MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

AR 1506 – ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING- STUDY NOTES

SEMESTER 5 – B BATCH
31/August/2018

TYPES OF DRAWINGS IN ARCHITECTURE

Architectural drawings can be broadly classified into the following

1. Presentation Drawings- Schematic drawings, Concept drawings etc

2. Working Drawings
3. Approval/ Sanction Drawings
4. Tender Drawings
5. Measured Drawings etc.

Presentation Drawings
Presentation drawings are used to communicate the form of the building in terms of shape, color
and texture. They are usually presented to the following stakeholders:
a. The client
 To help him/her in understanding of the program.
 To show the relationship of spaces and the general concept of the design.
 To illustrate the general appearance of the building. (The accommodation provided.
The effect of the overall scheme on the environmental)
 For the client’s approval
b. The public through periodicals, magazines and other publications.
c. Jury members during evaluation of design competition award.

Working Drawings
Working drawings are prepared to better communicate the intricacies of a design to the various
stakeholders involved in the implementation of the building design. They are provided to help in the
precise construction of the design as intended by the architect. Thus it has to be as detailed and
precise as possible.

FUNCTIONS OF WORKING DRAWING IN ARCHITECTURE

Working drawings essentially perform the following functions in architecture and construction
practices

1. Communicate technical information though out the building team

2. To show how to design is to materialize
3. Convey information’s for people concerned in erecting the building
4. Give information’s to specification writer
5. For instructing the contractors and other members of building team
6. Means of obtaining official approval.
7. Helps in the analysis of cost factor.
8. Establish use of materials.
9. Provides detail for tendering.
10. Indicate contractual committeemen
11. Indicate degree of supervision.
12. Demonstrate construction details.
13. Assist in the measurement of progress.
 14. Forms parts of documentation in site meetings.
15. Establish type and amount of labour requirement.
16. Basic for ordering materials and components.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD WORKING DRAWING SET

A good working drawing set should be

1. Clearly representative
2. Easily understood
3. Comprehensive
4. Free from necessary notes (repetitive details)
5. Accurately drawn (proper also in line work)
6. Drawn with appropriate symbols and proper convention
7. Dimensional well
8. Drawn by referring building code
9. Proper in graphical representation
10. Proper titled (information panel)
11. Logically and rarely arranged to give a balanced layout on the short paper
12. Drawn in appropriate scale

CONTENTS OF TYPICAL WORKING DRAWING SET

A working drawing set is the end result of a well-planned design exercise, wherein all the details are
thought out beforehand. It is usually done after the entire design is done. A normal working drawing
set comprises of the following drawings. However it is not restricted to the ones mentioned below:

1. A1 Site Layout
2. A2 Set out drawing
3. A3 Centre line drawing
4. A4 Foundation drawing
5. A5 Floor Plans
6. A6 Wall Sections
7. A7 Building Sections
8. A8 Elevations
9. A9 Flooring Layout
10. A10 Furniture Layout
11. A11 Reflected Ceiling Plan
12. A12 Door Window Joinery inventory and details
13. A13 Plumbing Drawing
14. A14 Electrical Drawing
15. A15 Toilet Details
16. A16 Internal Elevations
17. A17 Staircase Details
18. A18 Landscape/ Planting Drawing
19. A19 Other Miscellaneous Details

DISCIPLINE IN WORKING DRAWINGS/ STANDARDIZATION OF WORKING DRAWINGS

Standardization of working drawings is important since:

 1. The working drawing set will be used by various persons such as – engineers, consultants,
contractors, supervisors etc. Hence it is important that the drawings have a common
standardized drawing language for everyone to understand them uniformly.
2. Standardization needs to be done in terms of the following
a. Font
b. Text Sizes
c. Dimension style and dimension sizes
d. Line weight and type
e. Cross referencing tags used across drawings
f. Sheet layout formats
g. Representation of details
3. Conventions and symbols used should be uniform across all drawings in the working
drawing set

WORKING DRAWING SHEET FORMATTING AND COMPOSING

Mandatory things to be included in a typical working drawing sheet format

 Name, address, and phone number of the architectural firm
 Job Number
 Project title and address
 Owner's name and address
 Sheet number – A1, A4 etc.
 Drawing title
 Notation of who worked on the drawing including checking and approval authority
 Names and addresses of consultants
 Drawing Issue dates : Dates drawings were issued (such as for bid, permit, and
construction)
 Dates of revisions and details of revisions
 Architect's seal and signature (when required)
 Copyright information
 Key plans (showing location of partial plans in relation to the whole)
 North arrows
 Scales for drawings (graphic scales are normally included in case drawings are
reduced or CAD generated
 Legend
 Any special table of schedules (if applicable)

However there may be changes in the above things depending on the drawing

CROSS REFERNCING IN WORKING DRAWING

Cross referencing is the process of referencing one drawing from another by means of reference
bubbles/ tags.
Cross referencing is important because,
 Not all details can always be shown in the same drawing
 Cross referencing helps in avoiding repetitions of drawings
 It helps in removing errors in construction due to modified drawings not being used on site
As part of cross referencing it is important to write the sheet number in which the detail is to refered
and the drawing number in the sheet.

DRAWINGS AND THEIR CHECKLISTS

1. SITE PLAN

Site plan shows the overall profile of the site showings the top view of building, the location of the house on
the site (property) together with information on terraces, walks, driveways, contours, swimming pool, patio,
and utilities.

Site Plan- Checklist

1. Site boundary – chain line

2. Dimensions of all sides
3. Entry/ Exit points with width
4. All types of roads, walkways with different shading/ hatching
5. Location of building- roof plan with levels
6. Position and levels of staircase room, lift room, water tanks etc. on terrace shown
7. All levels with level tags
8. All side elevation tags
9. All side setback
10. All utilities- Location of septic tank, soak pit, rainwater harvesting tank, biogas plant etc. and its
dimension from site boundary
11. Location of trees in lighter line weight
12. Steps/ ramp etc. With direction and levels
13. Location of street lights, electric posts etc.
14. Location of basement in dotted (if applicable)
15. Adjoining building, streets, sidewalk parking, curbs parkways.
16. Existing structures and proposed structure.
17. Contours, existing, new: contour elevations.
 18. Dimension
- Property lines
- Side yards, pears, front yard
- Street center line
- Length of walks and walls
- Dimensions of building to property line
19. Fences, structural retaining walls, area ways and pools
20. North arrow
21. Drainage lines
22. All existing paving weather to remain or to remove, new paving, parking lots, steps, platforms, signs,
play fields, foundations, etc
23. Tree, shrubs, if exist
24. Legend showing all symbols and materials and materials used on the site.

2. CENTRE LINE DRAWING

A centreline drawing is done to facilitate the setting out of the building. It is not a compulsory
technical drawing to be provided, however it eases the preparation of the other subsequent plan
related drawings of the set.

Centreline Drawing- Checklist

1. Centre line of all walls in the ground floor with thick line weight
2. Grid lines in dotted line in thinner line weight
3. Grid numbers- Vertical numbers and horizontal alphabets
4. Site boundary in thinner line weight
5. Legend of line weights used
6. All dimensions
7. Grid to grid dimensions

3. SET OUT DRAWING

“Setting out” is the process of locating points for columns, site boundary level, pile position and
other necessary structural parts according to the construction drawing. Errors should be avoided
because the whole structure will be build based on the respective setting out. A setting out
should be made to full fill the requirements such as length, angle and level. A Setting out
drawing shows the exact position of various structural elements (columns, walls etc.), which has
to be translated onto ground.

Set Out Drawing- Checklist

1. Site boundary in thin line weight

2. All side dimensions of site
3. Centre line of building and its position (slightly thicker line weight)
4. Location of station points and its labelling
5. Distance from station points to all remaining points (thinner line weight)
6. Location of other major site features (trees, well, compound wall etc.) if being used as
station points
7. All wall dimensions
8. All other dimensions for cross checking with respect to station points
4. FOUNDATION DRAWING
The foundation for the floor plan of the designed building had to be made on ground. The
foundation drawing shows the profile of the foundation, the depth, its cross section, column/
wall foundation etc.
A. The foundation plan is a plan view in sections, which shows the location and size of footings,
piers, columns, foundation walls, and supporting beams. It is usually drawn after the floor
plan and elevations have been roughed out.
B. A foundation plan contains: Footings (hidden lines) Foundation walls Piers and columns
Dwarf walls (low walls to retain excavation or an embankment) Partition walls, doors, and
bath fixtures (if the house has a basement) Openings in the foundation walls (doors,
windows, and vents) Beams and pilasters Direction, size, spacing of floor joists, drains, and
sump (if required) Details of the foundation and footing construction. Complete dimensions
and notes scale of the drawing.
C. Foundation information should be presented using the proper symbols.

Foundation Drawing- Checklist

1. All foundation lines- different line weight (topmost line thicker and lowermost thinner) or
different colors
2. Section details showing parts of foundation, its dimensions and specifications, Ground Line
and its corresponding plan
3. Location of section lines and section tag
4. Centre grid lines with dimensions
5. Wall lines to be discontinued in case of door

5. DETAILED FLOOR PLANS

The floor plan is the heart of architectural drawings and is usually drawn first in professional
plans. It is the plan to which all trades people refer. It is a top view horizontal section cut
through the house about 0.60 – 1.50cm above the floor. The purpose of the floor plan is to
show the location and dimensions of exterior and interior walls, windows, doors, major
appliances, cabinets, fireplaces, and other fixed features in the house.
Upon completion of the preliminary sketches and proposal, a 1:50 – 1:100 scale floor plan is
drawn which is considerably more detailed than previous floor plans. Windows and doors are
coded. All exterior walls, interior walls, windows, and doors are dimensioned.
A. Certain information is required on the floor plan:
 Exterior and interior walls
 Size and location of windows and doors
 Permanent fixtures, stairs, and fireplaces
 Sidewalks, patios and decks
 Room names and material symbols
 Location and size dimensions
 Scale of the drawing
B. When applicable, related structures such as freestanding garages or swimming pools are
shown on the floor plan
C. Walls should be drawn accurately.
D. Details like stairs require only basic size and location information on the floor plan. (Special
details will be included in the plans for these features.).
 E. Floor plans should include several dimensions. Exterior dimensions should be in chain
fashion or continuous and tics.

Detailed Floor Plan – Checklist

1. All wall lines, plaster lines
2. Room numbers
3. Running dimensions all around the building
4. Gridlines and grid numbers
5. Inner dimensions of room
6. Levels of various rooms
7. Section lines and section tags
8. Elevation tags
9. Detail tags
10. Typical wall section tags
11. Door and Window numberings
12. Door Window Schedule
13. Height of sill to be mentioned
14. Staircase/ ramps- with direction of flight
15. Numbering of staircase steps etc.

6. ROOF PLAN
Roof Plan is the top view of a building. It explains the overall configuration of the roof and the elements that
penetrate or rest on the roofing membrane. A roof plan is usually one of the simplest drawings to make and is
drawn at the same scale at the floor plan.

Roof plan - Checklist

1. All necessary building dimensions: over hangs, canopies and roof surfaces.
2. All dimensions to walls, column center lines or other permanent features.
3. Grid/modular planning lines
4. Levels of various point
5. Description of roof structure
6. Roof finishes (martial; size, thickness, gauge, pitch (slope))
7. Indicate drainage roof
- Slopes to drains (directions of falls)
- High and low points
- Drains and leaders
8. Description and dimension of gutters & down pipes
9. Description and dimension
- Parapet walls
- Types of coping on walls and roofs
- Roof eaves, ridges, up stands, valleys
10. Show all roof mounted mechanical equipment, smoke vent, access, panels and doors.
11. Show special paved areas, fences, railings, and chimneys.
12. Locate roof mounted such as, flagpoles, radio and TV antenna etc.
13. Building line (edge) in hidden while roof overhang in solid line
14. Partially show roof framing.

7. BUILDING SECTIONS
Section drawing is an orthographic projection that has been cut apart to show interior features.
PURPOSE OF A SECTION:
1. Describe the construction materials of the structure.
2. Describe method of construction. (General assembly of different parts)
3. Show interior design elements
4. Clearly depict the structural conditions existing in the building.

Generally, sectional drawings describe constructions materials and methods especially those things
hidden by wall or ceiling sheathing and are often the easiest way to describe a complex detail to a
contractor.

TYPES OF SECTIONS
1. STRUCTURAL SECTION
A structural section shows the entire building construction and also shows the interior spaces in
elevation.
a) BUILDING LONGUTIDNAL SECTION : Section takes on the long axis of the building
b) BUILDING CROSS-SECTION : Section taken across its narrower dimension.

2. WALL SECTION : Shows the construction of a typical wall to a larger scale than the structural
section
3. DETAIL SECTION : Section views cut through a small segment of a building and drawn with
enlarged scale. The various parts of a detailed section include
 Window and door section
 Stair section
 Chimney section
 Structural detail section

Sectional drawings are drawn in a scale of 1:50 or 1:100 in common working drawing but detail
section drawing are drawn in a scale 1:20 or 1:25 package. Sections are basically drawn referenced on
plans and elevations.

PLACEMENT OF CUTTING PLANE

Generally the best position of the cutting plane depends on the need to convey the greatest amount
of information and clarity for those building structures. The cutting plane best to be passes through;

 Stairs to show vertical movement

 Window and door to show detail in opening
 Important interior spaces to show the interior spaces well

NUMBER OF SECTIONS TO BE TAKEN

The number required varies according to the structural complicity of the particular building.

Note: - Before drawing section drawing we should first gather basic information including

1. Type of foundation
2. Floor system
3. Exterior and interior wall construction
4. Beam and column sizes and their materials
5. Wall height
6. Floor elevation
7. Floor members (sizes/ spacing)
8. Floor sheathing material and size
9. Ceiling size members /spacing
10. Roof pitch
11. Roof sheathing material and size
 12. Roof material

Building Section – Checklist

1. Grid /modular section lines

2. Existing and new finished ground floor levels
3. Dimensions
A. External: -
- Changes of direction, openings etc.
- over all of a building
B. Internal:-
- Door and window openings, stair cases, ducts built in furniture, guard rails etc.
- room height /floor to floor
 Floor to ceiling
 Floor to top of a wall
 Floor to top of beam, column etc

Foundation in Section Drawing - Checklist

1. Description and dimensions including compositions, size and stepping details
2. Foundation walls - material
3. Thickness
4. Back filling
5. -DPC
6. Holes for drainage etc
7. Fill and hard core materials, thickness and layering.

Floor in section Drawing- Checklist

1. Thickness, composition, hard core, reinforced slab screed, floor finish
2. Intermediate floor construction / type, material, dimensions, fixing, ceiling etc

Wall in section Drawing - Checklist

1. Exterior / interior wall-type, materials, dimensions, fixing finishes.
2. Door and door frames, window and window frames

8. ELEVATIONS
An elevation is an orthographic drawing of the sides of the structure. The term “elevation" usually refers to an
outside elevation. Various interior elevations are included in a set of plans (kitchen, bathroom, etc.), but these
are referred to as details. The purpose of an elevation is to show the finished appearance of the structure and
vertical height dimensions. Four Elevations are usually drawn, one for each of the sides of the house.

A. REQUIRED INFORMATION
1. Identification of the specific side of the house elevation
2. Grade line
3. Finish floor and ceiling levels (shown with phantom lines)
4. Windows and doors
5. Foundation (shown with hidden lines)
6. Vertical dimensions of important features
7. Porches, desks, patios, and material symbols

B. ELEVATION IDENTIFICATION
Each elevation must be identified. Two commonly used methods are (Front, Rear, Right Side, and Left
Side), or (North, South, East, and West).
 C. GRADE LINES, FLOOR AND CEILINGS
1. The reference point for most elevations is the grade line. All features that are below the grade line
should be shown as hidden lines. Examples are foundation, footings and window wells.
2. Floor to ceiling height should be shown.

D. WALLS, WINDOWS, DOORS

1. Exterior walls, windows, and doors must be shown on elevations.
2. It is customary to make top of windows the same height as top of doors.
3. Windows and doors should receive DETAILED presentation on elevations.

E. ROOF FEATURES
1. Roof style, pitch, chimney height, and chimney size are shown.
2. Roof covering material, and gable ventilation area shown.

Elevation- Checklist
1. Vertical height dimensions are shown including:
a. footing thickness
b. distance from footing to grade
c. finished floor to finished ceiling
d. overhang width
e. height of top of windows and doors
2. Appropriate notes should be included where needed:
a. grade information
b. exterior wall material notation
c. roof covering material notation
d. fascia and flashing material
3. Symbols should be appropriately shown
a. roof pitch symbol
b. exterior wall material symbols
c. window
d. swing symbols (if needed)

9. FRAMING PLAN/ STRUCTURE PLAN

A Framing plan is a plan of building floors showing the makeup of beams and girders on that floor, and their
connections, using a simplified system of symbols and drafting line work. The Floor Framing Plans provide
structural information such as the joist location, spacing and direction, as well as the floor heights and stair
openings. There are also typically numerous call-outs (notes) that indicate the type of floor trusses that are
needed as well as information of truss supports and support locations. All Floor Framing Plans are for design
purposes only and will require review by an engineer and/or truss designer to ensure conformity to local site
conditions and allowance for given structural loads based on your climate and roofing materials selected.

10. REFLECTED CEILING PLAN

Reflected ceiling plan is part of the overall architectural drawings. It shows the items that are located on the
ceiling of a room or space like lighting, sprinklers, smoke detectors, and any other objects that are located in or
on the ceiling, such as the mechanical air diffusers and grilles. Reflected ceiling plan (RCP) is named so because
it is a mirror image (reflected) view of the floor plan. When you are looking up at the ceiling, you will find out
various ceiling elements on the ceiling. Reflected ceiling plan helps you clearly show those reflected ceiling
plan elements.

Reflected Ceiling Plan- Checklist

 1. The construction of the ceiling (gypsum board., acoustical tile, etc)
2. A specification and/or finish (paint, stucco, etc.) of the ceiling material
3. The height of the ceiling above the finished floor (A.F.F.)/ Levels
4. Dimensions
5. A legend explaining the symbols on the RCP
6. An explanation of any ceiling features such as bulkheads, soffits,
7. raised or vaulted areas, trim or decorative applications
8. Section symbols to further explain the construction of any ceiling features

Special ceiling features on the RCP:

 Speakers from a stereo or other communication device

 Emergency lighting, exit signs
 Security cameras or domes
 Sprinkler heads
 Smoke or fire alarm devices
 Return air grilles and supply air diffusers for the Heating,
 Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system
 Exhaust fans
 Seismic information and/ or details
 Expansion joint information and/ or details

11. TYPICAL WALL SECTIONS

Typical wall section details are done to show the various construction detailing and treatments
of typical walls in the building. It shows all repetitive details including wall thickness, material,
plastering thickness, wall heights, lintel, sill and ceiling heights, sunshade depths, overhangs,
treatment of various surfaces, location of air holes etc.

Typical Wall Sections – Checklist

1. Detailed sectional representation of typical wall
2. Wall thickness with hatching of wall material
3. Plastering thickness with hatching
4. All dimensions
5. Sill height
6. Lintel height
7. Ceiling height
8. Details of finishing- interior and exterior of wall
9. Plinth details
10. Foundation details
11. Parapet details
12. Details of junction between wall and ceiling, wall and beams, floor and wall etc.
13. Damp proofing detail at plinth and terrace etc.

12. FLOORING LAYOUT

A flooring layout drawing is typically used to show the various flooring finishes of various spaces
in a building. It ideally depicts the flooring pattern, material, laying pattern, dimensions, levels
etc. in it. A flooring layout drawing is usually accompanied by a flooring finish table which
provides the details of flooring finishes room wise.
Flooring Layout Drawing- Checklist
1. Room numbers
2. Finished flooring levels in each room
3. The flooring pattern in each room
4. Hatching of different materials
5. Dimensions of flooring pattern
6. Starting point for laying flooring material
7. Skirting line etc.

Flooring Finishes Table- Checklist

Floor finish Product
Room Product Representative Fixing/
Room hatching Flooring Number in
dimension catalogue image of Size Finishing
number (Drawing Material product
(X x Y) number product Specification
representation) catalogue

13. FURNITURE LAYOUT

The Furniture layout drawing shows the furniture arrangement on the floor plan of the building. It
helps in understanding what furniture is to be used, how is it to be arranged, dimension of the
furniture and its positioning with respect to a wall/ any other stationary entity in plan.

Furniture Layout - Checklist

1. The floor plan with all furniture shown
2. Room numbers on floor plan
3. Furniture code for each furniture (This furniture code will help in identifying the details about the
furniture from the furniture table)
4. Furniture arrangement pattern
5. Dimensioning of spacing between furniture
6. Dimensioning of spacing between furniture and nearby wall/ or any other stationary entity.