Interpret Project Drawings
Chapter B1 – Interprets Project Drawings
Key Competencies
The NOA for Carpenter (2013) identifies the required competencies (skills) for the task of interpreting project drawings. These are:
- Use drafting instruments such as protractors and scale rulers to determine measurements from project drawings
- Locate information such as details, elevations, sections, door and window schedules and other locations for layout
- Relay drawing information to co-workers or others using sketches
- Recognize conflicts within a set of project drawings taking into consideration the priority of different drawings such as structural, architectural, electrical and mechanical drawings
- Visualize two-dimensional information into a three-dimensional space
- Identify grid lines to determine the distances and locations of key building components for layout (NOA, p. 23).
This outcome will primarily focus on blueprints, specifications and building codes for residential and commercial projects.
Various documents are used throughout the construction process. These include national building, electrical and fire codes as well as municipal codes. An architect or draftsperson will rely on these codes for the creation of the construction documents the carpenter will use. These include blueprints and specifications. Traditionally, blueprints were sets of two-dimensional drawings. However, software allows for building information modeling systems to be utilized which include not only the blueprints and specifications but also scheduling and costing information.
Blueprints contain a plot plan, elevation drawings, floor plans, framing plans as well as schedules, details and section views which contain the information needed to complete the project. Specifications are documents which contain high level detail regarding the type and quality of materials and installation processes to be used to complete the project. Specifications will detail who (owner, architect, general contractor, subcontractor, supplier) is responsible for what parts of the project.
Topic 1 – Types of Views, Lines, and Symbols
Architects can use several types of views to depict a building, each of which has a unique purpose and set of information.
- A pictoral view is drawn with perspective, meaning lines converge on the vanishing point. The drawback of this drawing is that lines get smaller the further away they are from the viewer to create a perception of distance. Pictoral views and presentations drawings can be artistic in nature and are used more for marketing purposes
- Multiview drawings are useful for building because they contain measurements and other physical information. There are three types: plan, elevation, section, and details.
- A plan view is further subdivided into types:
- Plot plan
- Foundation plan
- Floor plan
- Framing plan
- Elevation drawings show the shape and size of exterior vertical finishings. These also can be used to describe kitchen and bathroom cabinet