Diving into a construction or renovation project without a solid grip on reading building plans is like setting sail without a compass—it's a daring venture into uncharted territory.
Why Should You Learn How to Read Building Plans?
The ability to read building plans is an essential skill if you work in the building and construction industry or you're looking to undertake a building or renovation project. It facilitates effective communication, enhances career development opportunities, and is essential for successful project management. Proficiency in reading plans ensures compliance with building codes, aids in accurate cost estimation, and provides architectural insight for designers. Homeowners benefit from it during renovations, and individuals gain personal empowerment for DIY projects. Overall, the skill enables problem identification and resolution, contributing to a deeper understanding of the built environment.
Reading Tips for Beginners
1) Understand the Basics:
The best tip for beginners learning how to read plans is to start with the basics. The first thing is to understand is what a building plan is, and the best way to describe this is technical drawing to communicate the design, layout, materials and construction of a building. Once you have a firm grasp on what a building plan plan is, then you can focus more on the layout, elements and symbols that make up a plan. This does vary from plan to plan, for example, a floor plan is viewed from above but an elevation or section is viewed from the side. By following the step by step guides on this website, you'll gain everything you need to know about the basics of reading building plans.
2) Understand the Scale:
Pay close attention to the scale of the plans. The scale is key to understanding how measurements on the plan correspond to actual dimensions in the physical space. The scale will also vary in different countries depending on if the country uses imperial or metric as a measuring system. How to Read Plans provides examples of the United States and Australia, and here is some more details on how the scaling systems work in those countries:
United States:
In the United States, the customary system of measurement is commonly used. The scale on building plans is often expressed in feet and inches. For example, a scale of 1/4" may represent 1 foot, meaning that every 1/4-inch on the plan corresponds to 1 foot in the actual building.
Australia:
Australia uses the metric system for measurements. Therefore, the scale on building plans in Australia is expressed in meters and centimeters. For instance, a scale of 1:100 means that 1 unit on the plan is equivalent to 100 units (usually centimeters) in the real world.
Example:
Suppose you have a wall depicted on a building plan in the United States with a length of 8 inches, and the scale is 1/4". This means that in reality, the wall is 32 feet long (8 inches x 4, as 1/4" represents 4 times its length).
On the other hand, if you have the same wall on an Australian building plan with a scale of 1:100, an 8-centimeter depiction of the wall would mean that the actual wall is 800 centimeters (8 centimeters x 100).
3) Learn the Common Symbols:
The most common symbols seen on plans are typically walls, doors, windows, furniture, eaves outlines, floor or material hatching, and construction elements like beams and columns, however on elevations and sections you'll also find cladding, roofing, and foundation shown to depict to construction of the building. It is also common to find contours, trees and shrubbery noted on plans.
4) Refer to the Legend:
The legend is a great place to refer too to understand the main type of symbols noted on a plan. Not every plan will have a legend and the legend will vary from plan to plan but if the plan you are studying has a legend, spend some time to understand all the symbols and elements, and try to locate them on the plan to gain a better context.
5) Focus on One Plan at a Time
To maximise your comprehension of building plans, especially if you're a novice, it's beneficial to approach the learning process one plan at a time. A standard set of plans encompasses site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, details, and more. As a beginner, once you've identified the plans included in the set, it's advisable to concentrate on a single plan before moving on to the next. Consider commencing with the site plan, typically positioned at the forefront of the set. This approach enables you to grasp the overall shape and the building's placement on the site at a high level. The advantage of this focused approach is that it prevents overwhelming complexity, providing a clearer understanding of each plan. Each plan contains vital details about the building, and by dissecting them one at a time, you'll gain a more comprehensive understanding of the entire project.
6) Practice with Real Plans
Practicing with real building plans enhances the learning experience by providing practical, engaging, and context-rich challenges. This approach exposes you to the complexities of actual construction projects, fostering problem-solving skills and preparing them for professional roles in architecture, engineering, or construction. Interacting with diverse plans helps learners understand industry standards, encourages multidisciplinary knowledge application, and builds confidence through tangible progress. Overall, real-world application of plan-reading skills offers a dynamic and comprehensive educational experience.
What Are the Different Types of Plans?
A set of building plans typically includes various types of plans, each serving a specific purpose in conveying information about the construction project. Here are some common types of plans you might find in a set of building plans:
Architectural Plans:
Architectural plans serve as the foundation for the design and construction of a building. They provide a visual representation of the architect's vision, outlining the layout, dimensions, and aesthetic details of the structure. There are various types of architectural plans, including:
Site Plans: A site plan illustrates the entire property and its surroundings of a building, including the location, landscaping, access points, and utilities.
Floor Plans: A floor plan presents a top-down view of a single floor, showcasing the layout of rooms, walls, doors, windows, and major architectural features. There is typically a floor plan for each level of a building, e.g. ground floor, first floor, etc.
Elevations: An elevation plan provides a side view of the exterior of the building, displaying details such as doors, windows, and architectural elements. There is typically an elevation for each aspect of the building, e.g. North elevation, South elevation, etc.
Sections and Details: Sections and detail plans show a vertical cut through the building, revealing details about the interior structure, construction materials, and spatial relationships.
Roof Plans: A roof plan illustrates the design and layout of the roof, including slopes, ridges, valleys, and any features such as chimneys or skylights.
Lighting and Electrical Plans: A lighting and electrical plan displays the location of lighting and electrical fixtures, outlets, switches, and wiring details throughout the building.
Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP): A reflected ceiling plan Shows the placement of lighting fixtures, vents, and other elements on the ceiling.
HVAC Plan: A HVAC plan illustrates the design and layout of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including ductwork and equipment placement.
Door and Window Schedule: Door and window schedules indicate the layout, material, type, design and dimension of windows and doors that are found on the plan. Typically door and window schedules uses codes to reference the type or doors or windows (e.g. D01 or W02) so it is easy to find these elements on a plan or elevation.
Demolition Plans: A demolition plan indicate areas or features of the existing structure that need to be demolished or removed during construction.
Engineering Plans:
Engineering plans focus on the technical and structural aspects of a building. They provide detailed information for the construction team, engineers, and contractors to ensure the building's stability and adherence to safety standards.
Structural and Foundation Plans: Structural and foundation plans detail the framework of the building, including the placement of beams, columns, and other load-bearing elements, as well as, specify the design and dimensions of the foundation, ensuring proper support for the structure. They are commonly prepared by a structural engineer.
Mechanical Plans: Mechanical plans, commonly prepared by a mechanical engineer, illustrate the layout of mechanical systems, such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and plumbing. Plans of this nature are typically found in larger commercial or industrial type buildings.
Electrical Plans: An electrical plan, commonly prepared by an electrical engineer, outline the placement of electrical components, wiring, outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures. Plans of this nature are also typically found in larger commercial or industrial type buildings.
Other Specialised Plans:
Other specialised plans that you may find in a set of building plans focus on specific aspects of the building, addressing essential systems and functionalities. Examples of this include, survey plans, access plans, plumbing plan and fire sprinkler or escape plans.
Challenges and Common Mistakes
Learning how to read plans poses challenges and involves common mistakes, especially for beginners. Challenges include grappling with technical language, spatial visualisation difficulties, scale comprehension, and handling the complexity of interdisciplinary plans. Mistakes often stem from overlooking plan legends, neglecting scale considerations, rushing through reviews, hesitating to seek clarification, lacking regular practice, and not understanding plan relationships. Overcoming these challenges and mistakes requires systematic learning, consistent practice, seeking guidance when needed, and adopting a patient approach to gradually build proficiency in plan reading.
Summary
In summary, this article emphasises the importance of learning to read building plans for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. It outlines the benefits, such as effective communication, career development, and improved project management. The article provides valuable tips for beginners, including understanding basics, grasping scale considerations, learning common symbols, and focusing on one plan at a time. It explores the significance of practicing with real plans and details the different types of plans typically found in a set, spanning architectural, engineering, and specialised plans. Additionally, the article addresses common challenges and mistakes encountered during the learning process, offering practical solutions to overcome them. Now you can start studying each individual plan by going to the next section of guides and start learning about "Site Plans".
Please continue to read our next guide on How to Read a Site Plan.