Construction drawings serve an important purpose in commercial building construction. Without them, you cannot possibly visualize what the finished product will look like.
However, there are different types of construction drawings, and it could be confusing for someone without a construction background to differentiate all of them. Below are the five types of drawings used in commercial building construction.
Architectural Drawings
An architectural drawing is like the manual of a building. It is an all-encompassing drawing that includes a site plan, working plan, elevation drawing, section drawing, as well as other vital details. Architectural drawings are now often done using 2D or 3D architectural design software.
Architectural drawings contain all the directions on how a structure should be constructed. They make sure that the building can function as intended and last as long as the materials allow. These drawings are also critical for resolving issues prior to the actual construction. Without architectural drawings, there would be no clear course on a building’s design, and the project would be prone to revisions if one approach ultimately fails.
Structural Drawings
Structural drawings are engineering drawings that focus more on structure and concentrate on the building's load-carrying components. A structural drawing may include the size and type of materials to be used, dimensions for a concrete structure, information and details about reinforcement bars to be used, and other data that affects the construction.
Electrical Drawings
Sometimes called wiring diagrams, electrical drawings give a visual description of the electrical systems in a building and how they connect to the outside power grid. The purpose of an electrical drawing is to explain the electrical design to the electricians installing the system. It will also be used as a reference for future electrical repairs. Electrical drawings fall into one of several types: schematic, wiring, block, and pictorial.
Sanitary and Plumbing Drawings
A plumbing drawing provides a visual representation of the building’s plumbing system. It includes the exact location of pipes, valves, and fixtures, and outlines how freshwater is supplied and how wastewater is discharged. This type of drawing is used to illustrate the engineering design to those installing the structure’s plumbing system.
As-Built Drawings
As-built drawings, or finished drawings, contain the finishing details of the structure. Finished drawings may look different from the initial architectural and structural drawings since most projects have many moving parts that need adjustments along the way. Regardless, as-built drawings contain the exact rendering of the building upon the completion of the project. Since most architects and engineers are not involved in the day-to-day processes and are not aware of the changes made during construction, it will be up to the contractors to submit an accurate finished drawing.
Conclusion
A construction project is a rather complicated one that involves a lot of work both before and after the actual construction. To complete a building construction project, different types of drawings are needed.
An architectural drawing, perhaps including a computer-rendered 3D architectural design, is needed first. Then, based on the initial architect’s plan, a structural drawing is submitted. After that, wiring and plumbing diagrams convey the design to the workers installing these systems. Lastly, a finished drawing is compiled by the contractors to show the final product, including any changes and adjustments done to the initial design.
Source: http://www.truepointscanning.com/architectural-documentation
