How to Read Construction Blueprints
Construction projects require the involvement of many different experts, such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Blueprints help them work together on the same project, ensuring everyone is on the same page and the project stays on track. Blueprints also give everyone involved an idea of what the finished project will look like, which can help inform choices throughout the construction process.
However, blueprints aren't always easy to read. There are a lot of different pages, lines, measurements and symbols that can be challenging to understand if you've never worked with them before. Below, you'll learn how to read blueprints to help you get started on projects sooner and ensure your construction is accurate to the design.
Jump to a section:
What Are Construction Blueprints and Why Are They Important?
Construction blueprints refer to two-dimensional drawings that indicate how a building or project will be designed, including what materials are needed and where features and appliances will go. You can usually find the project dimensions and exact placement within the blueprints. Blueprints are essential if you're constructing a building, regardless of whether you're the architect, engineer or contractor.
Blueprints do more than inform your current project tasks. Construction blueprints are also useful because you can use them to make changes or to inform maintenance and repair tasks. Construction blueprints also ensure that your project has the correct permits and meets the necessary building codes in your area. Learning to read blueprints is an essential skill, regardless of what part of the building process you're involved in.
Construction blueprints are important because they ensure everyone is on the same page. You can use the information provided in the blueprints to:
- Estimate labor and material costs
- Obtain any necessary permits
- Create a construction schedule
- Obtain the right equipment
Elements of Construction Blueprints
Most construction blueprints use the same elements to make them recognizable to anyone, making it easier for all workers to understand what they mean. Understanding these elements can help you read construction blueprints more effectively so your team is on the same page. Some of the most important features of construction blueprints include:
1. Title Block
The title block is one of the first things you'll notice on construction blueprints. This block includes critical information about the project, including the company's name, site location, scale, approvals and number of sheets. The title block usually looks like a rectangular block in one corner of the front page of the blueprints, but it can also look like a narrow band wrapping around the entire front page. The title block also contains essential information for filing and locating the proper drawing for the mentioned blueprint.
2. Revision Block
The revision block is the element that lists any changes made to the blueprint, including the:
- Date of the change
- Description of the changes
- Who authorized the change
Revisions will be included for any parts of the plan that have been changed so companies can keep track of any changes, especially if these occur midway through the construction process. If you're looking at a brand-new set of construction blueprints, you'll notice that the revision block is left empty. These blocks will fill up as revisions are made to the project.
3. Grid System
Construction blueprints also include a grid system, which makes it easy to find and reference different spots or components of the drawing. The grid system usually includes one column with letters starting with A and one row starting with the number one. The amount of letters and numbers depends on how big the blueprints are. You can reference specific project components using the grid system, making it easier for others to find it.
4. Legends or Notes
Blueprints often include different symbols, notes, abbreviations and other information pertaining to different parts of the construction projects. The legends or notes elements make it easier to understand any abbreviations or symbols, so you can spend more time on your project than writing detailed notes whenever you need to write information about your project on the blueprints.
Legends are essential because it can be easy to get confused when looking at blueprints with numerous different symbols or abbreviations. Some examples of abbreviations or symbols that may appear in the legend include:
- Triple lines to indicate where a window will appear
- Simple outlines for appliances
- Straight lines for doors with a simple arc to indicate which way the door opens
- Compasses to indicate the construction components' orientation
5. Drawings and Plans
Construction blueprints also include drawings or plans, usually the largest part of the blueprints. This feature of the blueprint will illustrate the feature or view of the construction project. The drawings make it easier for contractors to keep track of what the final product is meant to look like.
What Are Construction Sheets and the Different Types?
Construction blueprints include specialized drawings or sheets with letter coding to keep them organized and easily track when specific information needs to be found. The letter code includes the following:
General (G) Sheets
G sheets usually include cover sheets and plot plans informing workers what sheets to follow. G sheets will also include the construction site plan, which indicates the building's or project's orientation regarding surrounding infrastructure, including utility lines, fences, driveways or property lines.
Architectural (A) Sheets
A sheets include the project's architectural drawings, including floor plans, building sections, ceiling plans and wall sections. The A sheets will show how a building looks, usually including close-up or detailed drawings of a particular space or feature. The A sheets are critical to the construction project since they include dimensions, door locations, window locations, wall layouts and other critical information. You may also find information about the roof and roofing materials in the A sheets.
Structural Engineering (S) Sheets
S sheets are where you can find structural information for the framing, foundation and roof. The S sheets tell contractors how to construct a specific project, usually created by an engineer using the A sheets. You can usually find information about the required materials for the project and how to assemble the different pieces to create the designed structure.
Electrical (E) Sheets
Electricians and builders typically use E sheets. Builders will use these sheets to identify where electrical infrastructure is located so they can build around it and ensure they leave enough room for the electrical work. Electricians use these sheets to determine where to install wiring, electrical circuits and other infrastructure. E sheets also outline where smoke alarms, fire protection systems and standby power will be located within the building.
Plumbing (P) Sheets
Plumbing is a critical part of any building, which is why the P sheets show the exact location of the interior and exterior plumbing, including the hot and cold water, storm drainage, sewer and irrigation piping. Some P sheets will also include information for natural gas piping if used in the building for heat or other purposes. The construction crew and plumbing specialist will use the P sheets as guidelines when building and installing infrastructure.
Landscape (L) Sheets
L sheets involve anything that has to do with the landscaping outside of the building, including shrubbery, plants, trees, flowers and other vegetation. The L sheets will also include any landscaping features that need to be installed, such as fountains or ponds.
Mechanical (M) Sheets
Any mechanical equipment will be planned using M sheets. These sheets can include anything mechanical, including HVAC systems, ductwork, fire protection and exhaust elements.
Schedules and Specification Sheets
Construction blueprints will include schedules, which are plans that cover different building features, such as windows or doors. Schedules will include information about the type of material, its size and the color used for a specific feature.
Blueprints will also include specification sheets, a thorough list of all the materials a project needs for completion. The specification sheet is useful since it helps companies know how many materials to obtain while staying within budget.
Common Construction Blueprint Perspectives
Construction blueprints have different perspectives or views that help illustrate what a building will look like. The view of a construction project from different perspectives makes it easier to visualize what the finished product will look like, informing construction decisions and ensuring all features are included. There are four primary construction blueprint perspectives:
- Plan view: The plan view is what most people are familiar with when they think of blueprints. The plan view is a two-dimensional birds-eye perspective of the construction project, which makes it easier to look at the floor, roof and foundation plan. Every floor of a construction project will have its own plan view illustration.
- Elevation view: The elevation view shows the construction project vertically, showcasing how the front, back and sides will look once the project is complete. This perspective can help give you a view of the elevation around the project, which is essential for construction. Media outlets often have access to colored versions of elevation views to give the public an idea of what the project will look like when it's complete.
- Section view: The section or cross-section perspective shows the project in a vertical view, similar to the elevation view. However, the depiction is shown as if the building were cut in half so you can view the interior of the building, showing the different floor heights, stairways, insulation and other interior framework and structural elements. The section view is used in construction projects so contractors can build the frame of the project.
- Isometric view: The isometric view is a 3D perspective drawn at a 30-degree angle. The isometric perspective allows you to look at a project from an elevated view as if looking from a single corner of the building. This view can help contractors see internal features like room design, plumbing connections and machine assembly.
Different Blueprint Lines and What They Mean
Construction blueprints have lines that represent different elements in a project. Some of the most common blueprint lines and what they mean include:
- Object lines: Object or visible lines show the sides of a feature you can see when looking at the feature in person, such as walls or doors. Object lines are usually the thickest line on construction blueprints and are completely solid.
- Hidden lines: These lines show elements that won't be visible after construction is complete, usually because these features are behind walls, objects or appliances. Generally, you'll see these lines on isometric views and are identified by dashes at half the thickness of object lines.
- Dimension lines: These lines will show the distance between two different points, such as the measurement of walls or the space between a wall and the electrical infrastructure within the wall. The dimension lines are depicted with two horizontal lines with arrows at the ends and two vertical lines to indicate the end of the measurement. The distance measurement is written between the two horizontal lines.
- Center lines: These lines indicate the center of a symmetrical element, allowing architects to distinguish features, especially circular elements. Short and long dashes identify these lines with the same thickness as hidden lines.
- Extension lines: These lines mark the boundaries of the dimension lines to mark their limits. These lines are short and don't touch the dimension line or objects.
- Leader lines: These lines mark an area that needs further details, such as a line that leads to a reference, number or note. These lines generally include an arrow to make it clear what feature they're making a note about.
- Phantom lines: Phantom lines indicate when specific object elements can move into different positions. For example, phantom lines are often used to indicate which direction a door will open and how it will look while open, preventing any problems with a door opening and blocking other parts of the building. Phantom lines can be identified by alternating two short and single long dashes.
- Break lines: These lines help save space on construction blueprints, shortening longer sections. Break lines can be long or short, drawn with waves or zig-zags. Whether the break lines are short or long, they indicate removed sections.
- Cutting-plane lines: These lines are drawn as U-shapes and have arrows on either end. Cutting-plane lines help display an object's interior features, such as walls with electrical wiring or plumbing, helping contractors determine where infrastructure goes during the building process.
- Section lines: These lines have multiple short, diagonal lines drawn parallel. Section lines show when the surface of a feature is cut within the cutting plane.
Additional Tips to Learn How to Read Construction Blueprints
Now that you know the different elements of construction blueprints, it will be easier to read them for any project. Depending on the project's complexity, some construction blueprints will contain more elements than others. While you may understand the different elements of construction blueprints, you may not know where to start.
You can use these tips to determine where to start with construction blueprints:
1. Start With the Title Block
The title block should always be the first place you start. The title block will give you any preliminary information you'll need to understand the scope of the project and the rest of the blueprints. Most of the time, you'll need to refer back to the title block at different project stages, so getting acquainted with it early is a good idea. The title block will include the sheet index to easily find the different drawings in the blueprints. You can also find any revision information in the title block to easily identify changes.
2. Find the Legend
The legend will be useful throughout your entire project. Any symbols, notes or numbers you come across will be listed in the legend, where you can easily find the meaning. These abbreviations or symbols help conserve space for the rest of the drawings and notes, so the legend will help you determine what these mean.
Familiarizing yourself with the legend early can help you get ahead so you don't have to spend time flipping through pages to figure out what an abbreviation or symbol means. While many symbols and abbreviations are the same without the industry, some companies or architects use unique symbols you'll want to identify.
3. Inspect the Drawings
Blueprints include numerous drawings, and you'll want to acquaint yourself with these drawings so nothing comes as a surprise during construction. It's a good idea to start with the architectural drawings to visualize the project's appearance once it's done.
4. Determine the Scale and Orientation
Most of the time, construction blueprints are drawn to scale, which means a small measurement will represent a bigger measurement. For example, one centimeter could represent one foot, so if you had 12 centimeters on the blueprints, it would equal 12 feet in real distance. The scale should be located on the same page of the drawing so you know exactly the length of specific features. The scale will help you when you start the building process so you can accurately construct the project.
You'll also want to determine the orientation of the building since that is crucial when constructing different features. You'll need to know what direction the front of the building faces to determine which direction the other features face, ensuring you can accurately construct the depicted project.
5. Read Any Notes
If you find any notes on the sheets, you should read them before starting construction. Sometimes, these notes include critical information about different building tasks that need to be looked at before you start construction, such as revision notes. You can usually find the notes you need in the drawings or attached separately in another document.
6. Decide What Sheets You Need First
Finally, you'll want to look at the sheets you need first when starting your project, whether you're involved in the full construction of the building or the contracting work for the electricity or plumbing. Find the specific element you need for your work and find the corresponding sheet. You may also need to review additional pages for context to ensure the process goes smoothly. You can look for any information the architect or engineer included as additional context. You should also look at related or relevant sheets for any necessary context, such as cross-sections, floor plans or layouts.
Choose The Cat® Rental Store for All Your Construction Needs
No matter what stage of the construction process you're in, The Cat® Rental Store has you covered. We have a wide selection of construction equipment for commercial and residential projects. A member of our team can help you find the best equipment for your applications, whether you need excavators, material handling machinery, power generation or attachments for current equipment.
You can rent from us with flexible terms to help you stay on the project schedule. Contact us today for a quote or to learn more about our rental process, browse our equipment inventory or find a dealer near you.