Discover how to read and interpret the plans of a building, starting with the understanding of the title block, the graphic scale, and how to estimate measurements. Learn about the significance of different dimensions and what they represent, and the importance of consulting with the architect or designer for specific measurements.
Key Insights
- The title block located at the lower right corner of the sheet provides important information about the plan, including the page number.
- Understanding dimensions within a building plan is vital; the first dimension offers a general overview, the second dimension pertains to the main sections, and the third dimension indicates measurements from wall to wall.
- While the graphic scale provides an approximate measurement, it is recommended to consult with the architect or designer for specific measurements to avoid discrepancies.
Let's start by looking at the plan of the first floor of the residence. Again, in the lower right corner of the sheet is the title block. You can see that we are on page A1-0.
The graphic area for the house is around here. You will also notice that there is a graphic scale that is down there. So let's get closer to that area.
You can see that it shows 0, 1 foot, 2 feet, 3, 4 to 8 feet and there are smaller increments there. Right there. The drawing is a quarter inch equal to a foot.
If you were to print this drawing, independently, you could always take this area, the graphic scale. And you could copy it, place it against something to confirm that it is approximately a measure. The general rule is that you never take the scale out of the plans.
If you have a question, you get in touch with the architect, you get in touch with the designer, and you say, What is the dimension from here to here? Do not measure it yourself. But the graphic scale tends to be a very good way to let people estimate information approximately. Now, as we begin to develop the building, you will notice many similarities with what we have covered before.
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In the sense that you have the building, you have dimensions that surround the building. Now let me tell you about some of the procedures on how dimensions normally work. You can see that in this upper row, we have three rows of dimensions.
The first dimension is typically a general dimension. So, this is saying that it is around 80 feet, 7 inches. The dimension line would go to the inclined bar here.
So the initial dimension goes down here to the outside face of the frame of the construction. Now notice that some of the walls are dark and some of them have small lines of plot in them. The walls that are dark represent the wood that forms the frame of the building.
The shaded areas on the outside represent the brick coating. So, again, what we are showing is that the dimension of 80 feet 7 inches, goes from the outside frame to the left, to the dimension line, up and down. I'm just following down here.
To the outside frame here. So, the first rope is typically general. The second rope is typically for the main batches in the building.
So, what we are saying is, that there are 7 feet from the outside of the frame in this corner to the outside of the frame in this corner. And there are 48 feet 9 inches from the outside corner here to the outside corner of the porch here to the right. And there are 4 feet 10 inches from the outside corner of the porch to the outside corner of the building.
The next rope, what we are trying to do is indicate the measurements from the face of the wall to the face of the wall. You will see that it measures 5 feet and 7 and a half inches from the outside left face of the frame here to the right face of the frame here. Now, this next dimension, you can see that the line is not entirely solid.
It is what we would call a central line. And this shows that there are 5 feet and 8 inches from this corner of the frame to the central line of the window. And 5 feet and 7 and a half inches from the central line of the window to this corner of the frame.
You can see a note here, you see a number inside a hexagon, that is the symbol of the window number. So, what is happening is that this window, in this main room is window number 5. And when we start entering the window schedule, you will learn more about this specific window number 5. Here in the bathroom to the left, you can see that there is a symbol number 4. And if I pan, you can see that window 4 is 4 feet 3 inches, the center of the window is 4 feet 3 inches from the outside corner of the frame to the central line of the window. Well, let's continue with this train.
We had 5 feet 7 and a half inches from the outside corner to the edge of the wall. 5 feet 8 inches to the central line of the window. I see the symbol of the window and I also see a key note.
And then, once again, I continue my dimensions to the corners of the frame. And again, you can notice here that it is 8 feet 1 inch from this corner to the central line of the column here. 4, 5, from the central line of the column, the central line of the door, and so on and so forth.
So again, you are seeing consistency in the drawings. If I look here to the left, again I have my chain of general dimensions. I am showing a dimension for this exit, it is like 2 feet 6 from this corner to this corner down here.
And, then again, you see large gaps in the building within 2 minutes 6, 29 feet 2, 11 feet 5, and so on. The third rope, interior walls and also showing dimensions to central lines of windows. All windows have window symbol numbers on them.
And again, it is consistent throughout the building.