Intro to Blueprint Reading Building Plan Vocabulary Vocabulary

“Intro to Blueprint Reading” Building Plan Vocabulary

Vocabulary • • Blue Print Set of Prints Scale Floor Plan

Blueprint • A blueprint is a reproduction of a drawing • A “true” blueprint was a drawing that had white lines on a “blue” background. Printing technology does not use that same process anymore but rather reproduces drawings on white paper. • Therefore, the term blueprint, is the same as a reproduced drawing even though it is no longer “blue”.

Set of Prints • Building trade blueprints represent a “set” of drawings that detail every element of the building process for that project. • These drawings are called “working drawings”. • Some of the different parts to this “set” of drawings are plot plans, floor plans, elevation plans, and details

Scale • Plans are often referred to as “scale drawings”. • Scale is the numerical reduction of an actual building or object. • Plans are drawn to a specific ratio of that reduction as it relates to the actual size • Residential floor plans are typically drawn to 1/48 scale or ¼ in. = 1 ft.

Floor Plan • The part of a “set” of building plans that shows uses an overhead view outlining the size of the building and its rooms. • The floor plan will typically show the door and window location, interior partition walls, stairs and any other detail that can be shown from that view; including some electrical and plumbing details.

Occupation • Architect • Draftsman • General Contractor

Architect • An architect is an individual who designs buildings and assists in their construction • An architect works closely with the owner and the builder in interpreting the various features needed in a particular structure • The architect incorporates architectural artistry, structural engineering, and practical building expertise in coming up with his design.

Draftsman • The draftsman is the individual who does the actual physical drawing associated with a set of plans. • The draftsman is knowledgeable in various types of drawing techniques used in plan development • Nowadays, the draftsman uses computer technology to do most of the drawing for a particular plan.

Drawing Tools • • • T-Square Triangle---30 -60 -90 ------45 -45 -90 Drafting Board Architects Rule Protractor French Curve

T-square • A “T” shaped straight edge primarily used for horizontal line drawing. • A “T” square is used with various tools to create the other lines on a set of plans.

Triangle • A triangular shaped tool used to draw vertical lines and various angles on a set of plans. • The triangle comes as a 45 degree triangle or as a 30 -60 degree right triangle

Drafting Board • A board or table used specifically to do plan drawings. • Used in conjunction with the other drafting tools, it gives the individual a clean and accurate surface to create excellent drawings.

Architects Rule • The “architects rule” is a type of ruler that has a variety of “scales” on each of its sides • Depending on the “scale” of a drawing, you can use the specific “scaled” side of the architects rule and determine the “actual” measurement of an object on a drawing

Protractor • The protractor is a “half” circled instrument used to draw and determine angles on a particular drawing. • The protractor is divided into 180 degrees. • The protractor is used in mathematics to determine the degree of a particular angle

French Curve • The “french” curve is a tool used in drawing that has a variety of “s” shaped curves on it • The “french” curve is used to add the curved elements to a particular drawing design