Activities
6.3 Scales, symbols and abbreviations
Tutor guidance notes
Aims and objectives
At the end of these activity sheets, learners should be able to:
 understand scales and the ratios they represent
 measure from drawings using a variety of scales
 understand why symbols and abbreviations are used on drawings.
These questions and activities are not intended as formal assessment. However,
the answers should be discussed with the learners as a group to ensure they
have full comprehension of the subject.
Individual teachers will use these questions and activities in different ways. They
could be used at the end of a session to recap; used individually during the
session as a ‘to-the-point’ learning tool; or used as homework. Whichever
teaching method is chosen, make sure that you set and agree upon a completion
date for each activity.
The answers given are not exhaustive and are to be used as a guide only.
Alternative, appropriate answers may be considered.
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
1 of 8
Activities
Candidate name:
Date:
6.3 Scales, symbols and abbreviations
Chapter 6: Drawings
Aims and objectives
At the end of these activity sheets, you should be able to:
 understand scales and the ratios they represent
 measure from drawings using a variety of scales
 understand why symbols and abbreviations are used on drawings.
1
This table shows the preferred scales for use in building drawings. Complete
the table by filling in the six blank cells.
Type of drawing
Scales
Block plans
1:500, 1:200
General location drawings
Range drawings
1:10, 1:5, 1:1
Assembly drawings
2
Explain briefly how scale drawings work, and give an example.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
2 of 8
Activities
3
Complete these sentences.
On a scale of 1:10, 100 mm represents ___________________________
On a scale of 1:50, 100 mm represents ___________________________
On a scale of 1:1250, 100 mm represents _________________________
On a scale of 1:500, 35 mm represents ___________________________
On a scale of 1:200, 67 mm represents ___________________________
On a scale of 1:2500, 87 mm represents __________________________
4
Although measurements can be read from drawings using a rule with
common scales marked, it is recommended that you work to written
instructions and measurements wherever possible. Explain why this is.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5
Explain why symbols and abbreviations are used on drawings.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
6
State what the following building material symbols represent.
__________________
7
__________________
__________________
Draw the symbols that represent the following building materials.
sheet membrane
glass
asphalt/macadam
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
3 of 8
Activities
8
9
10
State what the following graphical symbols represent.
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
Draw the following graphical symbols.
bench mark
internal
rise of ramp
ground level
State what the following symbols represent.
___________________
11
___________________
Draw lines to join each item to its abbreviation.
concrete
ct
cement
conc
cast iron
cpd
cupboard
CI
column
col
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
4 of 8
Activities
12
13
State what items the following abbreviations represent.
DPM
______________________________________________________
Dwg
______________________________________________________
DPC
______________________________________________________
hc
______________________________________________________
hdb
______________________________________________________
hwd
______________________________________________________
bdg
______________________________________________________
bit
______________________________________________________
bwk
______________________________________________________
bldg
______________________________________________________
swd
______________________________________________________
SC
______________________________________________________
SS
______________________________________________________
SAA
______________________________________________________
State the abbreviations for each of these items.
tongue and groove
_________________________________________
plasterboard
_________________________________________
asbestos
_________________________________________
insulation
_________________________________________
polyvinyl chloride
_________________________________________
wrought iron
_________________________________________
mild steel
_________________________________________
reinforced concrete
_________________________________________
airbrick
_________________________________________
joist
_________________________________________
polyvinyl acetate
_________________________________________
foundation
_________________________________________
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
5 of 8
Activities
6.3 Scales, symbols and abbreviations
Chapter 6: Drawings
Answers
1
2
This table shows the preferred scales for use in building drawings. Complete
the table by filling in the six blank cells.
Type of drawing
Scales
Block plans
1:2500, 1:1250
Site plans
1:500, 1:200
General location drawings
1:200, 1:100, 1:50
Range drawings
1:100, 1:50, 1:20
Detail drawings
1:10, 1:5, 1:1
Assembly drawings
1:20, 1:10, 1:5
Explain briefly how scale drawings work, and give an example.
(Answers will vary.)
Scale drawings work by reducing a drawing in size to a certain
scale. They enable you to draw a whole building or area on a single
piece of paper. An example of this would be a drawing of a house on
a scale of 1:50. If the house was 8 metres high, the drawing of the
house would be 160 millimetres high.
3
Complete these sentences.
On
On
On
On
On
On
4
a
a
a
a
a
a
scale
scale
scale
scale
scale
scale
of
of
of
of
of
of
1:10, 100 mm represents 1000 mm (1 m)
1:50, 100 mm represents 5000 mm (5 m)
1:1250, 100 mm represents 125 000 mm (125 m)
1:500, 35 mm represents 17 500 mm (17.5 m)
1:200, 67 mm represents 13 400 mm (13.4 m)
1:2500, 87 mm represents 217 500 mm (217.5 m)
Although measurements can be read from drawings using a rule with
common scales marked, it is recommended that you work to written
instructions and measurements wherever possible. Explain why this is.
because variations caused through printing or copying will affect
the accuracy of drawings
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
6 of 8
Activities
5
Explain why symbols and abbreviations are used on drawings.
The use of symbols and abbreviations in the building industry
enables the maximum amount of information to be included on a
drawing in a clear way.
6
State what the following building material symbols represent.
partition block
7
9
10
screed
Draw the symbols that represent the following building materials.
sheet membrane
8
earth
glass
asphalt/macadam
State what the following graphical symbols represent.
north point
rise of stair
centre line
centre to centre
Draw the following graphical symbols.
bench mark
internal
rise of ramp
ground level
State what the following symbols represent.
single door
double door
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
7 of 8
Activities
11
12
Draw lines to join each item to its abbreviation.
concrete
ct
cement
conc
cast iron
cpd
cupboard
CI
column
col
State what items the following abbreviations represent.
DPM
dwg
DPC
hc
hdb
hwd
bdg
bit
bwk
bldg
swd
SC
SS
SAA
13
damp proof membrane
drawing
damp proof course
hardcore
hardboard
hardwood
boarding
bitumen
brickwork
building
softwood
satin chrome
stainless steel
satin anodised aluminium
State the abbreviations for each of these items.
tongue and groove
plasterboard
asbestos
insulation
polyvinyl chloride
wrought iron
mild steel
reinforced concrete
airbrick
joist
polyvinyl acetate
foundation
T&G
pbd
abs
insul
PVC
WI
MS
RC
AB
jst
PVA
fnd
Painting and Decorating NVQ and Technical Certificate Level 2 Tutor Resource Disk 2nd Edition
8 of 8