10 Chapter 2
- Visually scan the architectural drawings to get a better overall understanding of the project. Look
at the title block to extract any general information pertaining to the project that may be needed
(consultant’s name, client’s name, project title, drawing number, etc.). Check for unusual or com-
plicated features that may impact how the building is constructed. In particular review the eleva-
tions and sections and the materials used. - Review the foundation plan and read the general notes to get a better understanding of the con-
struction specifications and other information relevant to the drawing. Also look at the relevant
building details. - Review the structure’s wall construction and the material and methods used. Also study the details
showing how the wall is to sit on the designed foundations and which walls if any are load-bearing
and which are not. - Review the plumbing, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
- Check all notes on these plans to see if there have been any revisions. Check to see if the build-
ing codes have been taken into account. Ensure that the notes on the drawings are clear and that
there is no ambiguity. - Review the specifications and compare them to the drawings. (Specifications normally have prior-
ity over drawings.) If there are discrepancies, the consultant should be notified.
2.2 TECHNICAL DRAWING.
Also known as drafting, technical drawing is the practice of creating accurate representations of objects
for architectural and engineering needs. A practitioner of the discipline is known as a drafter. Today the
mechanics of the drafting task have considerably changed through the use of CADD computer sys-
tems, but regardless of whether a drawing is drawn manually or with computer assistance, it must be
reproducible.
Manual Drafting.
Basic drafting procedure consists of placing a piece of paper (or other material) on a smooth surface with
right-angle corners and straight sides--typically a drafting table. A sliding straightedge commonly known as
a t-square is then placed on one of the sides, allowing it to slide across the side of the table and over the
surface of the paper (Figure 2.1). Parallel lines can be drawn by simply moving the t-square and running a
pencil or technical pen along the edge. The t-square is also used as a means to hold other tools such as
set squares or triangles. To do this, the drafter places one or more triangles of known angles on the t-
square (which is itself at right angles to the edge of the table) and then draws lines to the angles chosen
on the sheet. Modern drafting tables (which in the United States are rapidly being replaced by CAD sta-
tions) come equipped with a parallel rule that is supported on both sides of the table to slide over the trac-
ing paper. Since it is secured on both sides of the drafting table, lines drawn along the edge are parallel.
The drafter also has other tools at his/her disposal that are used to draw curves and circles, includ-
ing compasses (used for drawing simple arcs and circles) and French curves (which typically consist of
a piece of plastic with complex curves on it). Another tool used is the spline, which is a piece of rubber-
coated articulated metal that can be manually bent to most curves. Figure 2.2 is an illustration of some
of the templates and instruments used in manual drafting.