Chapter 3

PLAN VIEW

SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 7

Plans are drawings that show an object as viewed from above. Many of the detail and section drawings in a setshow parts of the building from above. Some of the plan views that show an entire building are discussed here.This brief explanation will help you feel more comfortable with plans, although it does not cover plans in depth.You will use plans frequently throughout your study of the remainder of this textbook. Each of the remainingunits helps you understand plan views more thoroughly.

PLAN VIEW Figure 1. Minimum information shown on a site plan.

Plan View: Shows the view of a project from the top—often known as a birds-eye view. This view typicallydoes not clarify vertical heights and only indicates horizontal dimensions. It also indicates dimensions in a hor-izontal manner, typically illustrated to a particular scale. Two common blueprint scales drawn using an Englishruler are 1/8" equaling one linear foot and 1/4" equaling one linear foot. A metric ruler utilizes millimeter andcentimeter increments of 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 to one meter. A shop drawing illustrated with a plan view canindicate the invert elevation of piping above or below the finished floor elevation.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 2. A floor plan is actually a section view of the building.

(a)

(b)

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WALL TYPE C

UPPER CABINETS

SINK DW TRASH

10A2

9'-0"(2.74M)

ROOM 201

11A2

Wall Type A DOOR TYPE 16

2'-0" (61CM) 3'-6" (1.07M) 3'-0" (91.4CM)

8'-6" (2.59M)

PLAN VIEW Figure 3. Plan view example.

Two detail symbols indicating the location of large sectional views are providedWall types are indicated on a typical plan viewRoom and door numbers are indicated on a plan view Dimensional relation to columns or other walls is indicated on a plan viewThe scale relating to a fraction of an inch, mm, or cm representing a foot or meter is used on a plan view

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STEEL REINFORCEMENT

FOUNDATION WALL

CONCRETE FOOTING

PLAN VIEW Figure 4. Footing and foundation wall.

STEEL REINFORCEMENTTHICKENED FOR REINFORCEMENT

CONCRETE SLAB(FLOOR)

PLAN VIEW Figure 5. Slab-on-grade foundation.

SITE PLANSA site plan gives information about the site on whichthe building is to be constructed. The boundaries ofthe site (property lines) are shown. The property lineis usually a heavy line with one or two short dashesbetween longer line segments. The lengths of theboundaries are noted next to the line symbol.Property descriptions are often the result of a surveyby a surveyor or civil engineer. These professionalsusually work with decimal parts of feet, rather thanfeet and inches. Therefore, site dimensions are usu-ally stated in tenths or hundredths of feet.

A symbol or arrow of some type indicates whatcompass direction the site faces. Unless this northarrow includes a correction for the differencebetween true north and magnetic north, it may beonly an approximation. However, it is sufficient toshow the general direction the site faces.

The site plan also indicates where the building ispositioned on the site. As a minimum, the dimen-sions to the front and one side of the site are given.The overall dimensions of the building are alsoincluded. Anyone reading the site plan will have thisbasic information without referring to the otherdrawings. If the finished site is to include walks,drives, or patios, these are also described by theiroverall dimensions.

FOUNDATIONPLANSA foundation plan is like a floor plan, but of thefoundation instead of the living spaces. It shows thefoundation walls and any other structural work to bedone below the living spaces.

There are two types of foundations that are com-monly used in homes and other small buildings. One

type has a concrete base, called the footing, support-ing foundation walls, Plan View Figure 4. The otheris the slab-on-grade type. A slab-on-grade foundationconsists of a concrete slab placed directly on the soilwith little or no other support. Slabs on grade areusually thickened at their edges and wherever theymust support a heavy load, Plan View Figure 5.

When the footing-and-wall-type foundation isused, girders are used to provide intermediate sup-port to the structure above, Plan View Figure 6. Thegirder is shown on the foundation plan by phantomlines and a note describing it.

The foundation plan includes all of the dimen-sions necessary to lay out the footings and founda-tion walls. The footings follow the walls and may beshown on the plan. If they are shown, it is usually bymeans of hidden lines to show their outline only. Inaddition to the layout of the foundation walls,dimensions are given for opening windows, doors,and ventilators. Notes on the plan indicate areas thatare not to be excavated, concrete-slab floors, andother important information about the foundation,Plan View Figure 7.

FLOOR PLANSA floor plan is similar to a foundation plan. It is asection view taken at a height that shows the place-ment of walls, windows, doors, cabinets, and otherimportant features. A separate floor plan is includedfor each floor of the building. The floor plans pro-vide more information about the building than anyof the other drawings.

Building LayoutThe floor plans show the locations of all of the walls,doors, and windows. Therefore, the floor plans showhow the building is divided into rooms, and how to get

from one room to another. Before attempting to readany of the specific information on the floor plans, it iswise to familiarize yourself with the general layout ofthe building.

To quickly familiarize yourself with a floor plan,imagine that you are walking through the house. Forexample, imagine yourself standing in the front doorof the left side of the Duplex—plans for which areincluded in the drawing packed with this text. Youare looking across the living room. There is a closeton your right and a large window on your left.Straight ahead is the dining room with doors into astorage room and the kitchen. Looking in the kitchendoorway (notice there is no door in this doorway),there are cabinets, a sink, and a refrigerator on theopposite wall. More cabinets and a range are locatedon the left. Now, walk out of the kitchen and into thebedroom area. There are three doors; one leads into alarge front bedroom with a long closet, anotheropens into a smaller bedroom, and the third opensinto the bathroom. The bathroom includes a linencloset with bifold doors.

DimensionsDimensions are given for the sizes and locations ofall walls, partitions, doors, windows, and otherimportant features. On frame construction, exteriorwalls are usually dimensioned to the outside face ofthe wall framing. If the walls are to be covered with

stucco or masonry veneer, this material is outside thedimensioned face of the wall frame. Interior parti-tions may be dimensioned to their centerlines or tothe face of the studs. (Studs are the vertical membersin a wall frame.) Windows and doors may be dimen-sioned about their centerlines, Plan View Figure 8,or to the edges of the openings.

Solid masonry construction is dimensionedentirely to the face of the masonry, Plan View Figure 9.Masonry openings for doors and windows are dimen-sioned to the edge of the openings.

Other Features ofFloor PlansThe floor plan includes as much information as pos-sible without making it cluttered and hard to read.Doors and windows are shown by their symbols asexplained in Unit 5. Cabinets are shown in theirproper positions. The cabinets are explained furtherby cabinet elevations and details, which are dis-cussed in Unit 8. If the building includes stairs, theseare shown on the floor plan. Important overheadconstruction is also indicated on the floor plans. Ifthe ceiling is framed with joists, their size, direction,and spacing are shown on the floor plan.Architectural features such as exposed beams, archesin doorways, or unusual roof lines may be shown byphantom lines.

SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 11

FOUNDATION

GIRDER

COLUMN

COLUMN FOOTING

PLAN VIEW Figure 6. A girder provides intermediate support between the foundation walls.

SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 12

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SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 13

PLAN VIEW Figure 8. Frame construction dimensioning.

PLAN VIEW Figure 9. Masonry construction dimensioning.

SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 14

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SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 15

PLAN VIEW Figure 11. Typical floor plan—small bank building.

SECTION 2 / SpecificsPLAN VIEW 16

PLAN VIEW Figure 12. Typical roof framing plan—small bank building.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 13. Typical reflected ceiling plan and associated drawings.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 14. Typical site plan and associated drawings.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 15. Typical foundation plan and associated drawings.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 16. Typical electrical plan—small bank building.

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PLAN VIEW Figure 17. Typical mechanical plan and associated drawings—small bank building.