Construction Management
Reading Blueprints
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
Slide 1
What are Views?
• Views represent the image
obtained by looking at a
structure from a specific
direction.
• Construction drawings use
orthographic views.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
2
What are Views?
• Orthographic views are obtained
by viewing an object in an
imaginary Glass Box.
• Your line of sight is 90 degrees
to the side of the glass box.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
3
What are Views?
• There are six regular
orthographic views.
▫Front
▫Right Side
▫Top
▫Rear
▫Left Side
▫Bottom
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
4
What are Views?
• The first four views corresponds to
the elevations of the structure.
• The top view corresponds to the
roof plan.
• A modified top view (section view)
corresponds to the floor plan.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
5
What are Views?
• Other section views show
construction details.
• Other views show interior elevations.
• Commercial plans have views for
every detail.
• Residential plans leave some details
to standard practices by the builder.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
6
How are Views Organized?
• Plans are drafted.
▫ Each plan is given a unique name and
number
▫ A complete set of blueprints will have
many sheets.
▫ Each sheet is given a unique number
and name.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
7
How are Views Organized?
• Some sheets have multiple views
▫ Each view is given a name and number.
▫ Multiple views are given a reference
number (call out) which identifies:
▫ The detail
▫ The parent sheet
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8
How are Views Organized?
• Sheets are numbered according the
architectural discipline.
▫ Civil sheets are prefaced with a C followed
by a unique number (C1.101).
▫ Architectural sheet are prefaced with an A
followed by a unique number (A2.100)
▫ Mechanical sheets start with an M .
▫ Other sheets are similarly numbered.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
9
How are Views Organized?
• Revisions are also numbered and
documented
▫ Each change after the release date is
given a unique number called an ECN
number (Engineering Change Notice).
▫ The first sheet in a set of blueprints
should have a legend of Sheets
included in the set.
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10
How to Find Information?
• Determine what information you
need to find.
• Identify the discipline where the
information should be located.
• Search the legend for the correct
sheet number.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
11
How to Find Information?
• Read the annotations and symbols.
▫ Annotations are explanatory text notes
and dimensional information.
▫ Standard symbols for building
components can be found in a textbook.
▫ Explanation of special symbols will be
shown in symbol legends on the sheets
similar to legends on a map.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
12
How to Find Information?
• Special callout symbols.
▫ Callout symbols will have the detail
reference number and the sheet
location.
▫ The referenced detail will have the
sheet from which the detail is called
out.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
13
How to Find Information?
• Construction details.
▫ Graphic and dimensional views of
detailed construction materials and
methods.
▫ Details are referenced to the plan
where the detail occurs.
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14
How to Find Information?
• Schedules.
▫ Door and window schedules
▫ Wall and floor finish schedules
▫ Hardware schedules
▫ Electrical schedules
▫ Other schedules as required
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
15
What Symbols are Used?
• Construction blueprints use standard
symbols to represent building components.
▫ ANSI
▫ IBC
▫ Other accepted standards as needed
• Custom symbols
▫ Manufacturer’s symbols
▫ Architect’s create symbols as needed.
Copyright (c) Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved
16