
1997 Standards) Wellbeing Act
2019
Regulations 2008
2012
Health Health
Private
(Construction (Aquatic
Western Housing Act Hospitals and
Work) Facilities)
Australia 1980 Health
Regulations Regulations
Services Act
1973 2007
1927
Environmental Requirements
Construction methods that neglect to control pollution can cause lasting and
permanent damage to land, groundwater, and their surrounding environment.
The environmental risk is greater in construction projects that take place near
creeks, waterways, and coastal areas.
Construction in metropolitan and built-up areas can lead to air and noise pollution
in surrounding communities and neighbourhoods. To address these, building and
construction projects must follow the environmental requirements to address
construction-related issues and problems.
Refer to the table below for the environmental acts for each state/territory.
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2006
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Workplace Safety
The building and construction industry is associated with high-risk work, hazards,
and injuries. It is essential for contractors, builders, and all personnel on
construction sites to adhere to workplace health and safety requirements and
legislation. Workplace Health and Safety covers regulations about on-site and
workplace health, safety, and welfare. It covers all workers, including:
Employees
Outworkers
Volunteers
The WHS legislation per state/territory and its corresponding regulator shown below.
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Each state/territory also has its own Construction Code of Practice. A Code of
Practice provides practical guidance to principal contractors and other persons
conducting building work on how to meet the WHS legislation and requirements.
The following table shows the relevant codes per state/territory with the links to
their websites.
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Scaffolding in this Guide means the individual components, for example tubes,
couplers or frames and materials that when assembled form a scaffold.
Scaffolding classified as plant under Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act.
The sequence of work must be planned and followed for each type of scaffold to
be constructed. The sequence of work should include consideration of the
following unless an alternative process has been developed that provides an
equivalent or higher level of work health and safety. Prior to erect or install a
scaffold, proper base protection has to be provided. Erect a scaffold by
appropriate techniques and use appropriate personal protective equipment
(PPEs).
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All electrical wiring systems selected, installed according to the standards and as
per the requirements of power supply. Proper planning and detailing is necessary
along with utmost care when laying power cables. Any loose electrical
connections can lead to short-circuits and electrocution to the people in contact
with electric field.
Social and cultural services – Involve every employee for community services.
For instance, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives help in creating
awareness among local community by engaging them on a contract basis.
Hazards are inevitable but predicted and prevented by following appropriate risk
management methods. Following are few major hazards associated with
construction industry include the following:
Hazard Description
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form a part of working site. On top of
these factors, it is also significant
that movement usually occurs within
sites, which are uneven and difficult
to manoeuvre around.
Asbestos
Dynamites
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Copper-Chromium-Arsenate
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Personal protective
Purpose
equipment (PPE)
Head protection A hard hat protecting the head from impact with a
variety of features. The outer cover deflects and resists
blows, and internal shell like suspension structure
expands to absorb and distribute the impact shock.
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Sunshade protection Protects its user from harmful UV rays of the sun.
Face or eyes protection Protects the face from physical, electrical, chemical,
biological and wind hazards.
Hearing protection When worn properly, hearing devices reduces the noise
sensitivity and risk of hearing impartment.
Respirators These are apparatus worn over mouth, nose i.e., entire
face for preventing dust, harmful gases, air borne
diseases, smoke from being inhaled. For example,
working in confined spaces, concealed services,
directing visitors and public from dusty workplace.
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Safety hand gloves They are protective clothing made of leather/cloth for
hands. Sometimes, gloves has sheaths or openings for
each finger and thumb, but this does not guarantee
protection for each finger. However, they may
guarantee for protection from electrocution when
working for concealed sources.
Workplace processes
Workplace safety
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Fire safety signs –advises the location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment.
Signs Examples
Emergency signs
Mandatory signs
Danger signs
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Fire safety signs
Warning signs
Prohibition signs
Environmental requirements
Dust and noise – Minimise the dust by wetting the surfaces and minimise the
noise by soundproofing the workplace. Do not involve people during cutting or
drilling of tiles keep them away from noisy areas.
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NCC refers to National Construction Code. The Australian Building Codes Board
(ABCB) produced and maintained the NCC on behalf of the Commonwealth,
State and Territory Governments. The drawings and sketches should be
developed after understanding the minimum mandatory requirements for safety,
health, amenity, and sustainability. This makes sure that the building to be
constructed is compliant with NCC requirements right from the design stage.
Building work defined broadly in the NCC and includes following activities:
Construction
Alteration
Extension
Restoration
Repair
Demolition
Dismantling
The NCC incorporates all building work requirements into a single code
containing three volumes. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is divided into
Volumes One and Two, and the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) is Volume Three.
The Volumes of the NCC covers different building classifications:
Volume One of the NCC covers the technical design and construction
requirements for all Class 2 to Class 9 buildings (multi-residential, commercial,
industrial, and public assembly buildings) and all their associated structures.
Volume Two of the NCC covers the technical design and construction
requirements for certain residential and non-habitable buildings and structures,
specifically Class 1 and Class 10 buildings. Volume 2 of the NCC contains further
information on the performance requirements that builders are expected to
adhere to during the building process.
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Volume Three of the NCC (Plumbing Code of Australia) pertains to plumbing and
drainage system of all building classifications.
All aspects of the building, including structural details, must comply with the
NCC requirements, which are:
General Requirements
They contain the rules and instructions for using and complying with the NCC.
They serve as a guide in understanding how the technical requirements applied
to any particular situation. The Governing Requirements are outlined in Section A
of Volume One, Section 1 of Volume Two and Section A of Volume Three. These
provide the rules and instructions for using and complying with the NCC, including
the following:
Classification of buildings
Performance requirements
These are requirements that state the minimum level of performance for buildings,
as well as plumbing and drainage installations. These requirements can be
achieve through compliance options, such as performance solutions, deemed-to-
satisfy solutions, or a combination of both. The NCC classifies buildings based on
the nature, use and arrangement of buildings. These are define as follows:
The NCC legally applies in all the respective state/territory legislation. Any NCC
provision may be overridden by or subject to the legislation of the state or
territory. As such, they must always be read in conjunction with each other. The
preparation of building drawings and sketches is part of the planning of the
building/structure that will be constructed. As the NCC sets out the technical
provisions for design, construction, and performance of buildings and plumbing
and drainage systems, these requirements must be reflected in the building
drawing and sketches (during the planning stage), i.e. drawings and sketches at
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this stage must show that the
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This standard contains general rules for the presentation of lines in all kinds of
technical product documentation, including preparation of lines by CAD systems,
basic conventions, and applications for leader lines and reference lines, lines on
construction drawings, etc.
1. Access and review the building and construction plans of the project being
undertaken.
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Fire safety
Energy efficiency
To illustrate the steps further, refer to the format below. One can use this type
of format or modify it as necessary. Note that the requirements stated on the
first columns of the tables are only a few of the applicable building and
construction requirements. In the workplace, first list down all requirements that
apply to the building and construction project being undertaken.
Building regulations
Building standards
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NCC Requirements
Fire safety
Energy efficiency
Construction plan
Requirements Explanation
complies with these
requirements
Part 2.6.1 Building of the NCC Yes No
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Three essential considerations before making the sketches and drawings are
presented in this section. Refer to the figure below for these considerations.
The purpose of drawings and sketches vary from project to project, and it highly
depends on the many building and construction factors such as the nature of the
project, the parties involved, etc.
While considering the purpose of drawings and sketches, identify the importance
of having a particular building and construction component sketched and drawn.
In other words, establish the reasons why the selected building and construction
components need to be drawn. Below are some examples:
The entire site property needs to be sketched in order for the property owner
to see the adjacent streets surrounding the property.
The details for the stairs need to be drawn in order for the structural engineer
to have an idea of the thickness of stringer beams intended by the architect.
Note that the examples above are not exhaustive. These serve only to guide the
purpose of making drawings and sketches.
While the previous section focused on the purpose of drawings and sketches, it
indirectly tackles the topic on the intended audience. Refer back to the three
examples in the previous section. One can see that a person/personnel is
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involved
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when considering the purpose of drawings and sketches (refer to the text in bold):
The entire site property needs to be sketched in order for the property owner
to see the adjacent streets surrounding the property.
The details for the stairs need to be drawn in order for the structural engineer
to have an idea of the thickness of stringer beams intended by the architect.
the client
surveyors
engineers
landscapers
environmental agencies
In summary, while considering the intended audience, ask questions such as:
In this section we will learn how to present the drawings and sketches to the
intended audience. In considering the presentation, ask these questions:
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What is the most appropriate way to present the drawings and sketches in
order for the intended audience to properly understand the information?
The entire site property needs to be sketched in order for the property owner
to see the adjacent streets surrounding the property.
The drawings and sketches related to the site property can be presented through
blueprints, wherein lines, symbols and abbreviations are utilised. This will allow
the property owner to get the information needed through the labels.
The details for the stairs need to be drawn in order for the structural engineer
to have an idea of the thickness of stringer beams intended by the architect.
There are several approaches to this situation. One way is to present the detail
drawings through blueprints. This will allow the structural engineer to see all the
necessary details related to the thickness of stringer beams. Alternatively, present
the detail drawings through CAD formatting, which allows the structural engineer
to manipulate the view as necessary and easily incorporate revisions or
comments. In some cases, structural engineers and other specialist personnel
prefer this type of presentation.
The topic of the presentation of drawings and sketches in Section 2.3.3 is somehow
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Hardcopy Prints
Hardcopy prints are traditional formats for presenting drawings and sketches.
These are also referred to as printouts as they exist as physical objects. Although
hardcopy prints are being replaced with softcopy or digital information formats,
they are still highly used, especially on construction sites where it is difficult or
impracticable to use equipment (i.e. computers) to access and read softcopy
formats. Hardcopy prints can be produced with the use of technical drawing by
hand or computer- aided design.
CAD or computer-aided design drawings are drawings created and modified with
the use of computer software (e.g. AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp). These drawings
may be two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) illustrations or models
created and used by engineers, architects, and construction managers to create,
modify, analyse or enhance precise drawings of the building and its components.
CAD drawings can be presented in either hardcopy prints or digital format
(e.g. .cad,
.pdf, etc.). Hardcopies of CAD drawings can be used for on-site jobs or tasks,
while digital CAD drawings are more convenient for office works since they do not
occupy additional storage space and can be easily sent, accessed, and modified
through a database or cloud storage. Accurate drawings with precise
measurements can be drawn with the help of these software. Hence, they are
preferred in a construction project. Additionally, digital drawings allow for more
precise viewing of construction components which is more convenient for use
than hardcopy prints.
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Figure 23: Computer aided design (CAD)
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Engineers
Consultants
Clients
Architects
Surveyors
Contractors
Builders
Each professional will contribute to the process with their tools, plans, and
knowledge to coordinate the project and ensure its completion. BIM generally
includes a full 3D view or digital model of a building project. BIM is used across
the world for a wide range of commercial, residential, and civil construction
projects and is an effective way to solve problems and simulate the construction
process before commencement. This process allows professionals to identify issues
and solve them in the early stages of the construction project.
What makes it different from CAD is that BIM is used more for real-time
collaboration among different construction personnel. BIM allows construction
personnel from different areas of the construction (e.g. structural, architectural,
plumbing, etc.) to point out areas of conflict and any discrepancies present in
the model. Using the BIM model, they can easily brainstorm and make the
necessary changes to resolve identified conflicts before the construction of the
building project.
For example, if the drawings are presented to industry specialists (e.g. structural
engineers, consultants), it is more appropriate to use CAD format for the purpose
of allowing the specialist to quickly incorporate changes and comments into the
CAD drawing. However, if it is presented to builders and other site personnel, it is
better to present the drawings in hardcopy prints.
For clients, present the drawings in the form of PDF files or a video animation and
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The policies and procedures may state that for internal use, digital construction
blueprints must be strictly used in order to reduce costs and waste. Therefore, it
is best to take note of the organisation’s ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ in relation to the
format of information.
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Specialised pencils
Drafting tape
Dividers
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Rules
Erasers
Vellum paper
Vellum is a unique type of paper used for arts and crafts.
Though it used to refer only to a type of paper made
from calfskin, modern vellum made from cotton and
wood pulp. It can be used to make greeting cards or
scrapbooking, as well as for tracing designs.
Sketch pads
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can be used to drafting, technical drawings, and
orthographic, isometric and perspective drawings.
Drafting scales
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Pen and paper Pen and paper based record management systems
is now a traditional method of storing construction
records and other documents. Now days this type
of technique is not recommended and replaced by
cloud-based recording and storing.
Ensure to consider the serviceability of the tools and equipment that will be used.
Inspecting for serviceability means checking that the equipment or tool to make
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sure it fits the purpose and has no faults or issues. Apply the processes below in
inspecting the serviceability of equipment:
Check for faults or jams in manual tools, such as cracks, dents, chips, etc.
For checking the equipment for faults and serviceability, follow the organisation's
processes for reporting faulty equipment. This may include filling out a form for
maintenance requests or replacement requests.
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To provide with a more detailed study, this chapter will thoroughly discuss creating
simple sketches and drawings, including:
Line-types
Scales
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drawings
Dimensions
Sectional drawings
Workplace Processes
Take note that the drawings and sketches that will be created depend highly on
the work processes of the organisation. Some of these aspects include:
For example, in an architectural firm, the construction plans available are most
likely architectural plans and specifications. This means that the plans for other
areas of construction (e.g. structural, mechanical, plumbing) will be sourced
from other industry designers such as structural designers, plumbing engineers,
electrical engineers, etc.
The process for creating building and construction plans highly affect the
currency of the plans. For example, when incorporating changes in the design,
check whether those changes are reflected in the plans. Ensure to be aware of
the process for doing any rectification works so as to account for any possible
delays.
Especially in the age of technology, there will be times paper blueprints will not
be preferred for a particular project. Instead, computers and drawing software’s
will be utilised in reading and interpreting plans. Some examples of construction
drawing software include AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD, and Sketchup. The function
and interface vary, depending on the software used. Therefore, take note of
what software is being used in the workplace and get familiarised with the same.
Construction Methods
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Timber post and beam construction – refers to the method of using heavy
timbers instead of dimensional lumber. Connections in this method are made
usually with plates or bolts.
Wall thickness
Elevation
Floor surface
Section sizing
Apart from meeting minutes template the formal document or template used by
the organisation can also be used for recording purpose. Apart from the meeting
minutes during the client brief, ensure to refer to the construction plans and
record the necessary information that supplements the details during the initial
client brief. For example, during the initial client brief, the client requires the
following:
Wall finishes
Height of building
Record and reflect the client requirements in the meeting minutes. Next, refer to
the construction plans and look for additional information that supplements that
has been noted down. Finally, note down the combined information using the
organisation’s formal document. The output would somehow look like the below:
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Line types further describe the relationships between space and the objects
represented, as well as hidden conditions. While there are conventions that serve
as a basis for the use of line types, take note that in some cases, the use of line
types may slightly vary from organisation to organisation. However, the
Australian and International Standards provide clear guidelines on how lines are
to be used on drawings.
Dotted Lines – represent components that are ‘hidden’ from view. Hence
these are also called hidden lines
Solid lines with a shaded fill or hatch – represent walls and other components
wherein thickness is to be emphasised (usually used in floor plan)
Dashed lines – Dashed lines are used to indicate concealed lines and edges
Another important element is the use of labels. Simply put, these are texts to
describe parts of the drawing and sketches. Remember that two-dimensional
drawings are also called orthographic drawings produced from projecting the
many sides of 3D objects. In contrast, 3D drawings are drawings that provide the
depth of the object and can be isometric, oblique or perspective views. To
illustrate this workplace task, the examples in the previous subchapter will be
used.
Structural Component
For wall bracings, specifically wall bracing adjacent to ceiling joists, use solid lines
to outline wall studs, ceiling joists, and the truss bottom. Project these
orthographically, although it is much better to use isometric projection since it
gives a better grasp of the details.
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From the image above, it can be seen that labels are affixed in the drawing to
provide a textual description of important parts of the drawing, such as the
measurement for long blocks. Additionally, the label specifies the ceiling joist or
truss bottom chord's layout or position against the wall bracing top plate. For the
details regarding plywood sheet bracing, the output would look like something
below.
In the image above, solid lines and dashed lines employed in this orthographic
drawing. Measurements for the nominal washer, sheet ply thickness, and spacing
of wall studs, all of which are required based on the initial client brief, specified
here and labelled accordingly.
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Non-Structural Component
Since the requirement is to see the front building façade, it is best to project the
building orthographically for a full front view. Use solid lines to outline the form of
the building and attach labels corresponding to the client requirements. Output
should look like the image below. As seen in the image below, elements such as
windows, doors, and others visible on the front façade can be seen. Additionally,
walls labelled according to the type of finish to be employed, as well as the
height of the building can be seen.
Scales
Dimensions
3.3.1 Scales
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When objects scaled up, one can see and examine the intricate details of a
component better. Refer to the table below for some examples of the ratio of
standard scale ranges and their corresponding description.
Ratio Description
For one unit of the drawing, the real size of the object is 100 times bigger;
1:100
Given the real size of the object, the drawing is 100 times smaller.
For one unit of the drawing, the real size of the object is two times
1:2 bigger;
Given the real size of the object, the drawing is two times smaller.
3.3.2 Dimensions
However, there are cases when these units of measurement are not indicated in
the plans. Still, this should not be a cause for confusion since the presence of
decimal points or commas, or the numerical values themselves, imply what unit
of measurement (i.e. whether millimetre or metre) is being used. Dimensions
and dimension lines play a crucial role in technical drawings by highlighting the
measurements of the object. Dimension and dimension lines are drawn with a
specific notation for ease in understanding even complex drawings.
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In some cases, building components are not drawn with dimension lines and
terminators but are displayed in the ‘length x width x height’ format. For
example, one unit of CHB may be displayed as 230 x 110 x 76.
With the knowledge gained from the previous sections regarding scales and
dimensions, one can now apply them to detail vital information in the 2D and 3D
drawings that are created.
Structural component
On the plywood wall bracing drawing below, it can be seen that that the scale
employed is 1:40 (refer to the red box). For this drawing, some dimensions are
incorporated in the labels (green boxes), similar to the drawing above, and
others use dimension lines and terminators.
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Non-structural component
Based on the drawing of the front building façade below, it can be seen that the
drawing is scaled 1:100 (refer to the red box). Additionally, the dimension of the
height of the building from ground floor level to roof level parapet (refer to the
green box) can also be inferred. The dimensioning for this drawing involves the
use of dimension lines and terminators (i.e. slash).
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Floor-to-ceiling height
Building height
Roof height
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Use hidden lines (characterised by dashes and short, broken lines) to convey
hidden edges and surfaces. These can also be used as dimension terminators,
if applicable.
To create the sectional view, use the building front view — the main drawing
produced in the previous section — as the reference. After this make a vertical
‘slice’ on the portion of the building whose elements and components need to be
identified and labelled. Use thick solid lines to outline elements and components
(e.g., floors, walls, etc.) that are included in the vertical slice. The walls and floor
of the different spaces or rooms in the building are outline with solid lines and
hatched or filled appropriately (refer to the scaled-up image below).
Blue circles – this type of fill or hatch indicates floors made of concrete
After outlining all ‘sliced’ elements and components with solid lines, outline the
elements and components that are not directly ‘sliced’ (i.e. elements behind the
‘sliced’ portion) with lighter solid lines. In the section view drawing discussed
earlier, some elements and components (e.g. ser, rails, the car in the parking
area and the photo-voltaic panels and wind turbines on the roof level) are all
outlined with lighter solid lines to indicate that these are found behind the
vertical slice. Next, label the building spaces or rooms appropriately. Labels to
indicate the space function such as guest suite, private outdoor living, parking,
basement parking, etc., attached. Make sure that the labels formatted in a
manner that they can be read easily and
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Including drawing and job title, date, scale and sheet number in the title block
Dimension Lines
Symbols
Abbreviations
Sheet layout
Title block
Job title
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Date
Scale
Sheet number
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North Arrow
Other symbols can be found in the ‘Legends’ portion of a particular sheet. Refer to
the image below for examples of symbols contained in the legend.
One may not encounter exactly the same symbols in different construction plans
since the elements and components vary from project to project. When applying
symbols in the drawings:
Avoid placing symbols where they overlap with other drawing elements such
as lines, shading, etc. Symbols must be place where to read easily avoid
confusion or ambiguity.
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Provide a ‘Legends’ portion where less known symbols are briefly described.
Putting a ‘Legends’ portion in the drawing simplifies drawings and makes
them more organised since the textual description is fixed in one place and
not all over the drawing sheet.
For making a ‘Legends’ portion, refer to the sample plan below and observe how
the legend is organised on the lower right quadrant of the sheet.
Say, for example, a site plan is being drawn (refer to the figure 41) of a building
and construction, project and the aim is to:
To establish the position of trees, use the tree symbol and place it near the label
‘exiting trees to remain’. On the other hand, place the north arrow symbol in a
space where it can be accommodated adequately. The output will look like the
figure 41 in next page. Refer to the red and blue circles for the tree symbol and
north arrow, respectively.
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4.1.3 Abbreviations
Like symbols, abbreviations are shortened forms of common construction
terminologies used to represent key information in the drawings. Abbreviations
are an important part of any drawing as they keep drawings clear and make
them easier to read. By simplifying notations using abbreviations, drawings will
not be cluttered with information that would otherwise make them hard to read
and may even cause issues locating important information.. Some abbreviations
that can be used in the drawing include the following:
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Avoid placing abbreviations where they overlap with other drawing elements
such as lines, shading, symbols, etc. Abbreviations placed appropriately for
easy location.
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makes them more organised since the textual description fixed in one place and
not all over the drawing sheet.
For example, say, while drawing the floor plan of a residential building,
specifically the ‘Ensuite’ (refer to the figure above), the components should be
clearly labelled as follows:
Vanity basin
Water closet
Floor waste
Shower Recess
4.2 Include drawing, job title, scale and sheet number in the
title block
Job Title – refers to the project name and project details, including client
information and site address.
Date – refers to the actual date the drawing in the sheet drawn initially.
Scale – refers to the scale the drawing plotted or printed to convey size. Note
that on some sheets, drawings presented in different scales. Thus, the
corresponding scales for each drawing observed.
Sheet layout
Sheet layout refers to the arrangement of all drawings, including the title block
(covered in the succeeding discussions), in the drawing sheet. The sheet layout
for all types of plans (i.e. house plans, floor plans, site plans, elevations, etc.),
when drawn, should be compliant with the Australian Standard AS 1100, Part 3
Architectural Drawing. The standard outlines where things should be located on
the page and how different elements of the design should be drawn,
abbreviated, and annotated.
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Title Block
A title block is an important element of any drawing or plan and provides vital
information to assist in reading and understanding the document. Every drawing
sheet will have a title block. Usually, title block is located on the bottom right-
hand corner of the drawing sheet or, sometimes, at the top right corner,
depending on the architect or building designer. The title block will show
important administrative details, including:
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Glossary of terms
While different builders might present their designs slightly differently depending
on their preference and the software they use, it is still essential that the
information is presented clearly and accurately.
On completing the sketches and adding all the relevant information, produce the
completed drawings in the appropriate form. The illustrations below demonstrate
the type of sketches in their final form.
Cover Sheets
Generally, cover sheets feature the exterior of the house by displaying the
perspective view of the building. Usually, each organisation follows a template or
format for presenting completed drawings. For this reason, cover sheets from
different building organisations differ. In some cases, cover sheets provide a
brief overview of the project plan, including placements, information and
layouts. Additionally, builders will also include general notes which apply to the
entire build and contains information such as:
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Structural notes
Floor Plans
Floor plans show the layout of a structure or property from above. The
illustration below demonstrates the type of information that needs to be included
in the floor plan.
Ensure that measurements are accurate and precise before signing off the final
floor plan. A wide range of stakeholders and contractors will be relying on the
floor plans to determine positions, fixtures, material costs and labour costs.
Mistakes found after construction commencement may lead to change orders,
extended deadlines, require a new set of drawings produced. The final
presentation of a floor plan will include the following information:
Title block
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Incorrect labels
Inaccurate measurements
Wrong scale
Incomplete drawing
Dimensions
Scale
Title block
Notes
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Section number
Type of view
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