Construction Drawings Demystified: Understanding Each Type’s Function and Importance

By

INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS 

Construction drawings, or blueprints, are the heart of any building project. They are visual representations of a building or construction project that include detailed depictions of every building element, such as the foundation, walls, floors, elevations, cabinetry, and structural details. They also include dimensions, materials, specifications, and other essential information.

Construction drawings are crucial to every project as they convey design intent and serve as a comprehensive design and construction guide for all stakeholders, including owners.

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS

There are many types of construction drawings. On a single project the various trades might prepare drawings that use symbols and focus on information critical to their work.

Architectural Construction Drawings

Architectural drawings focus on aesthetics, along with functionality and design intent and include color, size, shape, texture, etc. An architectural drawing can be a sketch, plan, diagram or schematic that includes the exact dimensions, depth, and layout of a building, focusing on spatial functionality. Architectural drawings work together with structural drawings to ensure a building’s structural integrity while bringing the architect’s vision to life.

Structural drawings

A structural drawing consists of the structural plan of how a building or other structure will be built to ensure it is structurally sound and support the information provided by architectural drawings. They are prepared by registered professional engineers and include foundation and dimensions, framing details, details of beams and columns and wall sections, which serve as a guide for building the structure.

Electrical Drawings

Electrical drawings are a type of technical drawing that shows information about power and lighting, describing electrical systems or circuits. They consist of lines and symbols conveying the type of fixture, switch or junction.  Electrical drawings are used to explain the design to electricians or other workers to help install or repair electrical systems.

Shop Drawings

Shop drawings are a set of construction drawings that serve as a guide for creating prefabricated components of a structure that serve as an efficient method of communication between the owner, designer, contractor, subcontractor and suppliers. A contractor or supplier typically produces these drawings and include component information on items, such as elevators, structural steel, trusses, pre-cast concrete, windows, appliances, cabinets, and air handling units, and are also critical for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work.

As-built Drawings

As-built drawings are a set of drawings that show how a building or piece of equipment was actually built, rather than how it was originally designed. They are also known as record drawings or red-line drawings. These drawings can be critical to suppliers creating shop drawings of the items they are producing for the project.

CHOOSING THE BEST CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS SOFTWARE

When choosing a drawing solution, there are several factors we recommend you consider, including the following:

  • Ease of use

You want an interface that is easy to navigate around, commands that are easy to find, and a solution that requires minimal training.

That goes for installation, too. Not everyone has extensive IT resources.

  • Interoperability

On any given construction project, many stakeholders and many types of software can be involved. Look for a solution that is compatible with other solutions, can read other types of files, and can export/import various formats, such as a STEP file or PDF.

DraftSight primarily uses DWG format but can also import and export DXF and DGN files.

  • Collaboration

Collaborating on construction projects is essential for ensuring design intent and meeting project deadlines. Look for a solution that enables you to communicate design changes easily.

  • Flexible and scalable

DraftSight comes in both desktop and a cloud-connected solution with various deployment options based on customers’ needs.

Look for software companies with flexible licensing options and software packages. Sometimes you don’t need all the features. With DraftSight you can pick form multiple licenses and software packages.

  • Cost

Of course, cost is always a big factor. As mentioned above, DraftSight offers multiple licensing and packaging options ideal for start-ups, medium-sized businesses and enterprises.

  • Training/Support

Most solution providers offer online training resources, and some even have training tutorials built right into the interface.

A good resource for DraftSight users is our YouTube channel, in addition to the online communities where you can ask your peers a question and our technical support team.

We also encourage you to take advantage of your local resellers, who can provide software demos, training, installations and other types of consultations.

If you’re unsure about a solution or looking for a change, DraftSight may be right for you.

In DraftSight, you can create various types of drawings, including 2D drawings like floor plans, elevations, sections, details, assembly drawings, and 3D models with solids, meshes, faces, and planar surfaces. These are all created using tools like lines, polylines, circles, arcs, ellipses, hatches, and more, allowing for comprehensive design across different project aspects. You can also import and work with DWG, DXF, and DGN file formats.

Key types of drawings in DraftSight:

  • Architectural drawings: Floor plans, elevations, sections, details, roof plans.
  • Mechanical drawings: Component drawings, assembly drawings, exploded views.
  • Electrical drawings: Schematic diagrams, wiring plans, panel layouts.
  • Structural drawings: Beam plans, column layouts, foundation details.
  • Site plans: Topographical maps, grading plans, utility layouts.

DraftSight also offers 2D and 3D capabilities. You can create 2D flat drawings and 3D models within DraftSight.

In addition, you get access to various drawing tools, such as lines, circles, arcs, hatches, and more, to create complex designs.

And last, it’s customizable as you have the ability to set units, drawing scales, and other preferences for precise design.

For more information visit: https://www.draftsight.com/

DraftSight

DraftSight

Proven DWG-file-based CAD at the best value on the market. DraftSight, brought to you by Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE company, has been trusted by millions of users worldwide. DraftSight provides a familiar, intuitive 2D drafting experience with options for advanced productivity tools, 3D design capabilities, parametric constraints, and flexible licensing options including perpetual licenses and network licenses for organizations with multiple users or sites. DraftSight’s command and file compatibility and support for legacy drawings and data like Dynamic Blocks facilitate a quick transition from AutoCAD with a minimal learning curve. Visit DraftSight.com to learn more.
DraftSight

@DraftSight

DraftSight