WORKING DRAWINGS HANDBOOK, Fourth Edition

The structure of information

showing these sections a ‘component drawing’ is
inaccurate, as well as being potentially confusing. In the
hierarchy of information it is clearly one step lower and
more detailed.

It is, in fact, a sub-component drawing and there is a
place for it as such in the set (1.10).

Information drawings: Second, there is a class of
drawing which conveys information, not so much about
the building and its elements as about the building’s
background. Such matters as the site survey, records of
adjoining buildings, light envelope diagrams, bore hole
analyses, all fall into this category. They have this
feature in common, which distinguishes them from the
other drawings in the package, that they convey
information without giving instructions (1.11). (It should
be noted that a cross-section of the building such as is
shown in (3.16) in Chapter 3, and condemned there as
conveying little constructional direction to the builder,
might nevertheless form a useful information drawing for
anyone planning a building programme.)

The complete primary structure: The complete primary

structure is summarised in (1.12). It is worth noting that

this complete drawing package, which has to be all things

to all men, is now capable of sub-division into smaller

packages, each of which is tailored to suit the needs of

the individual recipient. The bricklayer needs to know the

position and size of the window he has to install, but has

no interest in the manner in which it is made in the

joiner’s shop. Similarly, the local authority will not require

the complete set of drawings for approval (even though

the extravagant demands of certain Building Control

officers in this respect may induce in frustrated

practitioners a somewhat cynical smile at this statement).

With occasional exceptions, however, the drawing set

may be used as shown here, with attendant advantages

of order and economy. The focal position of the schedule

is well demonstrated.

Secondary structuring

The good old-fashioned working drawing floor plan—

ancestor of the general arrangement plan and aimed at

embracing every piece of information necessary for the

erection of the building—still survives in places but its

defects are now so generally recognised that it is

possibly unnecessary to spend much time in

demonstrating them. Figure 1.13, taken almost at

random from such a drawing, shows the disadvantages.

The sheet is cluttered with information, making it

extremely difficult to read. The notes and references fill

every available corner, and in an attempt to crowd too

much information into too small a compass the

draughtsman has had to resort to a lettering style of

microscopic dimensions. Any alteration to it would be

difficult both to achieve and to identify. (Figure 1.2also

illustrates the defects inherent in the ‘one drawing’

approach.)

This is a case of one drawing attempting to do the work

of several, and simplicity, legibility and common sense

1.10 The sub-component drawing illustrates how the
component itself is made