Architectural drafting careers, equipment, media and reproduction methods

WEEK 1.

Faculty: Dr. Marisa Choguill, Adjunct Professor Spring 2012

Introduction
An architectural drawing/drafting class can lead to a career as a drafter, a CAD technician, a designer, an interior decorator, an interior designer, an architect, or an engineer. Mastering the information and skills presented in this course will prepare you for a job or serve as a solid foundation for each of the listed professions as well as many others. Next, we will examine some of these careers, starting from the most basic*: *
This lecture covers chapters 1, 3 and 4 of the textbook.

DRAFTER
DRAFTER

A drafter is a person who creates the drawings and details for another persons creations.
It is the drafters responsibility to use the proper line and lettering quality and to properly lay out the required drawings necessary to complete a project.

DRAFTER (cont.)
The term CAD technician is used to describe a person who creates the same type of drawings using a computer. However, we can use the term drafter to describe both those who draw manually and those who create drawings using a computer. No matter what tools are used to create the drawings, typically a drafter supervisor will give to the drafter a sketch and expect him/her to draw the required drawing.

DRAFTER (cont.)

Fig. 1-1

Fig. 1-2

Figure 1-1 shows a project managers sketch. Figure 1-2 shows the drawing created by a drafter.

DRAFTER (cont.)
Drawings can be made without sketches. However, the decisions involved in making them require the drafter to have a good understanding of what is being drawn. This understanding does not come from a textbook alone. A good way to gain a solid understanding of what is being drafted is to spend time at a construction site watching projects become reality. To advance as a drafter will include the ability to determine what drawings need to be created, selected from a stock library, and edited; and to estimate the time needed to complete these assignments and meet deadlines established by the team captain, the client, the lending institution, or the building department. It takes time to acquire these skills in the office alone.

DRAFTER (cont.)
In his/her initial job, a drafter will spend a lot of time as a beginning drafter editing stock details, running prints, making deliveries, obtaining permits, and doing other such office tasks. Although a drafter does more than this around an office, the beginning drafter will need to be prepared to do things other than drafting
The experienced drafter, on the other hand, has a busy schedule!

DRAFTER (cont.)
Although the supervisor/boss may prepare the basic design for a project, the experienced drafter is expected to make decisions about construction design. These decisions might include determining structural sizes and connection methods for intersecting beams, drawing renderings, visiting job sites, and supervising beginning drafters. As the drafter gains experience, he/she will be assigned drawings that are more complex. Instead of revising existing details or drawing site plans, cabinet elevations, or roof plans, an experienced drafter and team leader may be working on the floor and foundation plans, elevations, and sections.

DRAFTER (cont.)
In order to get a job, a drafter will need a solid education and good computer-aided drafting (CAD) skills.

CAD skills must include a thorough understanding of drawing and editing commands, as well as the ability to quickly decide which option is best for the given situation. This ability will also come with practice.
Employment Opportunities Drafters can find employment in firms of all sizes. Designers, architects, and engineers all require entrylevel and advanced drafters to help produce their drawings.

DRAFTER (cont.)
Drafters are also employed by suppliers of architectural equipment. This job might include drawing construction details for a steel fabricator, making layout drawings for a cabinet shop, or designing ductwork for a heating and air-conditioning installer.

Drafters are also employed by many government agencies. These jobs include working in planning, utility, or building departments; survey crews; or other related municipal jobs.

BUILDING DESIGNER
In the USA, a building designers responsibilities are very similar to those of an experienced drafter and are usually based on both education and experience. A building designer is usually the coordinator of a team of drafters. The building designer may work under the direct supervision of an architect, an engineer, or both and supervise the work schedule of the drafting team. Building designers often have their own office practice in which they design residential, multifamily, and some types of light commercial buildings

INTERIOR DECORATOR
In the USA, an interior decorator decorates the interiors of buildings with the aim of making rooms more attractive, comfortable, and functional. Most interior decorators are hired to decorate homes, but they may also be hired to decorate interiors of businesses such as boutiques, restaurants, and offices. An interior decorators work may involve a variety of elements, including space planning, determination of color schemes, furniture placement, and the coordination of interior finishes such as paint and wallpaper, window coverings, and flooring. It may also include the arrangement of lighting fixtures, art objects, furnishing accessories, and interior plants.

INTERIOR DECORATOR (cont.)

Specific job requirements may include: Meeting with clients to determine the scope of a project. Reviewing and measuring the space to be decorated. Preparing proposed room layouts and obtaining cost estimates. Providing samples and colors of materials to be used.

Arranging and overseeing painting, wallpapering, and flooring.

Selecting and purchasing furnishings and other items.

In the USA, there are no formal educational requirements to enter this career. You can start calling yourself an interior decorator as soon as you start doing interior decorating!

INTERIOR DESIGNER
An interior designer works with the structural designer to optimize and harmonize the interior design of structures. In addition to health and safety concerns, interior designers help plan how the space will be accessed, how a space will be used, the amount of light that will be required, acoustics, seating, storage, and work areas. An interior designer must consider how the visual, tactile, and auditory senses of the occupants will be impacted. Visual considerations include the study and application of color, lighting, and form to improve how the occupants function in the space. Consideration must be given to the design of surfaces, the shape of individual rooms within a structure, and the texture of finished surfaces and how furnishing will affect the usage of areas within a structure. The design of a structure must also be considered in relation to how noise and echo will be created and how they can be controlled.

INTERIOR DESIGNER (cont.)

An interior designer must have an aesthetic, practical, and technical appreciation for how people use and respond to these elements and how the elements interact with one another. Interior designers must also be knowledgeable about the many types and characteristics of furnishings, accessories, and ornaments used in creating interiors. Furniture, lighting, carpeting and other floor coverings, paint and wall coverings, glass, wrought metal, fixtures, art, and artifacts are some of the many items and materials designers select. In addition, they must be familiar with the various styles of design, art, and architecture and their history. Interior designers provide a variety of services that include:

INTERIOR DESIGNER (cont.)

Consulting to help determine project goals and objectives. Generating ideas for aesthetic possibilities of the space, and arranging space to suit its intended function. Creating illustrations and renderings of proposals. Developing documents and specifications related to interior spaces in compliance with applicable building codes. Specifying colors and purchasing fixtures, furnishings, products, and other interior materials. Designing and managing fabrication of custom furnishings and interior details. Monitoring and managing construction and installation of the design.

INTERIOR DESIGNER (cont.)

In the United States, designers may not use the title interior designer or registered interior designer unless they have met the requirements for education, experience, and examination as set forth in the statutes established by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). The minimum examination requirements include two years of formal interior design experience and four years of fulltime work experience in the practice of interior design.

ARCHITECT
An architect is a licensed professional who designs commercial and residential structures.

Architects perform the tasks of many professionals, including building designer, artist, project manager, and construction supervisor.
Few architects work full-time in residential design. Although many architects design some homes, most devote their time to commercial construction projects such as schools, offices, and hospitals.

ARCHITECT (cont.)

Figure 1-3 shows a home designed by an architect to blend the needs and wishes of the client with the site, materials, and financial realities.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
Fine arts classes such as drawing, sketching, design, and art, along with architectural history, will help the future architect develop an understanding of the cultural significance of structures and help transform ideas into reality. Classes that will aid problem-solving abilities, as well as math and science classes, including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and physics, will provide a stable base for the advanced structural classes that will be required.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
Sociology, psychology, cultural anthropology and classes dealing with human environments will help develop an understanding of the people who will use the structure. Because architectural students will need to read, write, and think clearly about abstract concepts, preparation should also include literature and philosophy courses. In addition to formal study, students should discuss with local architects the opportunities and possible disadvantages that may await them in pursuing the study and practice of architecture.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
In the USA, a typical path to becoming an architect requires three years to complete a masters program, three years as an intern, and two years to complete the registration exam process.
Some states allow a designer to take the licensing test through practical work experience. Although standards vary for each state, five to seven years of experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect or engineer is usually required.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
Positions in an architectural firm include:
Technical staff Consulting engineers such as mechanical, electrical, and structural engineers; landscape architects; interior designers; CAD operators; and drafters.

Intern Unlicensed architectural graduates with less than three years of experience. An interns responsibilities typically include developing design and technical solutions under the supervision of an architect.
Architect I Licensed architect with three to five years of experience. An Architect Is job description typically includes responsibility for a specific portion of a project within the parameters set by a supervisor.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
Architect II Licensed architect with six to eight years of experience. An Architect IIs job description typically includes responsibility for the daily design and technical development of a project.
Architect III Licensed architect with eight to ten years of experience. An Architect IIIs job description typically includes responsibility for the management of major projects. Manager Licensed architect with more than 10 years of experience. A Managers responsibilities typically include management of several projects, project teams, and client contacts, as well as project scheduling and budgeting. Associate Senior management architect, but not an owner in the firm. This person is responsible for major departments and their functions. Principal Owner/partner in an architectural firm.

ARCHITECT (cont.)
The study of architecture is not limited to the design of buildings. Although the architectural curriculum typically is highly structured for the first two years of study, students begin to specialize in an area of interest during the third year of the program.
Students in a bachelors program may choose courses leading to a degree in several different areas of architecture such as urban design, interior architecture, and landscape architecture. Urban design is the study of the relationship among the components within a city. Interior architects work specifically with the interior of a structure to ensure that all aspects of the building will be functional. Landscape architects specialize in relating the exterior of a structure to the environment.

ENGINEER
The term engineer covers a wide variety of professions. In general, an engineer is a licensed professional who applies mathematical and scientific principles to the design and construction of structures.
In the construction fields, structural engineers are the most common, although many jobs exist for electrical, mechanical, civil and architectural engineers. Structural engineers typically specialize in the design of structures built of steel or concrete (see Figure 1-4). Many directly supervise drafters and designers in the design of multifamily and light commercial structures.

ENGINEER (cont.)

FIGURE 1-4 The architectural team determines the shape and style of the structure. The structural engineering team is responsible for determining the size of materials to resist the loads and stress that a building will face. Courtesy David Jefferis.

ENGINEER (cont.)
Electrical engineers work with architects and structural engineers and are responsible for the design of lighting and communication systems. They supervise the design and installation of specific lighting fixtures, telephone services, and requirements for computer networking.
Mechanical engineers are also an instrumental part of the design team. They are responsible for the sizing and layout of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) and plan how treated air will be routed throughout the project. They work with the project architect to determine the number of occupants of the completed building and the heating and cooling load that will be generated.

ENGINEER (cont.)
Civil engineers are responsible for the design and supervision of a wide variety of construction projects, such as highways, bridges, sanitation facilities, and water treatment plants. They are often directly employed by construction companies to oversee the construction of large projects and to verify that the specifications of the design architects and engineers have been carried out.
Architectural engineers are often responsible for elements of other engineering disciplines as they actively work in the design and construction of buildings while managing and constructing mechanical, electrical, fire protection and structural systems for buildings.

ENGINEER (cont.)
As with the requirements for becoming an architect, a license is required to function as an engineer.
In the USA, potential engineers can apply for the license after several years of practical experience, or after obtaining a bachelors degree and three years of practical experience.

ENGINEER (cont.)
Success in any of the engineering fields requires high proficiency in math and science, and involves completing courses in physics, mechanics, print reading (or draft reading), architecture, mathematics, and material science.
As with the requirements for becoming an architect, in the USA, an engineer must have five years of education at an accredited college or university, followed by successful completion of an examination. Certification can also be accomplished by training under a licensed engineer and then successfully completing the examination.

Other related fields

In addition to these careers, there are many related careers that require an understanding of drafting principles. These include model maker, illustrator, specification writer, plan examiner, inspector, and construction-related trades.

Other related fields (cont.)

Many architectural offices use 3-D models of a building or project to help convey design concepts in addition to presentation drawings.
Models such as the one shown in Figure 1-5 are often used as a public display to help gain support for large projects. Model makers need basic drafting skills to help interpret the plans required to build the actual project. Model makers may be employed within a large architectural firm or may work for a company that only makes models for architects.

Other related fields (cont.)

FIGURE 1-5 Models such as this one of the KOIN Center in Portland, Oregon, are often used in public displays to convey design ideas. Courtesy KOIN Center, Olympia & York Properties (Oregon) Inc.

Other related fields (cont.)

Many drafters, designers, and architects have the basic skills to draw architectural renderings. Very few, though, have the expertise to make this type of drawing rapidly.
Most illustrators have a background in art. By combining artistic talent with a basic understanding of architectural principles, the illustrator can produce drawings that show a proposed structure realistically. Figure 1-6 shows a drawing that was prepared by an architectural illustrator. In AE120, students will have an introduction to presentation drawings.

Other related fields (cont.)

FIGURE 1-6 Drawings created by an architectural illustrator are often used for advertising and presentation purposes. Courtesy Bob Greenspan, Alan Mascord Design Associates, Inc.

Other related fields (cont.)

Building departments require that plans be checked carefully to ensure that the required codes for public safety have been met. A plan examiner is prepared to do this job. An experienced drafter or designer may be able to qualify as a low-level or residential plan inspector. Generally, a degree in engineering or architecture is required to advance to an upper-level position.

Other related fields (cont.)

The construction that results from the plans must also be inspected. Depending on the size of the building department, the plan examiner may also serve as the building inspector.
In large building departments, one group examines plans and another inspects construction. Being a construction inspector requires an exceptionally good understanding of code limitations, print reading (draft reading), and construction methods. Each of these skills has its roots in a beginning drafting class.

Other related fields (cont.)

Many drafters are employed directly by construction companies. These drafters typically not only do drafting but also work part-time in the field. Some drafters give up their jobs for one of the highpaying positions in the construction industry. The ease of interpreting plans as a result of a background in drafting is of great benefit to any construction worker.

Next, we will cover drafting equipment.

Drafting Equipment
Manual drafting is the term used to describe traditional pencil or ink drafting.
Manual drafting tools and equipment are available from a number of vendors of professional drafting supplies.

For accuracy and durability, always purchase high-quality equipment.

This section introduces a variety of manual drafting tools and their proper use. Additional products are described in the Supplemental Reference found on the Student CD of the textbook.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

The following items are the minimum normally needed for manual drafting:
One 0.3 mm automatic drafting pencil with 4H, 2H, and H leads One 0.5 mm automatic drafting pencil with 4H, 2H, and F leads One 0.7 mm automatic drafting pencil with 2H, H, and F leads One 0.9 mm automatic drafting pencil with H, F, and HB leads 6" bow compass Dividers Eraser Erasing shield 3060 triangle 45 triangle Adjustable triangle (optional) Irregular curve Scales: triangular architects scale and triangular civil engineers scale Drafting tape Architectural floor plan template for residential plans, with 1/4" = 1'0" scale Circle template with small holes Lettering guide Sandpaper sharpening pad Dusting brush
Drafting media: vellum sheets size A1

Optional: Lettering template. Assorted architectural drafting templates

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-1 Range of lead grades.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-2 Basic pencil motions. NOTE: these pencil movements should be reversed (top to bottom, right to left) for lefthanded people.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-3 Center-wheel bow compass and its parts.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-4 Common compass points.

FIGURE 3-5 Properly sharpened and aligned elliptical compass lead.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-6 Using the divider.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-7 Parallel bar.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-8 Drawing vertical lines with the parallel bar and triangle.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-9 Angles that can be made with the 3060 triangle and 45 triangle, individually or in combination.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-10 Architectural floor plan symbol template. Courtesy Berol Corporation.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-11 Irregular or French curves. Courtesy of

C-Thru Ruler Company.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-12 Arm drafting machine. Courtesy VEMCO America, Inc.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-13 Track drafting machine and its parts. Courtesy Mutoh America, Inc.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

SCALES The drafting instruments used for making measurements, establishing dimensions, and drawing features at reduced size are called scales. Architectural drafting scales are available in a variety of shapes and calibrations.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

FIGURE 3-14 Scale shapes.

The triangular scale is commonly used because it offers many scale options and is easy to handle. The scale of a drawing is usually noted in the drawing title block or below the view that differs in scale from that given in the title block. Drawings are scaled so that the object represented can be illustrated clearly on standard sheet sizes. It would be difficult, for example, to draw a full-size house, so a scale is used to reduce the size of such large objects.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

The drawing scale selected depends on:
Actual size of the structure. Amount of detail to be shown. Sheet size selected. Amount of dimensions and notes required. Common standard practice that regulates the scale of specific drawing types.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

According to the International System of Units (SI), the linear unit that is commonly used on architectural drawings is the millimeter.
Where some millimeters are shown on an inchdimensioned drawing, the millimeter value should be followed by the symbol mm. Where some inches are shown on a millimeter-dimensioned drawing, the inch value should be followed by the abbreviation in.

FIGURE 3-15a Common metric scale calibrations and measurements.

Drafting Equipment (cont.)

See below the conversion table of most used scales from metric to imperial measurement system:

FIGURE 3-15b Common metric scale calibrations and measurements.

Other conversion tables:

Metric 1 millimetre [mm] 1 centimetre [cm] 1 metre [m] 1 kilometre [km] 10 mm 100 cm 1000 m Imperial 0.03937 in 1 foot [ft] 0.3937 in 1 yard [yd] 1.0936 yd 0.6214 mile 1 mile 1 int nautical mile 1760 yd 1.6093 km 3 ft 0.9144 m 12 in 0.3048 m

Imperial
1 inch [in]

Metric
2.54 cm

2025.4 yd 1.853 km

Next, we will examine Drafting Media and Reproduction Methods.

Drafting Media and Reproduction Methods

Drafting Media
This section covers the types of media used for the drafting and the reproduction of architectural drawings.
Manual drawings are generally prepared on pre-cut drafting sheets with printed graphic designs for the company logo and information, borders, and title blocks. Computer-aided drawings are generally created using a template containing a border, title block, and graphic designs for the company. The computer-aided drawings are stored in files and reproduced on media by printing or plotting. Drawing reproductions or copies of manual drawings are made for use in the construction process so the original manual drawings are not damaged.

Drafting Media (cont.)

Several factors influence the choice and use of manual drafting media. These include durability, smoothness, erasability, dimensional stability, transparency, and cost. Let's examine them:
Durability should be considered if the original drawing is expected to have a great deal of use. Originals can tear or wrinkle, and the images become difficult to see if the drawings are used often. Smoothness relates to how the medium accepts line work and lettering. The material should be easy to draw on, so the image is dark and sharp without excessive effort on the part of the drafter.

Drafting Media (cont.)

Erasability is important because errors need to be corrected and changes are made frequently. When images are erased, ghosting should be kept to a minimum. Ghosting is the residue when lines are not completely removed. These unsightly ghost images can reproduce in a print. Materials with good erasability are easy to clean.
Dimensional stability is the quality of the medium that maintains size despite the effects of atmospheric conditions such as heat and cold. Some materials are more dimensionally stable than others.

Drafting Media (cont.)

Transparency is one of the most important characteristics of drawing media. The diazo reproduction method requires light to pass through the material. Diazo printing is not commonly used today, and is described on the Student CD. The final goal of a drawing is good reproduction, so the more transparent the material is, the better the reproduction, assuming that the image drawn is of professional quality. Transparency is not a factor with photocopying.
Cost can influence the selection of drafting media. When the best reproduction, durability, smoothness, erasability, and dimensional stability are important, there may be few cost alternatives. If drawings are to have normal use and reproduction quality, then the cost of the drafting media can be kept to a minimum. The following discussion of available materials can help you evaluate cost differences.

Drafting Media (cont.)

Vellum is drafting paper that is specially designed to accept pencil or ink. Lead on vellum is the most common combination used for manual drafting.
Vellum is the least expensive material and has good smoothness and transparency. Use vellum originals with care. Drawings made on vellum that require a great deal of use could deteriorate. Vellum is not as durable as other materials. Also, some brands are more erasable than others. Affected by humidity and other atmospheric conditions, vellum generally is not as dimensionally stable as other materials.

Drafting Media (cont.)

Polyester film, also known by its trade name Mylar, is a plastic manual drafting material that is more expensive than vellum but offers excellent durability, erasability, dimensional stability, and transparency.
Drawing on polyester film is best accomplished using ink or special polyester leads. Do not use regular graphite leads, because they smear easily and do not adhere properly to the surface.

Drawing techniques that drafters use with polyester leads are similar to those used with graphite leads except that polyester lead is softer and feels like a crayon.

Reproduction Methods
The one thing most engineers, architects, designers, and drafters have in common is that their finished drawings are made to be reproduced.
Thus, the goal of every professional is to produce drawings of the highest quality, providing the best possible prints when reproduced. Reproduction is the most important factor in the selection of media for drafting.

The primary combination that achieves the best reproduction is the blackest, most opaque lines or images on the most transparent base or material.

Reproduction Methods (cont.)

Figure 4-1 shows a magnified view of graphite on vellum, plastic lead on polyester film, and ink on polyester film. Notice that each combination provides progressively improved reproduction quality. As you can see from the figure, the best reproduction is achieved with a crisp, opaque image on transparent material. If your original drawing is not of good quality, it will not get better on the print.

FIGURE 4-1 A magnified comparison of graphite on vellum, plastic lead on Mylar, and ink on Mylar. Courtesy Koh-I-Noor, Inc.

Reproduction Methods (cont.)

PHOTOCOPY REPRODUCTION
A photocopy is a photographic reproduction of printed or graphic material. Photocopies of architectural drawings are commonly made on largesize engineering copy machines, also called engineering copiers or engineering printers. The photocopy engineering-size printer makes prints up to 36" wide and up to 25' long from originals up to 36" wide by 25' long. Reproduction capabilities also include reduction and enlargement on some models.

Photocopies can be made on bond paper*, vellum, polyester film, colored paper, or other translucent materials.
*Bond paper is a strong, durable paper especially suitable to electronic printing and use in office machines including copiers and desktop printers.

Reproduction Methods (cont.)

Almost any large original can be converted into a smallersized reproducible print for distribution, inclusion in manuals, or more convenient handling. Also, a random collection of mixed-scale drawings can be enlarged or reduced and converted to one standard scale and format. Reproduction clarity of photocopies is so good that halftone* illustrations, photographs, and solid or fine line work have excellent resolution and density.
The photocopy process has mostly replaced the diazo reproduction process for copying architectural drawings.
*A halftone is the reproduction of continuous-tone artwork, such as a photograph, by converting the image into dots of various sizes.

Reproduction Methods (cont.)

MICROFILM
Microfilm is a film containing a reduced image of a drawing or other printed material for compact storage and for future access, viewing, and reproduction. Refer to the Student CD: MICROFILM, for more information.

SHEET SIZES, ZONING, BORDERS, TITLE BLOCKS, SHEET FORMAT, AND BORDERS

INTRODUCTION
A standardized drawing is easier to read and file (store) than drawings that do not follow a standard format. For this reason, every professional drawing has, for example, a title block standards have been developed for the information to be put into the title block and on the sheet next to the border.

Sheet Sizes
Drafting materials are available in standard sizes, which are determined by manufacturers specifications and based on national standards.
Paper and polyester film can be purchased in cut sheets or in rolls. Metric sheet sizes vary from 297 210 mm to 1189 841 mm. Metric roll sizes range from 297 mm to 420 mm wide. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established standard metric drawing sheet sizes that have been adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Standard metric drawing sheet sizes are shown in Table 4-2.

Sheet Sizes (cont.)

Table 4-2 Standard Metric Drawing Sheet Sizes

Zoning
Some companies use a system of numbers along the top and bottom margins, and letters along the left and right margins. This system is called zoning.
Zoning allows a drawing to be read like a road map. For example, the reader can refer to the location of a specific item as D-4, which means the item can be found on or near the intersection of row D and column 4. Zoning can be found on some architectural drawings, although it is more commonly used in mechanical drafting for manufacturing.

Borders
Borders, as well as title blocks, are normally preprinted on drawing paper or polyester film for manual drafting applications to help reduce drafting time and cost.
Drawing borders are thick lines that go around the entire sheet. Top, bottom, and right-side border lines are usually between 3/8" and 1/2" away from the sheet edge. The left border can be between 3/4" and 1 1/2" away from the sheet edge. This extrawide left margin allows for binding drawing sheets.

Title Blocks
Preprinted architectural drawing title blocks are generally placed along the right side of the sheet, although some companies place them across the bottom of the sheet. Each architectural company uses a slightly different title block design, but this same general information is found in almost all blocks:
Drawing number. This can be a specific job or file number for the drawing. Company name, address, and phone number. Project or client. This is an identification of the project by company or client, project title, or location.

Title Blocks (cont.)

Drawing name. This is where the title of the drawing is placed. For example, MAIN FLOOR PLAN or ELEVATIONS. Most companies leave this information off the title block and place it on the face of the sheet below the drawing.
Scale. Some company title blocks provide space for the drafter to fill in the general scale of the drawing. Any view or detail on the sheet that differs from the general scale must have the scale identified below the view title, and both are placed directly below the view.

Drawing or sheet identification. Each sheet is numbered in relation to the entire set of drawings. For example, if the complete set of drawings has 8 sheets, then consecutive sheets are numbered 1 of 8, 2 of 8, 3 of 8, through 8 of 8.

Title Blocks (cont.)

Date. The date noted is the one on which the drawing or project is completed.
Drawn by. The place for the initials or name of the drafter, designer, or architect who prepared the drawing. Checked by. This is the identification of the individual who approves the drawing for release. Architect or designer. Most title blocks provide for the identification of the individual who designed the structure. Revisions. Many companies provide a revision column where changes in the drawing are identified and recorded. After a set of drawings is released for construction, there can be changes. When this is necessary, there is usually a written request for a change from the contractor, owner, or architect. The change is then implemented on the affected drawings.

Title Blocks (cont.)

When changes are made on the face of the drawing, a circle with a revision number accompanies the change. This revision number is keyed to a place in the drawing title block where the revision number, the revision date, the initials of the individual making the change, and an optional brief description of the revision are located.
For further record of the change, the person making the change also fills out a form, called a change order. The change order contains complete information about the revision for future reference. The change process and the method of documenting changes vary between companies.

Title Blocks (cont.)

FIGURE 4-2 Sample architectural title blocks. (A) Courtesy

Summagraphics; (B) Courtesy Southland Corporation; (C) Courtesy Structureform.

HOW TO FOLD PRINTS

HOW TO FOLD PRINTS

Architectural drawings are generally created on large sheets, and prints are made from the originals (REMEMBER: you should NEVER fold the originals as it would damage them).
It is necessary to fold the architectural prints properly when they must be mailed or filed in a standard file cabinet. Folding large prints is much like folding a road map. Folding is done in a pattern of bends that puts the title block and sheet identification on the front.

Using the proper method to fold prints also aids in unfolding and refolding prints.
Figure 4-3 shows how large prints are folded.

FIGURE 4-3 How to fold B-size, C-size, D-size, and E-size prints.

Next lecture:
In the next lecture, we will examine some sketching applications.
We will study isometric sketches, multiview or orthographic projection, measurement lines, and proportions. We will examine architectural lines and lettering, that is, the types of lines and professional lettering used in architectural drafting.

Next lecture will also briefly look at Google SketchUp.