Building drawings & symbols
Graphic Communication · Higher · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about building drawings & symbols, specifically to:
know
- British Standard building symbols
understand
- location plans, site plans, floor plans, elevations and sectional views, and their scales
Success criteria WILF
- I can describe location plans, site plans, floor plans, elevations and sectional views, and their scales
- I can identify British Standard building symbols
Types of building drawing
| Drawing | Shows | Typical scale |
|---|---|---|
| Location plan | The site in relation to the surrounding area: roads, neighbouring buildings. The site is outlined. | 1:1250 or 1:2500 |
| Site plan | The building within its site boundary: paths, drives, drainage, trees, services, north point, contours. | 1:200 or 1:500 |
| Floor plan | Rooms, walls, doors, windows and fittings on each floor. | 1:50 or 1:100 |
| Elevations | The outside of the building from each side. | 1:50 or 1:100 |
| Sectional view | A cut through the building showing construction: foundations, walls, insulation, roof. | 1:20 or 1:50 |
British Standard symbols
Learn the symbols in the appendix of the course specification. Common ones: door (with the swing arc), window, WC, wash basin, sink, bath, shower, socket outlet, switch, lamp (light), radiator, stairs, north point, trees, contours, and section symbols for materials such as insulation, brick and concrete. Course reports say symbol questions are often poorly answered, so drill them.
Information on a site plan HIGHER
A 2024 question asked what a site plan shows. Credited points included: the building in relation to the boundary, its size and position, access paths and parking, road name, house or site number, drainage, gas, electricity and water supplies, contours showing slope, trees (existing, new or to be removed), the north point and the scale.
Key terms
| Location plan | Shows the site in its surrounding area; usually 1:1250 or 1:2500. |
|---|---|
| Site plan | Building within the site boundary, drainage, paths, trees, north point; usually 1:200 or 1:500. |
| Floor plan | Rooms, doors, windows and fittings; usually 1:50 or 1:100. |
| North point | Symbol showing which way is north on a plan. |
| Contours | Lines joining points of equal height, showing slope. |
Quick check
1. Which drawing shows roads and neighbouring buildings around the site?
- Location plan
- Floor plan
- Sectional view
- Elevation
Show answer
2. A floor plan is usually drawn at…
- 1:2500 or 1:1250
- 1:50 or 1:100
- 1:1 or 1:2
- 5:1 or 2:1
Show answer
3. On a door symbol, the arc shows…
- Where the window opens
- Where a radiator is fitted
- Which way the door swings
- Which way the stairs go
Show answer
4. Contour lines on a site plan show…
- Drainage runs across the site
- The boundaries of the site
- Underground electricity cables
- Slope of the ground
Show answer
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.