Design Phases, participants, and deliverables of each stage
Architectural design is a complex activity that involves multiple levels of knowledge, communication, and production, even on a small project.
As architects, engineers, or others involved in the construction trades, it is a requirement to speak to our own language both in terminology and trough conventions of drawings, which requires countless rules about building codes, human dimensions, drawing standards, material properties, and relevant technologies.
The scope of construction documentation services will depend on:
- Size and complexity of the project
- Number of disciplines involved
- Number of stages or phases during the project
Represents one of the major core competencies of architects, they must be able to make technically concise descriptions and execute drawings and other documentation for the proposed design (AIA).
The work requires knowledge of principles, conventions, standards, applications, and restrictions pertaining to the manufacture use of construction materials, components, and assemblies.
Architectural drawing technique refers to a style or quality of a drawing imparted by the individual drafter to the work. It is characterized by crisp black line work, lettering, consistency, and uniformity.
Architectural drawings should reflect the rigid line control of a mechanically produced drawing combined with the artistic expression conveyed through architecture.
The scope of construction documentation services will depend on the size and complexity of a project and the number of disciplines involved.
But Size itself may not always be a driver.
In United States The Uniform Drawing System (UDS) created by the CSI establishes standardized guidelines for organizing and presenting building design information, is a major portion of the U.S. National CAD Standard (NCS). It is used to organize and manage construction drawings for virtually any project and project delivery method, for the entire life cycle of a facility.
CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS - GENERALITIES
Australian Standard AS 1100 (AS 1100.301—2008) provides the technical conventions for all Australian engineers, architects, designers, surveyors and pattern makers to follow.
There are also some city governments that set guidelines and recommendation to develop Technical/ Architectural drawings.
Drawing Users are:
- Owner
- Design Professional
- Contractor
- Owner's Representative
- Consultant
- Subcontractor
- Material Supplier
- Product Manufacturer
- Government Official
- Building Official
- Accountant
- Attorney
- Lender
- End User
CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS – DRAWING TYPES
List of Sheets:
1-Cover and general info 2-Floor Plans
- Building Elevations
- Reflected Ceiling Plans (RCPs) 5-Building Sections
6-Large Scale Views: Enlarged Plans, wall sections. 7-Interior Elevations
- Details
- Three dimensional representations 10-Schedules
11-Diagrams 12-Schedules
1- COVER AND GENERAL INFO:
The cover sheet is unique to the sheet organization format.
The cover sheet may identify the project, owner, and other project team members involved in preparing the drawings.
The cover sheet may also contain a photograph, rendering of the project, or logo of the owner or preparer.
If the cover sheet contains specific project data such as a list of sheets, a listing of abbreviations, general notes, a building code summary, or a key plan, etc., it should be identified with a sheet identifier containing the discipline designator G for general, sheet type 0, and the sequence number 01 (G-001) since will be the general info sheet.
2- FLOOR PLANS:
Views of horizontal planes, showing components in their horizontal relationship. (Site Plans, general floor plans). Overall building plans are usually drawn at a scale that enables to see the whole plan. Most elements of the overall plan are keyed to other drawings in the set.
3- BUILDING ELEVATIONS:
Views of vertical planes, showing components in their vertical relationship, viewed perpendicularly from a selected vertical plane.
They should describe materials and important vertical dimensions and levels
4- REFLECTED CEILINGS PLANS (RCPs):
(RCPs) Is an upsidedown floor plan, literally a plan of the ceiling.
Used to describe light and AC fixture placement and types, ceiling heights and materials, etc.
RCPs employ standard keys and symbols as well as some specific to the ceiling plan. Doors and windows do not appear on an RCP, but headers do.
5- BUILDING SECTION:
Views of vertical cuts through and perpendicular to components, showing their detailed arrangement.
6- LARGE SCALE VIEWS:
Views of plans, elevations, or sections at a larger scale and with more detail than the referenced view. Enlarged floor plans, enlarged RCPs, wall sections, STAIRS.
7- INTERIOR ELEVATIONS:
Are drawn at a larger scale than the overall building plans, allowing for more details, notes, and dimensions to be represented.
Keyed from the building plan, interior elevations are, in turn, keyed to other, larger-scale views, such as section and plan details of cabinetry construction and wall sections.
The following list of items should be included in all interior elevations: access panels, louvers and grilles, electrical switchgear and panels, large pipes, changes in wall materials, door and wall light heights, vertical dimensions and, in some cases, horizontal dimensions if not shown on the plans, power, telephone, data, and other outlets around casework, equipment, furnishings, and other places here the location is critical.
8- DETAILS:
Plans, elevations, or sections that provide more specific information about a portion of a project component or element than smaller-scale drawings.
Details are drawn at scales such as 1-1/2”=1’-0”, 3”=1’-0”, 6”=1’-0”, and are keyed from and to numerous other drawings. Wall Types, important.
9- THREE DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATIONS:
Perspectives, isometric drawings, and electronic models.
10- DIAGRAMS:
Non-scaled views showing arrangements of special system components and connections not possible to clearly show in scaled views. They can be noted with dimensions.
They may represent a plan or an elevation such as a casework, louver, window, or door type. They may be schematic in nature such as mechanical, plumbing, and electrical riser diagrams.
11- SCHEDULES:
Tables or charts that include data about materials, products, and equipment. Might be complemented with graphic sections, as W&D schedule.